Molly Breeding Help.

[PaBucsFan]

As my signature states I have 5 female gold dust mollies, 2 female marble mollies, and 2 white lyre tail mollies, in my attempt to breed I have 2 home grown male gold dust mollies(they are the only survivors from my first batch of fry from March of this year and the mother has since passed away). One of my males is a late bloomer and he has not seemed overly interested in breeding yet, the other showed his males parts very early and has been in pursuit every since. As I said the one boy is very active in mating but only with one of the gold dusts, he completely ignores the other 4 female gold dusts, 2 marble mollies, and white mollies. He will also fight with the late bloomer/brother who is more interested in eating than mating at the current time. What can I do if anything to make him go after the other females and how long will the brothers fight (do I need separate them?)?

 

[PaBucsFan]

Anyone have some advice for me? I kinda worried the two boys are stressing themselves and the other fish.

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

You could try isolating the "favourite" female, or even the male with one or two of the other females. A separate tank would be best, but you could try a tank divider at a pinch.

Goog luck..

Bodge99

 

[OldMan47]

I have never seen actual fighting among mollies although a male will try to display and may even nip at other mollies trying to show his dominance. The only way I know to force a male to mate with a particular female is to place the two alone in a tank. I assume that is not what interests you.

 

[PaBucsFan]

I would honestly like to see both males "enjoy" all of the female mollies. I guess you are right fighting was too harsh it was more like nipping. The young bloomer definitely is the more aggressive with his brother and the females. I might be giving up the 2 marbles and 2 white lyre tails as they are not getting any attention from either of the males and replace them with 3 female gold dusts. That would leave me with 8 females and 2 males. Not sure what else to try. Isolation isn't really and option as I have recently shut down my 10 gallon freshwater and converted it to a nano saltwater. I do have a quarantine tank but I don't have a hood or place to safely run it currently.