Molly Fry

[Little_Orca]

Afternoon everyone!

On July 11, 2005 my sister's pregnant Dalmatian Lyretail Molly had babies. When they were collected anda barrier between the adults and fry was made, I counted 51. Most of them have died and a few managed to get out of their enclosure and get themselves eaten. I have bought a 3-way breeder container and the rest of hte living fry are now in there.

In addition to those fry, I bought a Dalmatian Lyretail Molly of my own today and she happened to be pregnant as well (What luck ). The trip home was apparently too stressful for her though (a few speedbumps is all I can think of) and she released her babies early. Most of them were still eggs, a few where dead fry with the yolk still attacked to their stomachs, and the rest were born ok (all 4 or 5 of them).

Now it appears as though my other molly, a silver lyretail, is pregnant as well (Boy, all these girls jsut got knocked up before they came home to me and my sister!). My questions are as follows:

1) What is the normal gestation period for a molly?

2) Other than an abnormal behavior (that I have no idea what it would be), what are the signs the molly is ready to give birth? In other words, when should I move her to the birthing enclosure?

3) I know that the fry need to be at least 1/2 an inch long before they are released into the big tank (so they are not snacks for the adults), but about how long will that take them?

Hope to hear some answers from other fish breeders or knowledgable people soon!

-Little Orca

 

[Annastasia]

1) Anywhere from 1-2 months. Depends on age, size of batch, size of female..etc.

2) Signs of labor can include Slighty heavier breathing, hoovering in one place, acting moody, chasing all other fish away, hiding in the plants, and getting slightly thinner looking right before she gives birth.

However, I would not recommend you move her into the Breeding enclosure. These are too small for Mollies to really be comfy, and they can really stress her out. It would be better if the fry could be born in the tank and then scooped out, or if you had a seperate breeding tank just for them to be born and raised in. However, if you absolutely have to leave her in a Breeding enclosure, take her out after 3 days max, otherwise she will be very stressed.

3) It depends on what you feed them, how often you feed them...etc. Since Molly fry are born pretty big...I'd say a few months. However, they don't have to be half an inch. They just have to be too big to not fit in the biggest fish's mouth.

Edit: And the reason she may have aborted, is moving a heavily pregnant fish is VERY stressful for them. If possible, avoid very pregnant fish, and get the least pregnant fish possible. I can pretty much guarantee they will be pregnant when you get them...because they are usually either in with males, or have been in with males and have stored sperm.

 

[Little_Orca]

All right. Thanks for the info. Amalthea (the pregger female) is hiding a bit, but she does that a lot anyways. I will just have to keep my eyes on her and watch for the first sign of fry.

Thanks again!