Molly Popped

[eddied316]

hey all

I was catching a mouse in the house, and came in my room, to get a flashlight, to try and find it, and saw 3 little baby fry in the tank!!!

I got the net and started scooping them up, one right after another, Right now I'd say I have 20+ (will update with pics soon)

Question:

How long should I leave the mom in the tank before moving her? And she hasnt had any in about 15-20 mins...is she done?

i no aout the crushed flake food, and some seem to eat it already...

I currently ahve them in a lil bucket..(thats all i could get off the top of my head)

I have a little filter thing, that connects to my air pump, thats very small...would that be good for the fry?

i'm sure ill have more questions, but for now thats it

 

[eddied316]

Heres a pic of my Fry...

I think she's done giving birth, as she hasnt had another in about 45 mins or so...

It was so cool, I actually got to WATCH them being born. Some came out backwards, some came out in a little ball them swam around...

I saw 4 undevoloped eggs, and the mother instantly ate them.

She has been..."pooing" alot, I dont know if thats normal or what...

Also, I'm going to the pet store tomorrow, and was wondering if I need to get anything...

Im going to put them in my little 1 gallon tank until they get bigger, which has a little air pump filter, gravel and some plants. I Dont know if I need anything else or not...

I guess I could put them in my 10 gallon, but the filter is probablly too strom for them, so I would need a new one, And i would ahve to put the mom in the little 1 gallon..(dont want to stick her in my 55, because i'm treating it for ICK right now)

As of right now...almost ALL the fry are laying at the bottom of my tank (bucket)...I dont know if that's normal or what...But I know they're alive, as I can see their fins moving...

HELP

 

[xostrawberryox]

They're so cute!!! Hw comes u didnt put them into the 1gal straight away or had you not cycled it? I've never seen mine actually give birth, hope i do someday! I think it is normal for her to poo a lot after cos its the embryo sack coming out. At least you're getting them to eat, they should liven up when theyre in the proper tank with loads of places to explore!!!

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

If you have a breeder trap they would be better off in there until you can put the 1 gal growing on tank that is setup with heater & air powered sponge filter ('cause they get sucked up more powerful filters voice of experience ).

Often they don't eat for a day or 2 but will then take fine baby powder (not Johnsons baby powder ), and once they are 4-6mm long will take live bloodworn, crushed adult flake & other foods.

If you want them all to live then don't have any other fish in with them (free lunch). If you are not bothered how many survive then put them it the same tank as their mum, the fittest will suvive as long as there are places to hide (gravel, plants like javer fern & moss or under bogwood etc.).

 

[eddied316]

hehe...I love my little guys..

Well I had 2 Mollies in the 10 gallon, and then when the one was about to pop, I put the other in the one gallon, so then I couldnt put the little guys in there, or they'd get eaten.

I gave them food, but have YET to actually SEE them eat it...

They're to cute...and they LOVE the 10 gallon..

QUESTION..

My 1 gallon is one of those "Critter Cages" with a lid and all that, well i have a sponge filter, so i've been leaving the lid off. Well this morning for some reason I got up, and wanted to check my little guys, (they were doing fine) so I looked at the momma, and she was NO WHERE to be found...

Looked all over, finally looked on the ground, and there she was on the carpet. (god knows for how long) i picked her up, put er in some water, and BAM...swimming around...Just Luck, or what!?!?! After that, I added some stress stuff to her water, a little salt, and she SEEMS to be fine.

Now...i've come into a problem, in the future... have 2 pregnant Swords, and a pregnant guppy in my 55. Where should I let them give birth? the 10 is being used by my current fry. I suppose I could put my other 2 mollies in my 55, nd let her give birth in the 1 gallon...but i dont know..

How long can I put the fry in my 1 gallon tank before its unhealthy?

Also...My momma Molly is STILL...whats the word, "plump". even AFTER giving birth to 25 fry. I dont know if thats normal or what, but she still looks pregnant to me...

thanks

Lots of things running in my head right now, and dont know the answers..

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

As it has a sponge filter, put the fry in the 1 gal asap with no other fish in it. If it's not cycled then change 10-15% water daily (add conditioner). DO NOT overfeed, little & often (up to 6 times a day is ok at first and reduce to 3 in a couple of weeks). Keep the tanks bare bottom clean as often as req'd.

Keep a lid on all your tanks, even the fry tanks. Not only does it keep the fish in it reduces water loss & stops muck etc. getting in.

If you want to keep the sword & guppy fry then get a couple of small fry tanks 12"x8"x8" (approx. 2 gals)should be ok.

Fishkeeping is a cheap relaxing hobby

 

[eddied316]

OK, I got the fry in the 1 gallon, and the 2 mollies in the 10.

That was more work then you would think..They are SO fast. Lol.


The only thing with the 1 gallon, is that it's so small, that I dont have a light or Heater for it...So i'm not sure about that...

I'm so suprised NONE of them have died.. They're all doing great.

Anything I should get while I'm at the store today??

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

You don't need a light, fish don't really need it, it's for you & the plants.

Could do with small heater 25-50w short

Have you got powdered baby food?

More tanks for the other fry when they arrive (4 weeks for the one that has just given birth Then there's the others that are pregnant .

Imagine what I was like after transfering 375 convict fry from one tank to another (I caught, the wife counted)

See I told you fishkeeping is a cheap relaxing hobby

 

[eddied316]

HA...Riiiight...

No matter how hard you work, how fast, there's always more. But I like that.

I saw that Wal-mart has some small heaters, I guess I cold pick one up, and a thermometer.

How often do Swords give birth?

Also, I'm a little worried about the inbreeding. I'm going to sort through the fry when I can tell which is which, but say I breed a female fry, with a male that I already have, then that fry is born, would I be ok to breed THAT fry with my fry I got last night? Or an I going to have to BUY a new male everytime I want to breed?

The inbreeding thing has really got me stumped...

 

[campbellmay]

Do all these babies have a place to go? Does your LFS take them? If you're spending your money on equipment to save them all, make sure they have homes before you rescue them. I'm sure you know this, but otherwise you're going to end up with TONS of fish on your hands. Livebearers are very hard to get rid of, lol.

 

[eddied316]

I am going to call the LFS and see if they do or not. If they do, cool, if not, i'll keep some and let nature run its course. Or I could feed them to my turtle

I also know a few people who would take them, no problem.

I got Fry food today, its VERY FINE. Like powder.

 

[campbellmay]

I got Fry food today, its VERY FINE. Like powder.

I know, I have to feed mine with a wet-tipped toothpick. I found it too hard to get a small amount with your fingers. It's fun to watch them eat, though, lol.

Hopefully your LFS will take them. I called all the stores in my area (around 15 places total) and only ONE would take livebearer (molly) fry, and only if they were good-sized and in perfect health. So good luck with that.

LOL, I'm sure the turtle would be much obliged.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

The common livebearers (swords, mollys, guppys & plattys) all have a new batch every 4 weeks or so, can store sperm so after the first batch don't need a male for 6 or so births.

As for inbreeding, it can & does happen producing weaker strain of fish and I've heard that brother/sister is best avoided because of the posible problems but parent/offspring is less of a risk. I would say it would be best to avoid either mating combo. by seperating the species & buying a male or female to go with any you keep to breed.

Feeding power food is easy just chuck a small pinch in the tank (if you are worried about putting too much in the use the handle of a teaspoon. The greedy little sods will eat plenty.

As for campbellmay's comment about spending too much money and having somewhere for the fry to go. Breeding livebarers is good practice for when you start to breed egg layers that will earn you money. Lfs will often give you a bit cash or a tube of food for the common fish but you could get a pound or two for the less common ones. Selling them yourself could get you £3 or £4 each for some species.

 

[eddied316]

Thanks to the both of you for te help.

I will call my stores and see what they say, or I could do the 'ol aquabid.

I've never heard of the "less common" liveearers, so I wouldnt know where to start, but i'm always up for a challenge.

Can anyone give me the name of species?

 

[campbellmay]

Here is a link to a pinned topic on the more unusual species of Livebearers. Endlers are probably the most common unusual (oxymoron, I know) livebearers, but I still don't know any of my LFS to stock them. And of course, they can always be bought online.