my molly - pregnant?

[sushi]

hello. I wrote on other post that I bought a new molly. It's a dalmation i discovered.
Since I don't know how to know when or if shes pregant, I was wondering, if she has her fry, will she naturallyknow to birth them in the java moss, so they don't get eaten? I think she's the only one big enough in the tank to eat the fry, but i'm not sure.
Can someone tell me???
thankyou.

 

[JamesTasker]

She won't give birth to them there, but the fry will probably go there to hide after they come out (as it were). Also, livebearers eat their own young, although not just after birth where the female's body releases hormones tpo make her not hungry.

 

[snowyangel]

Unlike egg layers, live bearers have their fry live, so they don't lay their fry somewhere and besides, the fry will probably swim away from that area to more densely planted areas. I find my female guppies like to give birth near the surface so i would add floating plants and java moss there. Many fish love to eat baby fry, so keep a good eye out and it would be handy to have a spare tank waiting for them.

 

[sushi]

Is anyone able to tell me rougly how big a newly born fry is. So I can work out if the other fish in the tank are big enough to eat them. They're pretty small.
I am able to put them in my big tank you see.
Thanks for any info.

 

[snowyangel]

They're smaller then the nail on your pinky finger. Trust me, even smaller fish can eat them. I've seen even my neons eat them whole, so if you want to keep them, use a breeding trap/net or add lots of dense plants(moss is perfect). Also, add plants at the top of the tank(floating or suctioned to the side). I find most fry want to reside at the top.

 

[GuppyDude]

adding plants at the top is a great idea, most fry do like it at the top but it makes them easy targets. most are even to stupid to hide so most people just use a breeder.

gl sushi

 

[balloonmolly]

Mollies don't actually eat thier own fry.