Newbie Breeding Query + Another

[Maxx]

Hi,

I only joined this forum a few hours ago but have been reading for a few weeks, I "inherited" 2 x 44 gall tanks + various fish with a house purchase. I have a breeding query, poss even an urgent one, my "newbie" sign-on is here followed by the breeding question :

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=45766

Actually, I'll reproduce the breeding question here for clarity :

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Perhaps I might also pose a small question here as well, perhaps it should go in the breeding section but I'll ask it for now and post there if need be.

As I said, I have a Silver Molley and a Sunset Platty which appear to be heavilly pregnant. The LFS guy said they are very close, also I know from reading the breeding forum. They are both quite "big" and starting to look a little square, both have visible "dark" areas, esp the Platty.

We bought a floating breeder box which has 2 x compartments with "drop-down safety chambers" for the fry. It's difficult to know when to put the mothers in the top chambers as they are quite small (about 6" x 4" x 4") and I don't want to stress them too much. We did manage to catch the Molly and she has been in there now for a couple of hours and looks a little agitated (also, she is "poo'ing for England"). The Platty is prooving more difficult to catch.

We felt the Molly was close a couple of days ago and used a breeder net "safety net" type thing and left her in it overnight then let her out. My feeling was, to reduce stress, it might be better to aclimatise her to the net, should I perhaps do the same with the breeder box? i.e. let her out soon, then pop her back in tomorrow for a few more hours, is this likely to be MORE stressful? are they any more likely to give birth IN the box than out, or vice-versa?
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Also, I have another perhaps unrelated question :

We have the Silver Molly in the breeder unit mentioned above and have been keeping an eye on her. In the lower container there appears to be a section of "skin", do Tropical Fish discard skin layers i.e. like snakes? It's only small (about 1/20th the surface area of skin of the Molly.

Apols if this is common knowledge, I am still trying to get up to speed on these things.

TIA

M.

 

[noglet]

I don't have much experience either but personally I wouldn't put the mothers in the breeders cos they will get stressed and you don't want to lose them. Make sure you're tank is well planted so that the fry have somewhere to hide when they're born. Then you can move just the fry in the breeder and you'll be able to keep a close eye on them. You may lose some but probably not worth losing the mother over. If the tank is well planted I'm sure a few atleast will be fine. In my opinion the net breeders are better, I've had both sorts and find that they are more spacious and also have better circulation which is important. I know that my mollies wouldn't like to be stuck in a breeder, they are very active and like their space! Hope this helps a bit.

Not sure about your skin question by the way.

 

[Maxx]

Noglet, I took your advice, I wasn't very happy with putting the Molly in that small space. The Tank is quite well planted and there are some large driftwood logs with lots of nooks and crannies. Only problem is my loaches, I have a 5" Leopard Loach, 4" Clown Loach, 3 x 2" Clown Loaches and a 2" Skunk Loach, all of whom ferret around in the driftwwood and "hoover" the plants etc.

We'll just have to see how things go ....

M.

 

[noglet]

Could be a prob bearing in mind the other tank mates then!! I only have the mollies and some tetras at the mo. Maybe you could set up another tank with a different community if you're keen on breeding? Or otherwise take a chance and if you spot any fry get them in the breeder asap. Don't know what else to suggest.. sorry.