One stress versus another...

[Pysgodyn]

I have a pregnant molly. Now she isn't as large as my other molly was when she dropped, but she's being pestered badly by the male. This has only happened (as persistent as this) yesterday really - he keeps swimming rings around her - demanding attention - and just won't leave her alone. He doesn't have much to say to the other molly (who gave birth over a week ago - no fry survived by the way - didn't even see any).

I suspect that this MAY be because she's close to dropping (eventhough she hasn't gotten as large as the other one). Because I was worried he was stressing her out, against my previous decision of leaving them alone to do what they do, I've put her in the breeding trap. Do you guys reckon she'll get more stressed out in there, than she would be with a big horny "Darth Vader" chasing after her every waking minute, or have I done the right thing??

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The male is chasing her because he is trying to stress her out so she'll give birth quicker and he can mate with her and also eat the fry in some situations...
Normally i'd be against mollys in breeding nets because they're a bit too big for comfort, but if you think the situation is getting desperate and you realy want some fry it might be worth at least separating her for a day or 2.
What you realy don't want is for he to get stressed to her limits and die during giving birth but you also don't want her to be in the net for more than 2days...
I would try putting her in the net for a day with some peices of plant in a shaded area of the tank with good flow from the filter and see how she does.
If she appears more stressed put her back in the tank but at least she gets some time to her own in the net.
If you realy want fry you should go out and get a fry tank, preferably a 10gal for molly fry and get it cycled; you can also put future pregnant mollys in the tank when its empty. You could get the tank cycled within 3days if you run the new tanks filter in your established tank alongside its filter so it can gather the good bacteria it needs and then put it into the 10gal with some established tank water

 

[Pysgodyn]

Thanks again Tokis - I DO have a 7 gal (imperial) tank at the ready for whenever I need it. It has water from the original tank in it at the moment (and a Fluval 1), but what I was thinking of doing was this... -->

i) Wait for the tank to be needed
ii) Empty the water from the 7 gal tank
iii) Move 7 gal from the established tank to the 7 gal tank
iv)Switch the heater on (to maintain the temperature after the water shift)
v) Move the necessary fish/fry

Your idea of putting the fluval 1 in my established tank in the meantime sounds great to me - I'll go and move it now.

After reading your 'livebearers' thread, and having a good think about things, I hadn't really planned on moving any fry for 'upbringing' purposes... I'm more concerned about a stressed out mother to be honest.

Is there any harm in carrying out the above regime i) - v) regardless and moving the molly to a tank of her own until she DOES give birth?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would suggest moving her to the new tank, as long as you cycle it and get the water stats as close as posible to the main tank and its temp, there shouldn't be a problem putting her in it

 

[Pysgodyn]

Coooooeel Thanking you, chick!
This forum is sooooo helpful