Panicking About Fry!

[corpse fish]

My black female molly is pregnant, and I may be exaggerating, but I think she might be giving birth. Her anal fin is very white, and she is chasing the other fish sround the tank aggressively (has been for the past week or so). I don't have any breeder tank set up seeing as how I didn't expect her to give birth so soon. Theres only a few plants in there, so I dont know what to do!!!! I have another tank, but it's not set up, but I do have a heater in there, although no filter for it. PLEASE help!!!!

 

[Annastasia]

She sounds like she is getting ready to give birth. If there are a few plants, most likely the fry will head for those. Probably your best bet would be to get a breeder net to keep the fry in for a bit since the other tank doesn't sound ready. Do you have a breeder net? Or can you get one tomorrow?

f you can get one soon, you can always take a large net and arrange it so that the net dangles into the water, and then add some gravel to weigh down the net. This is very temporary, and it shouldn't be used for long.

If you can't get a breeder net or anything, probably your best bet would be to just let the fry stay in the main tank for this batch, then get your breeder tank set-up for the next batch. I wrote an article on the breeder tank if you want to read it...http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=116162

Best of luck!

 

[corpse fish]

Thanks Annastasia! I don't have a breeder net, and im pretty sure I dont have any netting material, but would I be able to do the same with some sort of plastic bag, like a ziplock without the zip part? then just like tape it to a corner of the tank and let some water get in or something? I think I'll be able to go tomorrow to the pet store, and if i get a filter to put in my current tank and the already cycled filter in my breeder tank, would that be ok? Sorry if i sound stupid I'm just really panicky

 

[Annastasia]

I'm not quite sure about the Ziploc. It could be really hard to make it so some water will flow through without letting the babies out. She hasn't had any babies yet, right? So maybe she'll wait until tomorrow, otherwise I'd just let them hide in the plants.

Yes, if you got a filter you could transfer your old filter to there and you'd get a cycled tank. But you'd also be wiping out a lot of your beneficial bacteria in your main tank. Depeding on what kind of filter you have, could you just put the sponge part or something in the breeder tank? Maybe with some gravel from your established tank?

 

[corpse fish]

I have a power filter, one without a bio-wheel, and do you mean the little thing where all the carbon is held? I haven't seen any fry, so i think she'll wait til tomorrow, then I'll get a breeder's net and a filter for the breeding tank.

 

[Annastasia]

Yeah, that will work...but I was hoping you had an Aquaclear or something so you could just take the sponge out.

Honestly, what I would do for this batch, is grow them up a bit in the breeder net first. Take the filter for your new tank, and run it in your main tank. In a week or so, you can transfer it to your fry tank and stick the fry in there with it. When you get the filter, make sure it will work for the fry and won't blow them all around the tank.

 

[corpse fish]

Sounds like an awesome plan, thanks Annastasia!

 

[Annastasia]

No problems, I'm glad I could help!

One other thing...for the main tank, if she hasn't given birth by tomorrow...I'd look into getting some floating plants. Those are really great for fry to hide in, and it will increase their survival chances by a lot.