Please Advice... Molly Ready To Burst At Any Time

[Mayu]

I bought some mollies for my aquarium and everything was going great. then one started to get bigger and bigger. I didn't really notice till a few days ago.

A local fish expert came over to see if the molly maybe had swim bladder, but the molly is swimming like normal, and eating really well... then he said... "congratulations, looks like your molly is pregnant".

I was like, Wow, ok... I was then informed that mollies, and I quote, "breed like mosquitos in a rainforest".

So now I'm looking at my tank which as a few very active mollies, 3 head/tail light tetras and some X-ray bellies thinking... should I get more plants or use this

I have silk plants and one real grass plant... should I get more or should I get the contraption above?

 

[Bebobb]

I don't know about those tetras, but live bearer fry is so small, that most likely, the parents will either eat the fry, or the other fish will. Unless you want to keep the fry, then you could either get one of those, or a breeding trap to put the fry in untill they are large enough they don't get eaten by the other fish.

 

[Mayu]

I definatly want to keep the fry. I'm going to be getting a 75 gallon tank soon, so I'll be able to handle them when they get older. that's why I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing by getting that nursery.

I just hear so many different opinions on the subject that I thought I'd come here and get some advice.

 

[hughessomefish]

there are some baby hide out things sold at stores personaly they don't work you could get a net that clips on side of the tank and catch the babys as the mother molly drops them

 

[Assaye]

I'd get a breeding trap (either net or plastic) and put the female in there until she gives birth, and then remove her.

If left in the tank, the fry will either get eaten or sucked into the filter . . . that isn't necessarily a bad thing if you don't want to have to rehome lots of babies (and you will have to rehome some unless you have a massive tank).

 

[Mayu]

If I go with a nursery trap... what do you all think of this one http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14698&prodid=28959&catid=3

is that a good nursery? The fry kind of fall into a different section so the mom can't get to them, and once they're safe, you can release mom.

I do want to keep as many as possible. I only have a few fish in this current tank, and I'm getting a 75 gallon one... so it would be nice to have free fish instead of having to go out and buy more. LOL

 

[FWFishLover]

Definitely Put Her In Another Tank With Plenty Of Hiding Spots For The Fry And When She Has No More Fry Coming Out For I Think At Least Three Hours Put Her Back In The Other Tank.

 

[Mayu]

I don't have another tank right now, and I won't be getting the new one in time. The only other tank I have is a 15 gallon with a very fiesty betta that would kill her instantly.

 

[Mayu]

What if I get a small 2 gallon tank? Would that be appropriate as a nursery for one molly?

 

[FWFishLover]

If You Live In The US. Petco Sells 10g's For like $15 Also If You Randomly Find Fry In The Tank Dont Use A Net Catcher Use A Kitchen Tool Kinda Like A Measuring Spoon (I Hope You Know What That Is LOL, Its Not Like A Regular Spoon, It Is Shaped Like A Pot. But The Size Of A Net. If You Dont Know What I Mean Its Ok) As Long As It Has No Holes In It Its Fine.

 

[Mayu]

I'm running out tomorrow to probably get a 10 gallon tank. (We don't have a petco or petsmart nearby... the closest is 3 hours away.) but in a neighboring town there is a pet store that specialize in aquatics.

is it safe to transfer her when she's that pregnant? I heard there's a risk of her miscarrying if stressed.

 

[tqfan]

we got over run by guppies, due to the fry managing to survive in the plants floating around the tank. they are quite quick, and i've never seen any go near the filter, let alone get sucked in...

a breeding trap, as mentioned, would probably be your best bet, though.

 

[hughessomefish]

mayu stop before you go to petco to get the 10 gallon which will cost you 60$ not 15$ keep in mind that tank wont be cycled for a good month or two,and the baby fish would be dead in a un cycled tank faster than a regular fish in a uncycled tank your best thing for you to do is to go to petco and get one of the traps,and put it in the tank and it will clip to the sides,and it is surely fine to catch the fry with a net you don't need to use a kitchen "thing"

once again your 98% better off getting one of these at that store http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14698&prodid=28959&catid=3

i highly stress you pick this option good luck mayu

 

[FWFishLover]

I'm running out tomorrow to probably get a 10 gallon tank. (We don't have a petco or petsmart nearby... the closest is 3 hours away.) but in a neighboring town there is a pet store that specialize in aquatics.

is it safe to transfer her when she's that pregnant? I heard there's a risk of her miscarrying if stressed.

Yes Thats Why You Need A Birth Tank Cuz Then She Can Have Babies Unstressed.

mayu stop before you go to petco to get the 10 gallon which will cost you 60$ not 15$ keep in mind that tank wont be cycled for a good month or two,and the baby fish would be dead in a un cycled tank faster than a regular fish in a uncycled tank your best thing for you to do is to go to petco and get one of the traps,and put it in the tank and it will clip to the sides,and it is surely fine to catch the fry with a net you don't need to use a kitchen "thing"

once again your 98% better off getting one of these at that store http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14698&prodid=28959&catid=3

i highly stress you pick this option good luck mayu

I've SEEN The Basic Tank Only Glass 10g Tanks FOR $15. $14.99 If You Wanna Be Exact. And I Found Out The "Kitchen Thing" Is A Turkey Baster.
The Thing You Recommend Is A Bad Choice Because First Of All It Must Be 1g At The Most And Mollies Average 32 Fry And Probably More For His Seeing How Big It Is. Also They Need A Surplus Of Hiding Spots And ROOM TO SWIM

 

[hughessomefish]

Yes i understand 15$ but you would have to buy filter and allheater and stuff,putting that aside that molly wil only have 20ish and i do agree a 10 gallon would work....but the tank wouldnt be cycled and that molly is due soon in mayu sitution a net or floating thing works best log term the 10 gallon works but short turn the net /plastic thing trap will work




Hope i didn't create to much of a ster with my clashing oppinion