PREGNANT BALLOON MOLLY!

[nikv04]

I HAVE A BALLOON MOLLY THAT IS EXPECTING, BUT I WAS EXPECTING THEM ABOUT A WEEK AGO. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE ONE TIME WITH THE SAME KIND OF FISH, AND SHE ENDED UP DYING. CAN ANYONE HELP? ANYONE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

 

[WILDER]

Wouldn't worry to much, livebearers sometimes pick when they want to have them, they can delay them in the wild for a few days, same as us we sometimes go over our date.

 

[nikv04]

yeah but it seems like its too long....I dont want her to die like my other one! Anybody please help!

 

[Jen21]

Sometimes they take a little longer...just keep an eye on her, she will probably have them when you least expect it

 

[Angry_Platy]

She will have them at the most inconvenient time to you.

Good luck with the fry.....when they arrive

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

yeah but it seems like its too long....I dont want her to die like my other one! Anybody please help!

How long has she been pregnant roughly and how long has she been in the breeding trap/tank now? what are your recent ammonia, nitrate and nitrite stats?
Livebearer pregnancys do vary alot but if your water quality or tank conditions aern't up to scratch this can also make the mother fish hold off for longer.

 

[nikv04]

as far as i know everything is fine with my water....no other problem fish. She was pregnant when I got her, but just barely. I have had her for a month and 3 days now. She has been in the breeder for about the past week. but i take her out during the day because im home and only put her in it at night. Just cant figure it out. Thank you all so much for your input!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It sounds like to me shes going to have a large batch of fry, you would be better off just making some realy heavily planted areas in the main tank and letting the molly give birth in there with the other fish as long as she doesn't get too harrassed by them- i think the putting in and taking out of the breeding trap everyday is stressing her out too much and thus delaying the birth if she is ready so a couple of days free in the tank will do her good. Even if she gives birth in the main tank and some of the fry get eaten, at least you don't run as much risk of her dying during giving birth or aborting her fry.
Molly pregnancys can on the other hand last up to 2months so it is best you just leave her in the main tank for a bit longer as she may also not be ready yet. You can read up on the pinned articles in the livebearer section for more about fry raising
To help aid her give birth successfully and have healthy fry try and feed her lots of high protein foods like freezdried daphinia/tubifex/bloodworms/krill and cooked de-shelled chopped up peas and try and not keep the tank lights on for too long(keep it to 7hrs) as this will help lower stress levels and give her more energy .

 

[nikv04]

thank you so much