Should I Keep Them Seperate?

[BusyMumof5]

I have 5 Molly's... all get along well although just recently the white male has been harassing and EATING the white female.
At the moment she's in a jug floating on top of the water in the tank (I only have one tank.)

If possible I want them to have fry BUT I don't want him killing her!
Should I keep them seperated or not?

 

[hughessomefish]

I have 5 Molly's... all get along well although just recently the white male has been harassing and EATING the white female.
At the moment she's in a jug floating on top of the water in the tank (I only have one tank.)

If possible I want them to have fry BUT I don't want him killing her!
Should I keep them seperated or not?

I am pretty sure what you where witnessing was to mollys mateing ,You only should seperate them if you don't want fry, otherwise I can't think of a reason why you would have to seperate them.

 

[BusyMumof5]

Well, I originally done it because he was biting her - she had next to no fins left...

I've put her back in and watched the mate happen .... it was fast!

 

[hughessomefish]

Yes if you have males in females together expect fry, they repoduce very fast, When I was new to the hobby I use to think the females where in harms way but I have never had any kill each other.

 

[BusyMumof5]

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

In mollies, as opposed to many other poeciliids, some of the fish can be quite aggressive. It is entirely possible that the male may have actually been causing damage to the female. Although mollies in general are quite peaceful fish, there are indeed those that pose a threat to others of their own species.