i just bought 2 mollies and the nearly entierly black one with only smal patches of white and a VERY LARGE top fin is following my nearly entierly white one with only small dots of black and a VERY SMALL top fin around. Did i get 1 male and 1 female and if so is the male interested in mating with her
2007-07-08 14:52:44 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
The best way to tell if you have different genders is to look at the anal fins - the one on the bottom closest to the tail. Males' fins have a long thin point, and females' are fan shaped - compare these pictures of a male and female platy: http://www.drta-archiv.de/Fische/Zahnkarpfen/Platys/images/platys.jpg
If you have a male and female, they will mate.
2007-07-08 15:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are trying to mate watch closely. I said closely. Male mollies actualy have a thing (I am not sure if it is called a penis or not). Unlike humans a molly can point it where he wants without using his hands or fins. If you watch you will be able to see them in the act. It helps if they are used to you, once they are used to you they will act natural wether you are nearby or not. If theyt are not used to you they may be a little skittish at first.
Put some plastic baby grass in (from the pet store) and watch out. In 30 days you may see a few babies trying to hide. Also be careful cleaning your filter(s). I have found many live babies that were sucked up by the filters. Look at your water before dumping it if you clean the gravel. Most of them live though both ordeals!
Also you may want a breeder (plastic thing that floats in tank & you put momma in before birth). All the fish find the babies very tasty. Momma will have 20-30 but most will get eaten or die. In a breeder the babies will grow slowly but more will live. Loose in the tank only a few will make it big enough to come out of hiding but they will grow very fast.
If you get a breeder you will want some baby food to start. After a several weeks you can take a big pinch of the flake food and totaly pulverize it in your fingers until it is a very fine powder. Watch and make sure you can see them being able to eat this before you completely abandon the baby food.
You do not need baby food for babies wild in the tank, they will find plenty.
Good luck!
2007-07-08 18:50:49 · answer #2 · answered by wlff772 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The environment in the tank (the nature of the water, and the temperature) has to be "just right" for the mollies to mingle. They are also live bearers, so if they are not well fed, they are known for eating their young. I have three black mollies and never thought I'd get attached to them but I have. I got them when they days old and I watched them grow. So far no babies.
2007-07-08 14:57:50 · answer #3 · answered by brilliantyetconfused 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You may have. If you ever see him going very near her he may be trying to mate but she doesn't want to. Or its possible that their both males fighting for territory. Take it to the vet. If they are both males but the following continues, take them and put them in a larger or in separate tanks.
2007-07-08 15:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by Darna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a pair(and it sounds like you do). It would be difficult to keep them from breeding.
2007-07-08 15:04:35 · answer #5 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if they r didfrent sex they will probally mate so wait and see and rember they have a mateing seasons
2007-07-08 14:57:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋