Our mollie has just had about 20 babies, but the odd thing is...?

Question

there's only been her and a rainbow danio in the tank for at least 2 months! There've never been any male mollies in the tank. How on earth has she managed this feat? Also, what are the chances of any babies surviving without a net breeder? Thanks.

Update: There's about 12 still going strong from what I can see, there's lots of plant life as it's got a bit overgrown lately and they're largely hiding in this however some are learning it's not a good idea to play chicken with the danio!

Answer 1

Female livebearers like mollies have the ability to store packets of sperm inside their bodies for later use. They can also reabsorb pregnancies when conditions aren't good.

So, your answer is that your molly was already pregnant when you got her but for whatever reason she chose to wait a while before giving birth.

Their chances for survival depend on whether you have anywhere in the tank for them to hide. Fine leaved plants, large pebbles, or piles of marbles in the tank will ensure that the strongest and smartest of the fry have a good chance. A breeder net or box keeps them from being eaten but often restricts water flow too so that many fry die from poor water quality. The best way to ensure maximum survival is to have the mother give birth in the net and then move the fry to a growout tank.

But don't worry... she's probably going to keep having fry for several months, and the more of them survive the more you have to worry about your tank being overstocked!

Answer 2

This isn't really that amazing, sorry. Mollies can be pregnant for a long time and hold 26 pouches of sperm. Find a jar or something to put them in for now. Scoop them up and make sure none are eaten, so hurry. For now keep them in a jar filled with dechlorinated and salinified water. When you do go to the store, I recommend getting a two or three way plastic box breeder instead of a net breeder. These are much better because you can watch the fish easily as they grow. Also get some hikari first bites or small fry, first bites is better and cheaper, so get it if you can. I bet these guys will survive, don't get discouraged if some die, for beginners on average half of the fish die. You can just put the breeder in the tank and have a nice little addition to your tank.

Answer 3

Mollies and most of the popular live-bearing fishes have the capability of storing "sperm packets" from their very first insemination for several gestations. Also 2 months would be within the range of a normal gestation period,perhaps moving the fish two months ago delayed the event.
If the fry are still surviving after a few days there is a very good chance that most will grow up. Give them good water conditions and perhaps a few bunch plants for cover,and maybe a little vegetable matter in their diets and they should be fine.

Answer 4

The chances of your babies surviving are great, if it's anything like mine! My molly just had babies about a week ago, and because we don't want babies, we didn't do anything special (like put the babies in a breeding tank or a net). Unfortunately, a week later the babies are doing great, and not one of my three mollies or one platy have even so much as given a glance to them!!! I am now stuck with 20 molly babies and two females (the pet store guy said they were males, which is why we are in this situation in the first place!) that I want to get rid of ASAP, without killing them. EEK!!! Just think about what you are going to do with your babies, because the more they grow, the more crowded your tank will get.

Answer 5

That's actually pretty common and happened to me the first time I bought mollies. It freaked me out, too. Mollies can hold onto sperm for several months before they use it. I've never used a net breeder, but I did make sure that there were plenty of places for the fry to hide. Unfortunately, they can become fish food if they're not fast enough.

Answer 6

That's exciting! About the question, when you buy live-bearers from the store they are usually already pregnant! Even if they are with a male fish for less than a day.

Secondly, if you're not getting a net breeder I would suggest getting a tank divider (they have these at pet stores) . Another option is to buy lots of plants for them to hide in so that they don't get eaten.

This is another fact, after giving birth she will probably give birth (if she's healthy) six more times, once a month. So I would suggest preparing yourself and getting a divider or separate tank.

GOOD LUCK! =D

Answer 7

As long as there is lots of plants and places only the fry can get they should be fine. A molly can drop fry up to 8 times from one pregnancy so if she was pregnant when you got her she could have babies monthly for the next 7 months without a male.

Answer 8

Depends on how many hiding places are in the tank.
If you want to keep the babies put in plants like hornwort or java moss, and/or put those tiny terra cotta pots in them upside down (the hole in the bottom is big enough for babies but not for mom).

Mollies can hold semen for quite some time so she might not have really even been pregnant when you got her, but had mated. They can have up to 3 birthings from one insemination. Crazy huh?

Answer 9

Female livebearers can store sperm when courting. This is why sometime, people are shocked because their fish gave birth and there was no courting in the tank.

The chances are of a fry surviving depending on other thing 1] amound of kiding places your tank has 2] the amount of food given.

Answer 10

Well, unlike Guppies, Mollies take 8 weeks to give birth from being with the male and you have had her for that amount of time. Get a breeding trap to keep them in cos they are only cheap and you will save all of them.