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Hi, we are beginners in fish tanks.

Our Molly had fry and we don't know if they are hiding or trapped in the gravel?

Should we help them come out and put them in the breeding box?

Thanks

It would be unlikely they would be trapped in the gravel. They are likely hiding. If you have a filter, sometimes fry can get sucked in, so you can check in there as well.

Taking them out and putting them in a breeding box can be a good way to keep them safe, but keep in mind that some breeding boxes are actually made so the fry can slip through the slots, so make sure the breeding box is appropriate.

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I agree I dont think they would be in the gravel.

There are several options

1 sucked into filter.
2 another ate them (this is very common)
3 unlikly for all to die

What else is in the tank?

Keith

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This also has happened to me. When first setting up the tank the wife insisted on the large 1" sized gravel as it looked "cool". Molly babies actually come out like folded in half and then straighten themselves out. Often, the mother will birth several times, mine did like 4 times a few weeks apart. I'd occasionally see one swimming about but they'd usually stay hidden in the gravel until they were large enough to be in the tank with everyone else (at least thats what I thought). But, also keep in mind fish are canniballistic and is not at all uncommon for the fry to get eaten by others in the tank or even they're own mother

If you have regular gravel in your aquarium I doubt the fry would be trapped in the gravel. You'd probably find if they can get in they can get out. It is much more likely they've been eaten by their tank mates or parents.

In previous community tanks I've often kept live bearers for the sole purpose of easy live food for the other fish with all the resulting fry.

unfortunately, I think all of them were eaten.

thanks for the replies