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	Mollies
bhamon Small Fry Posts: 6 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	I have my tank all set up and letting it run about a week before I add fish to it. We decided to get a few Mollies but now that we've been reading more about them we're worried about them spawning. I read that Mollies are easy spawners and they do not eat their own fry. I'm worried about having a tank overflowing with fish after a few weeks. Should I be worried? Do they need specific conditions to breed? Is there anything I can do st make sure I don't end out with more fish than I know what to do with?. Thanks.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	Get all males. shrugs Females are often pregnant in the LFS, so it's just easier to get males. ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
solublefish Fish Addict Posts: 562 Kudos: 850 Votes: 40 Registered: 27-Feb-2004	Welcome to Fish Profiles. Kitten's idea is good. Another way of ridding your tank of fry is getting a fish that will eat fry, like a gourami or angelfish.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
bhamon Small Fry Posts: 6 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	How do I tell the difference between the male and female? Is it only the anal fin?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	And the gravid spot in the females... well, in guppies anyway. I think it's the same in mollies, though I could be wrong. The only mollies in our house are my sister's, and they're all male. The anal fin is probably the easiest, though. ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
Demosthenes9 Mega Fish Posts: 1290 Kudos: 708 Votes: 0 Registered: 01-Mar-2003	The females are usualy fatter, it's actually quite easy to tail with the anal tail method... Males have an anal tail like so ---, sort of spiky string like things usually parallel to their bodies, while females have triangular anal fins. I have three mollies, and I can assure you, I do believe that they will eat their fry if there are no hiding places. Also, molly fry are harder than most livebearer fry to keep alive. Mollies, I have heard, are the more sensitive of the livebearers, especially fancy ones.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
solublefish Fish Addict Posts: 562 Kudos: 850 Votes: 40 Registered: 27-Feb-2004	Male mollies will have something that is called a gonopodium (a modified anal fin that other's have mentioned). The males anal fin look pointy, and the females is fan-shaped. This is a sure-fire way to tell them apart. Interesting note: All male livebeares except those in the goodeidae family have the gonopodium. The males in the goodeidae family have a fan shaped anal fin as well.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
Demosthenes9 Mega Fish Posts: 1290 Kudos: 708 Votes: 0 Registered: 01-Mar-2003	I just reread your post... you have let the tank run for a week, as a petstore has told you, most likely, but have you cycled it? I'm sorry if you already have, but I just want to be sure before you dump mollies in there, as they are not good fish to cycle with.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
bhamon Small Fry Posts: 6 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 21-Jul-2004	Okay I thought I was cycling the tank this way. We set-up the tank, added the cycle and aqua plus with some aquarium salt (for a brackish tank). We did all of that Sunday hoping to go tonight to pick-up our fish. Is there something else I need to do before adding the fish? We're beginners about this and I had thought we were doing everything right.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
Demosthenes9 Mega Fish Posts: 1290 Kudos: 708 Votes: 0 Registered: 01-Mar-2003	You've added cycle... hmmm.... If you've added cycle, than you will probably be good to go, but if you let the cycle sit too long, you may end up having too much problem, especially if the bacteria did not have a food source (i.e. ammonia). I would add clear liquid ammonia with the cycle and let it sit, when your tests show nitrates and no nitrites or ammonia, then your tank is cycled, and you can add your fish.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
frostjam Fingerling Posts: 36 Kudos: 58 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-May-2004	In my experience withsailfin mollys, they are quite hardy during the cycle. My female became pregnant during the cycle and showed no ill effects during the cycle. the fry are devloping well (in a seperate tank) and don't seem to have encounted any problems. However I only have experience with sailfin mollys. best of luck
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46
ronnfive Enthusiast Posts: 188 Kudos: 219 Votes: 0 Registered: 28-Jul-2004	-back in your first question... yip sometimes, they need conditioning like feeding more and frequent water changes, but mostly they'll just do, because they are prolific. in my case, some of my mollies eat their fry and some dont!] then, if you keep all males perhaps they will fight... because they are territorial, (correct me if i'm wrong, i appreciate it!) to avoid overflowing with fish, i suggest that you get at least 1 or 2 angels. they will help to avoid overpopulation in your aquarium... [span class="edited"][Edited by ronnfive 2004-07-29 20:38][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:46


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