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I have a 10 gal tank, and my fish stopped multiplying.

I have three mollys: A white dolmation female that has birthed two times, A black one (female when I got it, but now it is showing masculine charictoristics), and an Orenge one. I had a White half-sailfin, but he died. It has been several months and they have not had any babies? They are still young, so they should still be fertile.

I also have 3 Orenge/Black Plattys, 2 female and one male. I have had them for a few months with no luck as to breeding, In addition to that, they attacked my Male swordtail.

Why am I having such problums???? :#(

Inky

Are all these fish in your 10? If so, you are pretty overstocked. The mollies alone are too big for the 10 and so is the sword tail. Yor fish may be having babies and then eating them before you can see them.

The first thing you should do is remove some of the fish. If your 46 gal is empty the mollies and sword tail would be a good addition.

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Yep, in such a confined space such large
fish as mollies and swordtails can definetly devour
a whole litter of fry in no time.
Often male mollies will follow a female around as she
gives birth eating the "tender morsels" as soon as they
are born.
Your 10g is far overstocked. Neither mollies nor swordies
belong in a 10g tank. Those fish you have all need a tank 30g at least for the group.


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The mollys are about an inch.... I've had mollys in this tank before. These are not sailfin mollys or "fancy" mollys, they are the "common" ones, which don't get nearly as big. In fact one of the is about 1/2 inch long. The swordtail died unfortunatly, because the mollys nipped its tail. So now its just 3 Mollys 3 Plattys and 2 Danios (Which I am sad to say ate my feeder guppies). The fish are all an inch or under. Thats eight out of ten inches. All the fish are healty, the only difference is that the females are not getting pregnant (I would notice if they were... I have had Mollys/Plattys/Guppies since I was five, and I have never had this problum) I think that it has something to do with the addition of the orenge one, but I am uncertain...

The babies are in a seperate tank (they are still to young) and are aging normally...

Last edited by Inkling at 10-Dec-2005 18:54

Last edited by Inkling at 10-Dec-2005 18:55

Inky

The 46 Gal is empty now, because I havent quite decided what I want to do with it, plus it will be a few weeks before I can get anyfish for it, I have to add a filter, a heater, and I want to give my plants a chance to grow, plus I need some more decorations (I have four plastic plants so far )All this gets pricy and I am a collage student working two jobs... (basically I can get a few things a week.)

Would the Mollys do well with angels and blue gormies? (I know I spelled that wrong ) I could revise my 46 gal:

2 angels
2 blue gormies
3 Mollys
Snails?
1 Pleco? Catfish (not sure of the name- it gets about 6" max)


Then for the 10 Gal:

3 Plattys
2 Danios + 3 new ones? (They like to school right?) Or a small alge eater that gets about 3"?

Any other suggestions?

I also have a feeling that the small ornge one could be a platty, even though it was in the molly tank at the store and has some molly charictoristics? It very short fins and although its small, has a rounder body than the other mollys ? It could just be that it doesnt recognise the colors of the other two mollys or he is too young? Not sure?

Last edited by Inkling at 10-Dec-2005 18:52

Inky

The mollys are about an inch.... I've had mollys in this tank before. These are not sailfin mollys or "fancy" mollys, they are the "common" ones, which don't get nearly as big. In fact one of the is about 1/2 inch long. The swordtail died unfortunatly, because the mollys nipped its tail. So now its just 3 Mollys 3 Plattys and 2 Danios (Which I am sad to say ate my feeder guppies). The fish are all an inch or under. Thats eight out of ten inches

Even common Mollies, if they are species Poecilia Schenops, which include: Black Molly, Silver Molly, grow to 3 inches.
Species Poecilia Latipinna, which include Sailfin Mollies, Dalmation Mollies, Lyretail Mollies, all grow to 4-6 inches.
Species Poecilia Velifera includes the green sailfin, which can reach 7 inches, though most are 5-6 inches.

There are no "Common" mollies that grow less than 2.5-3 inches. Ballon Mollies, are spinally deformed fish, and are the only "common" molly i am aware of that grows to less than 2 inches.

These fish cannot be kept in a 10g tank without being stunted, which is cruel, painful, and results in a premature death of the fish.
You need a bigger tank, Im sorry. Thats just the way it is.
Im not trying to be mean or discourage you from liking Mollies, just that they, and their cousins the Swordtails, are way too big for a 10g tank.
You could upgrade to a 20 or 30g tank and would have plenty of room for all these fish, and their fry.
Then you would likely get fry to survive.
Female livebearers can produce viable fry at about 1/2 inch, or around 3 months of age.

Also, when considering inches, you add inches of full adult size:
3 Mollies x 2.5 inches = 7.5 inches
3 Platys x 2 inches = 6 inches
2 Danios x 2 inches = 4 inches.
Total adult fish inches= 17.5 inches.
Perfect stock for a 20g tank.


Last edited by So_Very_Sneaky at 10-Dec-2005 19:23

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I would agree it is certainly the tank size. It is not the best conditions for live breeding.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
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Keith

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Would they do well with angels, snails, and a spotted catfish? If so, I can move them to my 46-gal.

Inky

Yes they would do much better in a 46g tank.
Just remember that the "spotted catfish"
if it is a pictus will eat young fish.


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I'm still planning the tank carefully... for the 46 gal I am thinking:

1 Butterfly Fish
1 Angelfish
5 Mollys
and some mysterious bottom feeder that I can not seem to decide upon.... I may or may not add 2 Danios to the mix (they are currently in my 10 gal and seem quite happy and show no signs of discomfort, if they would be fine in the 46 gal with the others then by all means I'll put them in there)


PS My Dalmation is pregnant again!!!!! She is currently in a "breeder" tank-thingy that I got today, so that (hopefully) most of/all of the fry will survive

Inky