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I got a pregnant black molly on the 21st. She was very pregnant then. Noticeable to those who dont know about fish. I thought shed have the fry within a day or two. About a week ago, I noticed she looked boxy so I thought for sure itd be that day or the nxt. So livebearers are pregnant up to about 35 days at the most. If she was already way fat on the 21st and that was 11 days ago, shouldnt she have delivered by now? I cant believe she hasnt. Can they "hold their babies in"? She is the most active fish in the tank. Always swimming and eating well. Could something be keeping her from delivering?
She is in a atnk with 2 small guppies, an algea eater and a male dalmation molly. He doesnt bother her. Anyone got any ideas? The tank is in a mini cycle but the ammo is only about 0.50 at the most. No signs of distress. Water change today and I raised the temp a couple of degrees over about a 24 hour period. Anything I can do to help along? I had another black molly in that tank who was pregnant. She gave birth to about 25 fry and then she looked awful. She looked hump backed. She died the next day. I had a black molly a couple of years ago who had about 80 huge fry. I mean these things were big!!!! The same thing happened to her.

I take that back. I just tested the water and the ammo is 100, nitrI is 0 and nitrA is about 10-20.

Last edited by ladiejl at 01-Nov-2005 02:24

Last edited by ladiejl at 01-Nov-2005 02:55

it is true that fish can "hold they fry in" sometimes if a fish is stressed out, she can hold them until she feels safe. also make sure there are plenty of places for the fry to hide, they like alot of plants, i personally use jave moss clumps in a breeding net.

usually it take i think 28-32 days is what i've been told, but she may just feel a little stressed from the move...

raising the tank temp usually will stimulate the female to give birth..

i'd say hold out a few days... sometimes the females if they get stressed can hold out too long and abort all the fry..
Good luck,
Chelle

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

Another thing is, every time I go watch her, shes pooping...string after string

a note is not to force her, dont try and move her, that may just stress her out too much, the water change doesn't help either. just let her be, and when u forget about it they will probably drop. as for the dieing females, try after she drops adding her into a smaller tank with salt and cover, she should begin to get back condition.

yeah mollies are poop factories... not so much as gold fish.. but.. they are constantly eating algae in the tank and picking at food on the ground.. mine act like they're starving but get fed three times a day... :hrugs::

Chelle

*Chelle*
_______________________________________________
I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

"she can hold them until she feels safe. also make sure there are plenty of places for the fry to hide, they like alot of plants, i personally use jave moss clumps in a breeding net."

I fixed lots of plants in there very early yesterday morn but she never went and hid in them. There is a hollow log in there also. I have a breeding net that I have put her in several times after seeing her hiding but after a couple of hours of not doing anything, I took her out. I have some Java moss too. Did you mean just to drop the moss on top of the water inside the breeding net? Its going on 12 days now since I got. As I said, she was very big then. 3/4's of her pregnant time is gone at least because you have to consider the fact that she had to be pregnant at least two weeks before I got her.I cant tell she has gotten any bigger. Funny if all this time, I thought she was preg and she was just fat!!! She stays out in the open water most of the time. The fish in that tank never even stay together at all. there are just two small guppies and a male molly with her. Hes very sweet and never acknowledges her. I dont think she has a reason to be scared. But I guess time will tell........