Mollies Breeding

[Kfamr]

Do any of you know much about Mollies and breeding?

One of my black mollies is dead. I thought one of the dalmations was dead last night too but it's now swimming aorund perfectly. Do you know if one of the parents dies while breeding?


Any information about Mollies at all, not just about breeding will be appreciated. Thanks.

[Rottieluver45]

I found some info or you.

On Mollies:General info
Description:
Mollies come in four main colors, silver, gold, black, and green. There is also commonly available a silver molly with black spots that is call the Dalmation Molly and a Marbled Molly with the same (white and black) colors.

Care and feeding:
Since they are omnivorous these fish will generally eat all kinds of live fresh and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. Provide hiding places. It is recommended that 1 to 1.25 teaspoons of non-iodized salt be added to the aquarium water.

Distribution:
The sailfin mollies, P. latipinna, and the short-finned mollies, P. sphenops range along the southeast coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. The Mexican Sailfin mollies come from Yucatan, Mexico.

Size - Weight:
These fish get up to 2.5 inches (6 cm).

Social Behaviors:
They are a good community fish.

Sexual Differences:
The male is slender and has a gonopodium, the female is larger with a fuller body.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
Hardness: 11-30° dGH
Ph: 7.5 to 8.2
Temp: 64-82° F (18-28° C) - Mexican Sailfin Molly P. velfera; 75-82° F (25-28° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:
These fish will readily breed. See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
This fish is readily available.

That`s all I could find...for now!

[apcrs5122]

I'm no fish expert, but last year in my class we had 2 fish tanks with Mollies in them. We started out with two at the begining of the year, and by the time school was over, we had over 20 fish We had to set up another tank to keep them all in. We had to separate the babies from the adults as soon as we could because the father will eat them.

Here's a little bit of facts from the top of my head (I tried searching for it, but didn't come up with any really good stuff, so this'll have to do ).
I think Mollies give live birth, unlike other fish.
The father fish will try to eat the babies, but the mother will try to protect them.

Ok that's it I know, it sucks, but I really don't know fish

[Aspen and Misty]

I have two Mollies who are expecting I *think*

i do have a question, my male is smaller then my female, is that ok?

Ash

[Fox-Gal]

To answer your first ?. Both parents should survive the breeding.

Mollies will breed like rabbits, But both the mother and father will eat thier young. The Father right away...the mother in time. I've seen her do it. Not all the time though....but just watch her.

If they do have babies...seperate them and go to the pet store and ask about baby food for them. They will tell you what you need. Or you can just break up the flakes really fine, but to really grow healthy....get the other food.

Size won't matter to much as long as they are old enough. But it usually works out the the male is always bigger.


Also get the salt like Rottieluver45 said, Mollies should have a little salt in their tank. Mollies are one of the few fish that can live in a salt tank, a fresh water tank or a brackish tank.

The salt will help in their growth and health. For a 10 gallon tank put in a about 1/2 teaspoon. Little more little less won't hurt them. But if you have other fish in the tank with them don't do it...tilll you find out if they can take salt. Buy Cichid salt, sold in smaller sizes, cheeper for you.

[kingrattus]

Cichid salt??
Oh please dont tell my Oscar & Jack need salt!!

[Fox-Gal]

Originally posted by kingrattus
Cichid salt??
Oh please dont tell my Oscar & Jack need salt!!

Yes salt for them too, Understand that fish stores adapt fish to fresh water and they can live fine that way.

If you don't use salt, their will live fine, But the salt will make for a healthy fish. Also it makes breeding conditions better.

[Karen]

None of our Mollies ever died after breeding. The males were usually smaller than the females.

[Fox-Gal]

OPPPS Karen right.....I re-read my post and I can't belive that I said males are larger....been a long time sense I had Mollies. They were my starter fish. I guess I have just got use to my Africans...male are larger with them. Sorry