Molly Dropping. Couple Questions.

Hey. I'm pretty new to keeping tropical fish, I posted a couple years ago on here, but never actually got the set up off the ground until recently. Have got five mollys and had them in my tank for about two weeks now. Got four guppies yesterday, this morning found two had passed. Not quite sure what caused that yet. But the reason for me posting is:

My black molly who i thought less likely out of the three females to be pregnant gave birth (or may still currently be in the process of) to nine babies. One looks like it was born dead, i've got all fish and the mother in the little plastic thing floating on top of the water.

I wanted to know.. Do you keep a diary of when your fish gave birth so you know if you should seperate her again, or just wait until she starts giving birth then quickly get her back in the little housing thing.

With the babies do you keep them in the plastic housing thing until you release them? (doesnt look like a big birthing chamber for them to stay in)or am i supposed to put them back somewhere else? I have an exo terra faunarium i could put water from the main tank into and stick babies in until they're ready to be released or no?

How long after you notice she's giving birth do you release her back with the other adults?

I may be wrong as i am new, but my female dalmation molly looks pretty rounded as if she could drop any time. Could i possibly (once the black female is able to be let back out with the adults) take the black one out, put the dalmation one in, and let her give birth then let the babies mix?

More questions likely to come

I've put a couple pics too that i took on my blackberry. As you can see it is a newly set up tank, couple new live plants. The food in the bottom of the birthing chamber was meant to be given to the female but floated to the bottom lol.




Thanks!
Greg

Congradulations on your fish - We have lost quite a few Guppy's too - Was the tank properly cycled?
Congradulations black molly!

I am yet to have a fish give birth on me (Although I think I won't be long without...)
I think keeping a date in the diary is a good idea, and I think as good practice put her in the plastic thing for a few days, maybe a week ''just in case'' she gives birth again - It only takes one fertilisation and she can have babies for up to 6 months! So basically, be prepared!
I think you should be keeping the babies away from all other fish (I am sure Mothers included) for at least 2 weeks? (NOT sure though!) at least until they are big enough to be released..

''How long after you notice she's giving birth do you release her back with the other adults?'' <-- I would do it almost immediately as I am sure she could eat her own babies.. not sure again - sorry!

''I may be wrong as i am new, but my female dalmation molly looks pretty rounded as if she could drop any time. Could i possibly (once the black female is able to be let back out with the adults) take the black one out, put the dalmation one in, and let her give birth then let the babies mix?''
No idea, but will look forward to hearing others replies to this one...

best of luck!

(Feel free to look at my topic and vote on my poll about my 'maybe pregnant' molly!
Be interested on your views!

Alright first is your tank cycled because if it isn't you should not get any more fish till the tank is properly cycled.

Also you should be able to realse the mother back in the community tank, birthing is done, I keep my fry in the little house thing you talked about (a floating trap) for 2-3 months till the fry are bigger then the mothers and fathers and other fishes in the tanks mouths.

Many people do keep track on to when there last drop was to predict when the next one will be, I use to but currently I have taken all males out for sometime but may reintroduce some.

If you have only mollies and guppies in the tank, there is little need to isolate a female molly. Molly fry are huge compared to guppy fry and have little to fear from well fed guppies or mollies. I have found that I get about 30 surviving fry from a single drop of a molly female if she is in her own birthing tank, this is often the result after a couple of weeks.


As far as losing fish early on in a cycle, that is quite common. If you want fish to survive in a new tank, you must do frequent large water changes to maintain the ammonia and nitrite levels in the water quite low.

wow thats cool