Ahh! Unexpected Birth From My Molly!

[AndyLH88]

Ahh! So I come down at 2am for a drink and I decide to look at my fish tank to see if they're all sleeping. I notice something really small moving and I thought it was some sort of bug in the water so I turn on the light. Turns out my molly gave birth to about 6-8 fry! I am totally unprepared for this! She didn't look pregnant at all! My question is, should the fry be fine through the night and morning before I can rush to the petstore to buy a breeder/fry net? Will they be eaten by any chance? There's also a male dwarf gourami, 2 male platies, and a male swordtail in the tank. Is it common for them to eat the fry? Thanks!

 

[tropicalgirl2007]

Hiya

My mollies do this to me all the time!! the fist time I wasn't ready and she had 7, I rushed to get a net and they were still there when I got back. However it is common for them to eat fry, even mummy will eat her own! I hope you still have some left, let me know how you get on.

Becky

 

[AndyLH88]

Hiya

My mollies do this to me all the time!! the fist time I wasn't ready and she had 7, I rushed to get a net and they were still there when I got back. However it is common for them to eat fry, even mummy will eat her own! I hope you still have some left, let me know how you get on.

Becky

Sadly, I woke up today to see the last 2 fry be eaten by my gourami and one of my platies. And to top it off, after just checking the water, I have a small nitrite spike(0.25ppm) because I guess when I changed my filter, it took out alittle too much of the beneficial bacteria. Oh well.

 

[ptyson21]

do you keep any moss in your tank? I have found ever since i added moss i have had loads of guppy fry. Its only natural that they get eaten so add some moss for a hdin place for them n you will soon have plenty n not know what to do with them all.

 

[tropicalgirl2007]

Oh dear!

Well maybe you should go and get a breeding trap, and wait for another 4 weeks, at least you can be ready next time. Sorry about your first batch though.

Becky

 

[ptyson21]

I tried using a breeding trap but it just seemed cruel but thats my opinion, everyone is different, as i said try moss, i have java moss.