Mollies, Immaculate Conception???

[Kiefels]

H'

I'm a little bit of a newbie to Tropical fish and I have been looking through multiple sources for information and keep drawing a BLANK.

I have read that female Guppies can hold sperm for some period of time allowing them to get pregnant without a Male present. My question is:

Is this also true for the Mollie?

Reason:

I bought 2 FEMALE Dalmation mollies from my local fish and pond centre. They are definitely females because of the fan anal fin. (No Gonopodium)
2 weeks after introduction into an empty newly started aquarium I had 5 new ickle(Little) Mollies then 2 days after that I had 13 ickle Mollies.

Naturally I assumed they arrived pregnant from the shop.

I have since introduced 3 MALE guppies and now 11 weeks after setting up the aquarium I have MORE Ickle Mollies.

Now either I have had the immaculate conception thingy or the Male Guppies have crossed into unchartered waters(If it is possible?) or Mollies can save sperm like the Guppies.

Could somebody shed some light for me please beacause I have a rapidly expanding Molly family that to be honest, I don't want.

I now have 24 Mollies (including Adults) and my other Adult is a couple of days from giving birth also.

What is going on?

Thank you in advance for anyone that can shed some light for me.

 

[MAM]

yes, this is true for mollies, as well as platies and swordtails.

 

[William]

MAM is right, welcome to the forum mate

 

[sylvia]

Though it is most likely that they gave birth due to stored sperm, it is also very easy for mollies and guppies to hybridize and the resulting fry look very much like pure mollies.

 

[Kiefels]

Thank you for clearing that up for me.

Come to mention it some of the first brood and now the second are Guppy coloured (Brownish) with just a couple of spots. Then there ar esome that are almost completely black with some white spots on their underbelly. And I have white ones with a few black spots.

Thnx William I am honered to be part of a thriving community.

Anybody want any Dalmation Moppies? :lol Ha, ha!

 

[ferrikins]

Though it is most likely that they gave birth due to stored sperm, it is also very easy for mollies and guppies to hybridize and the resulting fry look very much like pure mollies.

is it

I heard about it but never seen it, and don't beleave it at all. though not getting into that debate again.

and this from someone wanting to cross guppies and matalic's together. (me)

yep they can hold sperm but it more likely as they bith so soon after buying they where nice and preg when you got them.

also I notic you said you had more males than female, if so it should be the other way round or the males will harrass he females to death.

good luck with your fry

 

[Kiefels]

The Male Guppies don't harass the Mollies at all (only each other). This is why I came up with sperm storage idea.

I know that the Mollies must have been pregnant when I bought them as it was only a fortnight until the fry appeared. It was the second brood that I was slightly puzzled about.

 

[ferrikins]

The Male Guppies don't harass the Mollies at all (only each other). This is why I came up with sperm storage idea.

I know that the Mollies must have been pregnant when I bought them as it was only a fortnight until the fry appeared. It was the second brood that I was slightly puzzled about.

sorry I miss read your post ) . I thought you had more molly male's than female.

If these are crosses (i dout they are though.) get some pics, if you can I'd love to see them.

I had a dalmation litter and they where all sorts of colors, even though they came out with color there pattens became more apparent ar the got older.

I very much dout the guppy is the father, it more likely they where mated to a brown male molly at the LFS.

oh and if you run out of room for the fry, ask your LFS if they will take some.