Molly Fry Getting Big

[rainbowcharmer]

So the molly fry that appeared in my tank the day after I brought my mollies home are getting pretty big. I think they are about 5 weeks old now. 3 survived out of the 8 that I originally counted. All three still appear to be female, and both the mollies that I bought at the LFS are female. No more fry have been born, so I'm a little confused there since I was told repeatedly that they will continue to have babies every 28-30 days for at least a few months. So... that apparently isn't always true?

Also, I read somewhere that young mollies still have the ability to 'change gender', and tend to do so if there is a lack of one gender in the tank. I assume for preservation of the species. I'm wondering though, if that is actually true, how long until that stage is passed? Any males that turn up will be taken to the LFS for resale, and I hope to eventually have a non-breeding group of mollies.

I'm also wondering what the sexual maturity of molly fry is. How old before they can start breeding, just in case I'm missing something and the three are not actually female. I'm almost positive that all three still have the fin shape, etc of female fish - but in case I am wrong, I want to hopefully head off any breeding before it can happen.

Thanks!

Emms

 

[starrynightxxi]

the females can hold onto sperm, which is why they can continue to have fry, and I wouldn't put it past them to be over their baby-bearing days just yet because as soon as you decide they won't you'll have a little surprise but it is possible that there won't be others, whether the females are no longer carrying sperm, or they abort the births, or eat the fry before you see them, or even if the fry are hiding elsewhere. As for the babies you have, i think it takes a few months before they begin showing signs of their gender. Something like three months would be my guess, but not positive.

sex changing fish is an on-going debate. It is very possible that sex changing livebearers are simply late bloomers waiting for a better chance at breeding before reaching full maturity.

 

[backtotropical]

Mollies reach sexual maturity at around 3 months, although it is thought that an adult male can fertilise females as early as 1 month.

This should be avoided as being impregnated at such an early age can cause irreversible harm to both mother and babies.
Fry should always be seperated from adult males for this reason, and if possible, they should also be seperated into female / male groups until maturity to give the best chance of avoiding stunting and deformities.