My mollie is a cannibal... I guess

[samctex]

My mollie, a black and white speckled mollie had babies the day after I brought her home. The first day she had them, there was no cover for them to hide. I went and bought some plants and created some spots in the rocks for them to hide in. I counted 9 the first day at most and ever since I put in the extra stuff, I am lucky to see one or two here or there. My wife called me at work today to say she was watching one of the fry swim up to the top of the tank for some food when the mother scooped it up in her mouth and swallowed it whole. That is somewhat saddening. I hope they haven't all been eaten, but rather are hiding in the 4 grass plants and bushes I purchases. Do these fry have any chance to survive with their mother still in the tank with them? I have 3 cherry barbs and one zebra danio but they have too small of mouths to eat the fry now. I don't think they can eat them. Any help?

 

[guppymonkey]

Most fish will eat baby fish if they get a chance. Its a source of protein to them. They aren't smart enough to realize that they are eating their offspring. In the wild the baby mollies would be in a river with lots of plants and space to swim and hide in. In the tank they are easier prey. If you would like to breed mollies its best to have a separate tank (10 gallon) and raise the baby fish in that tank.

 

[samctex]

We went out and bought a second tank with that very thing in mind. However, the tank isn't ready yet, as the water is too high in nitrates still. Hopefully, by her next pregnancy, the tank will be ready. My wife is getting sad as she watches all the babies eaten. I would just wonder if the fry might have a chance of a few surviving in the tank with the mother and father?

How long does it take these fry to mature to a stage where they would be less prone to be eaten? As this is my first go round with fish, I'm not sure how long they have to hide for fear of being fish food.

 

[living_dead]

Put one of the baby nets in there. They are really cheap and you can leave the babies in there til the 10gal is ready. Thats what i'm going to do when anyone of the 3 pregnant mollies give birth if my 10 gallon isn't free.

 

[guppymonkey]

The more places the babies have to hide the higher the chances are of them surviving. Some bushy plants would be a good place to hide out from mom and pop.

 

[ruffmeister]

get a breeding box which floats in the tank and catch them and put them in til the tank is ok for them.

 

[star_tenshi]

Sorry to hear about your loss of baby mollies....i was expecting fry from my pregnant guppies...i before..that the mother may eat her fry if she thinks danger is near....kind of ironic...she eats them to 'protect' them....i don't know if it's true or not....but that's what i heard...i was really scared of her eating them..so i'd check her everyday i got home...and i was changing the water one day...and i think she aborted because i frightened her! eeks....good luck on the next batch of fry!

 

[Juggernaut22988]

I always thought that mollies were the least likely to eat their young...

 

[mike777]

sorry to hear about your eaten mollies. Very good idea to buy another tank for all your babies.

 

[joshua]

actually not all fish eat their youngs. cichlid for instance (yeap spot on, im advertising cichlids again) take very gd care of their young. first they drive off other fish, herds the young, some keep them in the mouth (not eat but keep) and some even 'crush' pellets or flakes for them.