Need Some Help

[HUFC]

I bought 4 mollies yesterday, 1 male and 3 females. One of the females is looking a bit fat, it has a black spot at the back of it ( on the side), and yoU can really see black inside of it (i think).

It could be normal, but could someone tell me if it is, thank you

 

[Cazgar]

It sounds like she's pregnant.
That black mark is called the gravid spot, & is quite normal in females

 

[lloyd]

I would agree

 

[HUFC]

Thanks i will try to get a picture up but ive only got my phone so im not promising, the problem is i dont know how far she could be as i only bought them yesterday.

 

[HUFC]

Do you think i should buy a net that goes in the tank and put it in there now or will until a little bit later

 

[Cazgar]

It depends how far on she is.
Their belly takes on a boxy shape when she's almost ready to drop.
Putting them in a net too soon can be stressful for them.
If you can get a decent pic, it may be possible to approximate how far off she is

 

[lloyd]

would i be right in thinking her "thingy" pokes out with in a day or 2 before giving birth. sorry i cant quite remember what its called i havent kept mollys in a long time. when she is really close you should find her acting differently to the other fish. more than likely hanging near the surface or hiding, but saying that some times they just pop them out like nothings happened. if your stocking level isnt to high and there are lots of hiding places, if you leave her be you might find that some survive without intervention

 

[HUFC]

Ill try and take a picture now

 

[Cazgar]

Yes, you're right, her birthing tube will be visible close to her dropping.
If your tank has plenty of hiding places, some fry will survive.
Unless you have spare tanks for saving fry, it's best to let nature take it's course or you'll soon be overstocked

 

[HUFC]

Well at the minute i only have those 4 fish in my tank so ill see what happens

 

[HUFC]

sorry i know they're not the best pics.

 

[fishface:D]

If she is pregnant, she must have already been pregnant when you bought her

 

[Taminky]

Hello HUFC.
I use one of those artificial grass mats in my guppy tank.
Its a seanary one about 7cm high.
I turn it upside down and let it float in the top of the tank and most of the babies survive by hiding in there.
If my tank starts to look a bit full I simply remove it so the fry don't have as many hiding places
If you have live plants in your tank just cut the mat down so it doesn't block out too much light.
And the seanary stuff is really nice silicone'd to the back of the tank inside instead of a plastic picture.

 

[HUFC]

If she is pregnant, she must have already been pregnant when you bought her

pics up now, might help confirm if she is pregnant

Hello HUFC.
I use one of those artificial grass mats in my guppy tank.
Its a seanary one about 7cm high.
I turn it upside down and let it float in the top of the tank and most of the babies survive by hiding in there.
If my tank starts to look a bit full I simply remove it so the fry don't have as many hiding places
If you have live plants in your tank just cut the mat down so it doesn't block out too much light.
And the seanary stuff is really nice silicone'd to the back of the tank inside instead of a plastic picture.

any idea where i could get some of this stuff from, sounds like a good idea rather than having to monitor it all the time.

 

[Taminky]

Best place to buy the seanary stuff from is ebay.
It's expensive in the lfs... £12 - £17 for a 10" square mat!!
Are you in Hudds? (Looking at your name)
If so, I'm in Dewsbury and have a new mat here which I'd part with for a fiver if you collect it. I bought 3 last time I got some and haven't used the third....yet!