Pregnant Molly

[mrsdragon]

Hello all! I have some questions about a pregnant Molly. I apologize in advance because I'm sure some of my questions will those that are answered over and over again.

This is the first time I've had livebearers, so it's a completely new experience. I have setup a "fish nursery" in a 10gal tank with two dividable breeding tanks, lots of live plants, a moss ball and some rocks with plenty of holes for fry hiding spots.
Fish nursery

I was told (by my local fish shop, who I've had success with all other issues) to place her in the breeder when I could see the eyes of the fry because that would mean she's going to drop very soon. I have been seeing the eyes since last weekend and finally put her in the breeder Tuesday night. I thought for sure she would drop these fry anytime. I've been monitoring for her belly to take on the box shape but just really don't see it yet. The eyes are multiplying (I'm counting 12-14 now) but she's still not dropping. Is it too soon?
Momma molly

I'm beginning to wonder if I should place in the 10gal freely and allow her some freedom? I'm afraid that leaving her in the small breeder for too long will do more harm than good.

Also, I'm having a problem with scum on the top of the nursery. Did some research and it seems this may be due to limited water movement. (I have a Whisper filter in this tank since itll be for fry growth) Should I do anything about this like adding a bubbler or skimming? Or is it really not that big of a deal?
Tank scum

Thanks so much for any help offered!!

 

[Guppyz]

She is huge so I would expect her to drop in the next week. If its a ten g she should be fine to keep in the nursery. The eyes are not the best indicator. The squareness is the easiest way.

Also that looks like a platy

 

[mrsdragon]

She is huge so I would expect her to drop in the next week. If its a ten g she should be fine to keep in the nursery. The eyes are not the best indicator. The squareness is the easiest way.

Also that looks like a platy

See I thought she was a platy, but I got her out of the Molly tank never asked to clarify.

Thanks for the quick feedback. I figure I will learn each of their personalities and will be better able to determine when they'll drop with each preganncy. (I have 3 other pregnant platies) She is in the small breeder tank now, should I let her out into the 10g? There are a few other platy fry (about 2 weeks now) that are roaming the nursery.

 

[Animal Lover 2000]

thats a platy shes soooo fat i LOOOVE the look of a fat platy mines getting there SHE IS SOOO CUTE
soryy im weird

 

[basboi85]

I would leave her in the nursery and not in a fry trap as to long in it may cause her to much stress I personally would just feed her little and often as it'll help to stop eating as much fry and ill gaurantee shell have the fry when your in bed or out shopping.

I'm hoping I'm at the end of a fry boom in my tank as I had a unexpected 8 fry in my tank 4 days ago then 2 days later 13 more and the 2 mothers showed no sign of being preg where as my other female is like yours maybe a little bigger and she's been like it for last week so I'm dreading how many she's got I'm waiting till end of October and my lfs will be taking in around 50-60 fry aged between 2months to a month old as my fry seem to be growing rather large by a month old

I've got atleast 20-25 adults in my tank an they now don't seem bothered by newborn and leave them alone.

When she finnaly pops good luck and hope some if not most of your fry survive

 

[mrsdragon]

Well I took her out of the breeder tank, so she now has free roam of a 10g all to herself. Still no babies.

One if my other pregnant platies was showing signs today of dropping soon. (aggression, out-of-character hiding spots and a more boxy shape compared to her usual rotund belly) I was unsuccessful in transferring her to a breeder tonight, so we'll see how she looks in the morning.

 

[basboi85]

Well saying that I wasn't sure how long my female was going to be I caught her giving birth about 9:30am yesterday and she had 15 fry that I could find

 

[mrsdragon]

She's giving birth right now. She'd already had 3 (that I could count) before I saw the birth of the 4th. Watching and waiting now!

 

[mrsdragon]

How do I know when she's done? I think I still see some eyes in her belly. But she will eat now which she wouldn't do earlier. And she's still pacing the tank every now and then. I'm guessing she has more in there, butjustwondering how to know she's for sure done? And when should I move her back into the main 20g tank with her adult friends? I've witnessed about15burthsin the last 2 hours.

 

[basboi85]

If she's swimming around happily and eating then she might be finished.

If she has anymore you might be lucky and catch them if not atleast you've managed to save 15

 

[mrsdragon]

We're up to 23 verified fry. I'm sooooo excited!!

 

[basboi85]

Ooooo congrats and My mate has just come round and just spotted another fry within seconds after I've been looking all day. Suprised really as to how it's survived with the amount of adults I have

So that now makes 37 new fry in the last 5 days

Plus another 15 that are a few weeks older.

God my lfs won't know what's hit them soon lol

 

[lolobunnz]

Congratulations on your panda platy fry!!

My fry are in a 29 gallon and are jealous of tour fry tank! ;p

Yes, do get an air pump with an air stone to create more ripple at the surface of the tank. Where the water ripples is where carbon dioxide escdpes and oxygen enters. Also, the air bubbles collect harmful content in your tank and release them out of the water.

Again, very very nice fry tank!!

I have a newly pregnany panda platy. Her name is necco and is in my fry tank to drop . Post picturrs please!!

 

[mrsdragon]

Only have a few pics of the fry... But I did get a few videos of the births!!

Video1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Fry in the rocks

Hiding fry

 

[lolobunnz]

Awesome videos and pictures!! nice quality, too! Do you know if the fry will be panda platy or a possible mix?