Sexing Mollies

[molly_mom]

Hi. I bought a pair of Dalmation Mollies today. The man that owns the pet store said he was pretty sure they were male and female, but I've been reading up on them and they both look like females. One of them, the one I think is female, has a normal tail. I don't know what they're actually called. The other one, who I think might be a male, has a lyre ( ? ) tail. I tried to get pictures but I can't. They both have round fins under their bellies, but I don't really know what to look for. Does anyone have a picture of a male and female dalmation molly? I want to breed them, but I can't do that if I have both females. Thanks, any help is appreciated. I'll try to take more pictures.

 

[starrynightxxi]

someone will correct me if I'm wrong (i'm not really into livebearers) but the way to sex mollies and platies is by the fin under their belly. Females will have a rounder fin, and males will have one with a "point" on it. It's a specialized fin, but i've forgotten what it's called. Tail shape doesn't mean anything gender-wise, that's just a style, lyre-tail molly rather than normal tail.

From what you say, it sounds like you are right and you do have two females. I think this is okay as long as you aren't necessarily looking to breed them (though they are very prolific and you may end up with babies anyway if they are already pregnant). If you DO want fry, I would suggest getting another male, and possibly another female (providing you have room for them in your tank)

any other questions you have about them will probably get answered sooner and better in the livebearers forum

 

[molly_mom]

someone will correct me if I'm wrong (i'm not really into livebearers) but the way to sex mollies and platies is by the fin under their belly. Females will have a rounder fin, and males will have one with a "point" on it. It's a specialized fin, but i've forgotten what it's called. Tail shape doesn't mean anything gender-wise, that's just a style, lyre-tail molly rather than normal tail.

From what you say, it sounds like you are right and you do have two females. I think this is okay as long as you aren't necessarily looking to breed them (though they are very prolific and you may end up with babies anyway if they are already pregnant). If you DO want fry, I would suggest getting another male, and possibly another female (providing you have room for them in your tank)

any other questions you have about them will probably get answered sooner and better in the livebearers forum

Shoot, I was wanting a male and female to breed. I think the normal tailed one is already pregnant, at least I hope she is. We can always go back and get a male. I have a 10gallon tank with the 2 Mollies and one algae eater, would that be enough room for all of them plus one male? Thanks so much!

 

[molly_mom]

Not the best picture but you can see their fins somewhat..

 

[dwarfgourami]

That is certainly two females you've got there. I would give it a month or two before getting the male, just in case they're pregnant anyway. Mollies like other poeciliids can store sperm from one mating for several pregnancies, and can go on having babies about once a month. And 10 gallons will seem quite a smallish tank once you hear the swishing of tiny fins
(I would be a bit wary of a shop where they can't even sex livebearers- one of the easiest fishy things you can do).

 

[molly_mom]

That is certainly two females you've got there. I would give it a month or two before getting the male, just in case they're pregnant anyway. Mollies like other poeciliids can store sperm from one mating for several pregnancies, and can go on having babies about once a month. And 10 gallons will seem quite a smallish tank once you hear the swishing of tiny fins
(I would be a bit wary of a shop where they can't even sex livebearers- one of the easiest fishy things you can do).

Yeah, one of them is already pregnant. I have another tank ready for babies, as soon as they're big enough. The shop onwer said he would TRY to get us a male and female but said that he had mostly females. We got two males today. I'll try to get better pictures of all of them.

I got aquarium salt today, it's by API and it says its a natural fish tonic "adds essential electrolytes, improves gill function, and promotes disease recovery"...is that okay?

Also, my 2 males are trying to mate. I know for sure they are both males, is it normal for them to try to mate? Will two males fight if they're in the same tank as females? Thanks!!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Yeah, one of them is already pregnant. I have another tank ready for babies, as soon as they're big enough. The shop onwer said he would TRY to get us a male and female but said that he had mostly females. We got two males today. I'll try to get better pictures of all of them.

I got aquarium salt today, it's by API and it says its a natural fish tonic "adds essential electrolytes, improves gill function, and promotes disease recovery"...is that okay?

Also, my 2 males are trying to mate. I know for sure they are both males, is it normal for them to try to mate? Will two males fight if they're in the same tank as females? Thanks!!
[/quote]

Problem with livebearer males is they are very highly sexed, so you really want to keep a male-female ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 (or 1:4 etc...), to give the poor females some peace. I would see if it is possible to take 1 male back; otherwise, they may well fight, or just wear the poor ladies out. Besides, if one was already pregnant, you didn't really need any males, chances are you will be getting babies for quite a while anyway.

 

[molly_mom]

"Problem with livebearer males is they are very highly sexed, so you really want to keep a male-female ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 (or 1:4 etc...), to give the poor females some peace. I would see if it is possible to take 1 male back; otherwise, they may well fight, or just wear the poor ladies out. Besides, if one was already pregnant, you didn't really need any males, chances are you will be getting babies for quite a while anyway."

I'm not going to bring one back, I'll just put the males in a seperate aquarium. I'm going to get another female today, and I'm setting the males aquarium as well. Thanks!