Size of Fry

[rae]

My balloon molly had some fry about a little over a month ago. There are five of them and they are currently in a "nursery" net. I was wondering when can I take them out of this nursery and is it normal that they are all various sizes???

 

[Guppylover]

It's normal for fry to grow different sizes to their siblings...don't worry. You should take them out only when they are large enough not to fit inside the other adult fishes mouths, also mabye a bit bigger so the adult don't try to eat them but nipping them. I had a guppy fry which I let out (it was big enough not to fit inside the other fishes mouths) and the other fishes tried to eat him. They bit of a large part of his tail! So I won't try that again...

 

[tstenback]

how big are they? They should be removed from the breeding net soon i would think or they may stunt. What other fish are in the main tank?

 

[rae]

The only other fish that I have in the main tank are other balloon mollies and a bottom feeder who is an Otocinclus. The biggest is about a little under 2 cm (estimating) and the smallest is probably about 1 cm.

 

[appleblossom]

I would let them out at that size. They will have lots of space to swim and as long as there are hiding places for them in the main tank in case they feel scared then they will be a lot happier.

 

[gto_cowgirl]

Wow over a month in the breeder trap?! Those fry must be so cramped. I remember the first time i had a guppy fry batch and they just stayed in one spot the whole time in the breeder trap. Soon as i took them out and put them in their own seperate tank which was a 5 gallon they swam around like mad. I would think your fish are unhappy from being kept in such a small area for that long.

The fry probably aren't big enough to be put back in your main tank. Mine weren't until they were around 2 months old and i fed them fast growing foods such as live brine shrimp.

But i tell you what, i added one of my 1 month old fry to my 20 gallon with angelfish to be a snack and after a couple of days its still in there at the very bottom. I didn't know it was still alive until last night when i was cleaning the tank. I have several plants in my 20 gallon but you gotto remember my angelfish are pretty big and its harder for them to manuver around plants to get the fry like adult guppies could.

Heres my tank schedule:
Breeder Trap = 0 weeks to 1 week old
1 Gallon = 1 week to 1 month (depends on size)
5 Gallon = 1 month to 2 month olds (depends on size)
10 Gallon = 2 month olds and above.

 

[guppymonkey]

The fry will grow faster once they have more room. If there are lots of plants for them to hide in then I would let them out now.

 

[rae]

Thanks for everyone's help. I released them all into the tank after buying a few new plants as more hiding spots and they seem to be just peachy. They are swimming around like mad, even though they do seem to still have a little trouble with the filter current. Hopefully they will grow better now. Thanks again!