Too many mollies!

[Squirrelbuddies]

I bought two mollies just over a week ago and one had 14 babies on the way home from the lfs and the other had 12 three days later. The tank is only a 20 gallon and there are 4 fish (three mollies and a small plec) in there along with two dozen little ones (2 didn't make it.)

I have a breeder net setup but it's already too small -- the first batch is growing like crazy.

I have an extra five gallon tank -- but it's not cycled -- and will be awhile before it is. (I just set it up tonight.)

Any suggestions on what I can do? If I take some gravel and plants from the 20 gallon and put it in the 5 gal, then change like 50% (or more) of the water every other day (to keep ammonia down) could I put them in the new tank this week?

And if not, what then? It is getting way too cramped in the breeder net.

 

[gale]

If I take some gravel and plants from the 20 gallon and put it in the 5 gal, then change like 50% (or more) of the water every other day (to keep ammonia down) could I put them in the new tank this week?

You can do this-you may not have to worry about every other day water changes-just test your water every day or 2nd day and if the ammonia starts to rise, then do a water change. If you can take some of the filter media from your 20g that would help a lot. Good luck! I wish my mollies would have babies.

 

[salty]

Speak to your lfs and ask them whether they might take some off your hands. They're usually prepared to buy them back off you at a lower price, although they normally want them when they're a bit bigger. But hey, it's worth asking.

Keep in mind that Mollies store sperm, so they're going to keep on having babies . Be sure to separate the baby males from all the females to prevent any of the new females from falling preggies.... esp if you only have a wee tank.

Oh, if I may ask...why put them in a breeding net if you only have mollies in the tank? The plec won't eat them, so let them free to grow if there's nothing that may pose a threat to them.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I had to place them in the breeder net because one of the mollies was chasing them around and actually ate one

Very strange, it was the smallest molly. The largest, most aggressive molly (I call her Auntie) left them alone...

 

[iobre8ks]

You will have that some mollies will attack the fry and others won't it all depends on the mollies individual personality.

 

[endilliteracy]

I am having the same problem. About a week ago my dalmation molly (Abie- means "mother of many" ) gave birth to 7 fry (survivors anyway) and now she is pregnant again! I am going to have to donate her to the LFS because I can't keep having fry everywhere.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Well, I put all of the little ones in the 5 gallon last night and all was well. Got up this morning and still, all was well. Got home from work tonight and not so good. Tank is looking a little empty. Looked over at Eddie (my big orange cat) -- and he did not appear to look at all guilty.

So I then looked in the filter....and found the missing fry. The filter sucked up quite a few. Now I only have 10 little ones - so I put them back in the breeder net in the 20 gallon.

I have a mini penguin for the 5 gallon and that's the smallest filter I could find. I also tried a junior sponge filter -- but the bubbles nearly ejected the fry from the tank.

Are there any filters for a 5 gallon which have little current or bubbles?

 

[Leigh1316]

I have an old filter from my 55 gal aquarium filter that I cut in half then cut a whole through it and slipped it over the bottom so that nothing but water could be sucked up in it.

 

[Polardbear]

You can put a piece of sponge over the intake tube of the filter or wrap some cheesecloth around it. It will prevent the fry from getting sucked up until they are a little bigger. It will really slow down the flow rate of the filter and you'll need to clean it frequently so it doesn't get completely plugged up. After a couple of weeks the fry will be strong enough to avoid getting sucked up and you can remove it.

 

[Jezah]

I use this one for my fry, and it works well. You can buy it at walmart too.
http/www.petco.com/product_info.asp?fami...s&ct2=Bowl&ct3=

 

[newfishies]

you could buy a gang valve (i think that's what they're called) to regulate the airflow , just turn it down a little to avoid "ejecting" the fry!!

 

[Jezah]

Ya, the product I suggested has one built in. You turn it to regulate airflow. I have mine really low at night to give the babies a rest from the current.