What Fish To Eat Excess Molly Fry?

[jinjin]

Hi all. I'm new to the forums and I hope no one takes offense to this topic.

Anyway, I have a 39 gal community tank housing a few clown loaches, an otto, a bristlenose pleco, some neons and the over-populating mollies. Don't get me wrong, I love the mollies. But they've just had the second lot of babies and since the lfs recently reneged on a deal to take any surplus babies off me, I'm in a bit of a pinch. I do have a few people that want some of the previous litter so at least that is something.

So, apart from getting rid of the mollies which I like, I'm wondering what fish choices would fit a community tank like mine and do the job I ask? I see angelfish mentioned here but have heard they can be "moody" and might like a bit more room. I see dwarf flag cichlids don't get too big and are usually ok in community tanks. They also fit with our water properties here. Would they be another option? Or could anyone give me some other species that would fit the purpose?

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[theotheragentm]

Molly adults are large enough to eat the fry genrally for a couple months almost. Other than that, you end up with other livebearers like Swordtails or Platies that can eat them too. Although Platies are smaller and end up having less time to eat the Molly fry before they get too large. Also, the problem with livebearers is their ability to breed, which is what started the whole mess unfortunately. You can try flushing the fry out of their hiding places and make them easier to eat.

If you have the ability to set up a separate tank, Bettas will eat fry. A dwarf crayfish will eat fry as well if it can get its claws on them, but it will take on adult fish as well if it has the chance, so separate tanks are necessary for them. The same goes for freshwater crabs.

 

[jinjin]

Ok, thanks.

Yes, the adults ate a lot of the first litter. From around 25 that I could count the morning after, only 9 survived actually. They're probably about 3/4 inch long now. The tank has plenty of plants for the fry to hide in.

I'm really looking for a fish species that would fit in with the other tank inhabitants. I called down to the lfs and they didn't have any cichlids that would suit. However, my original plan was to get a couple of dwarf gouramis. They have some beautiful ones down the shop. Any idea whether they would do the job?

 

[theotheragentm]

Dwarf Gouramis would do the job as well, but only until the fry are too large for their mouths. Mollies have larger mouths when full grown, so if you're just looking for another type of fish for your tank and fry eating is a bonus, Dwarf Gouramis would work. Gouramis tend to be a bit territorial, but I've seen it much less so in the dwarf species, and in my tanks, the aggression is only towards other Gouramis.

 

[jinjin]

Thanks again theother....

Yeah, I did some reading up about Dwarf Gouramis and thought they'd fit in well. Anyway I ended up buying a male red fire dwarf. They're getting some blues in tomorrow and I hope to pick one of those up as well. He has made himself at home instantly, eating and what not. He's also chasing the molly fry around as they are almost 2 days old and have come out of hiding. Man, can gouramis move when they want, and stop on a dime too.

I actually only have 3 adult mollies. One male and two female. I think it might be wise to get rid of the larger female as she is huge and annoys all the other fish. She has been gravid for ages now and I'm not sure if she's having problems giving birth. Looks like she'll burst if it doesn't happen soon.

BTW, I forgot to mention there are two glass cats in the tank as well. One came accidentally with a fish purchase. Rather than return it I decided to get a mate. I expect they'd eat some fry as well since they can fit huge pieces of food in their mouths. It's rather surprising actually what they can pack into that small digestive system.

Dave

 

[wei0204]

adult molly and guppy should be able to do the job...

 

[fuzz16]

dwarf gouramis are slow and sorta lazy when it comes to fry. they like to chase but if thier fed enough dont bother eating. you could try an angelfish, but once full grown your neons might be at risk. and im sure your pleco has his own at a few of them also, even the neons.
feed every other day or so that when the fry are released the fish are hungry and eat them.


and your tank is to small for clown loaches, they need at min. 120g

 

[jinjin]

and im sure your pleco has his own at a few of them also, even the neons.

and your tank is to small for clown loaches, they need at min. 120g

The pleco is too small and peaceful to do such a thing.
And sure, my tank is too small for _adult_ clowns. They grow so slow that I'll have them in this tank for a while yet.

 

[theotheragentm]

The pleco is too small and peaceful to do such a thing.
And sure, my tank is too small for _adult_ clowns. They grow so slow that I'll have them in this tank for a while yet.

Clown Loaches don't grow that slowly actually unless their growth is stunted. How large are they now? They normally increase rapidly in size from the length of 5" to 7". You just want to make sure your tank size isn't stunting their growth.

 

[jinjin]

Clown Loaches don't grow that slowly actually unless their growth is stunted. How large are they now? They normally increase rapidly in size from the length of 5" to 7". You just want to make sure your tank size isn't stunting their growth.

That's interesting. Everything I've been told, even from loaches.com, says they grow fairly quickly to about 5 inches and then growth slows. But yes, they were a mistake purchase, and I thought of returning them, but some respected fishkeepers told me not to fret over it yet as my tank conditions are excellent and I'm planning on a larger one soon.

 

[theotheragentm]

Yeah. The urge to go bigger will norally take over. Just don't get Red Belly Pacus. Those guys get monstrous.