Why Did My Adult Female Molly Die After Giving Birth?

[wendyngd]

Hi-

I know that I've recently read about this happening on the forum but couldn't find it...My adult female molly hid away in the tank for the last few days and, all of a sudden, bunches of fry kept appearing in the tank. I bellieve we ended up with like 30 fry! But then when I finally found the mom, she was dead. I just was wondering why this happens--stress maybe? It's her second time giving birth since July, but lately, she has been constantly chased by a horny little male molly--who (when he wasn't chasing the other female) was relentless!! She kept finding good hiding places...

It's a 10g tank with 5 3-month old molly fry and this older female. Stats were good until last night, nitrites started to rise and I was having a lot of trouble getting them to lower! (I thought this was from the added population of 30 fry + the greater amount of food I had to give then for the 6 fish...).

She might have just been stressed out and exhausted, poor thing.

Any suggestions?
Thanks. -Wendy

 

[WILDER]

Its very common for a livebearer to die after birth, they really need a break giving birth all the time shorten there life span, as it takes alot out of them, they why they need an excellent varied diet.

 

[tamara]

mine died as well..it was very saddening...
and sorry i don't know why either..probably was from the stress though!

 

[wei0204]

I have one died a month ago too... it looked so exhausted and the belly couldn't get back to the normal rounded shape (it was slightly triangle shape). It died 2 days after given birth.

My female guppy has given birth 2 days ago, it looks exhausted and the belly part shows sign of bruise, it doesn't eat much, worrry about her.

Does anyone know how to help female like this? What can we do to make them feel better?

 

[wendyngd]

Thanks for the support--to all- Maybe we can find some OB/Gyn's just for female fish--start a new movement...ha ha. Seriously, I would be interested to see if there's anything that's been written about it...

Warm hugs to all,
Wendy

 

[WILDER]

Love the plants in the tank, well done.