Can molly fish lay eggs? (2024)

Can molly fish lay eggs?

Mollies are livebearer fish which means they do not lay eggs but rather gestate their young and give birth to them live. You will not need to do much to get mollies to breed as long as you have males and females in the same tank.

What does molly eggs look like?

They look like tiny egg yolks that are jelly-looking and translucent. Lastly, since these eggs don't hatch, they'll likely rot or develop into fungus. The parent will likely consume these underdeveloped eggs. Once you start seeing your Mollies pregnant, there's a chance you'll see roe-like eggs in your tank.

How do I know if my molly is about to give birth?

Typically, to know if a molly is about to give birth, you should look for some sign. These include physical changes, such as a change in the shape and size of the belly and darkening of the gravid spot, as well as behavioral changes, such as less swimming, more hiding, lack of appetite, etc.

Why did my molly lay eggs?

Do Molly Fish Lay Eggs or Give Birth? Molly fish don't lay eggs but give birth. Molly fish are livebearers, which means they give birth to live fry. If you see your molly laying eggs, that means the fish has miscarried or aborted the eggs due to stress and the eggs won't mature to healthy fry.

How long are molly fish pregnant for?

Mollies 50-70 days.

Why does my molly have a big belly?

Swollen Belly

The fluid accumulation is caused by the inability of the kidneys and/or gills to eliminate water from the body, which is a result of the underlying health problem.

What month do molly fish give birth?

How Long Do Molly Fish Stay Pregnant? The gestation period for mollies is 45 to 60 days. Plus, since female mollies can fertilize their eggs every 30 days with the sperm they store from the male molly, they always seem pregnant.

How many mollies should be kept together?

How many molly fish should I have? As with many livebearers, mollies love to breed, so we recommend getting at least two to three females for every male. This ratio allows the girls to get a break from the boys' constant attention.

How fast do molly babies grow?

It will take around one to two months for your fry to grow large enough to be introduced into your standard aquarium. The fry should be larger than the mouths of an adult molly fish. Do not move the molly fry until you are sure they are ready to handle your larger tank.

Where do mollies lay their eggs?

Mollies are livebearer fish which means they do not lay eggs but rather gestate their young and give birth to them live. You will not need to do much to get mollies to breed as long as you have males and females in the same tank.

Where do fish lay their eggs in a tank?

The eggs are laid on plants, or on the bottom of the aquarium scattered on the gravel. Once the eggs hatch in the wild, the fry (young fish) have to avoid parental cannibalism, usually by hiding in the plants and among rocks, until they grow large enough to swim freely.

How do you know if a fish is going to lay eggs?

How to Identify a Pregnant Fish. Most types of aquarium fish lay eggs. If your fish is nesting, it may build a safe area for the eggs within the gravel. Some species build nests within bubbles at the surface of the water, in this case, you may notice jelly-like sacs floating throughout the tank.

Do mollies give birth all at once?

After an average of 30 to 40-day pregnancy, it will take a molly approximately a day to give birth to her fry. Many mollies can actually store sperms for months at a time, fertilizing their eggs themselves every 30 days. They can birth anywhere between 20 and 100 fry at a time.

What does a pregnant fish look like?

Pregnant female fish often develop a "gravid spot" on the abdomen near the rear vent. This is typically black or bright red, and grows more pronounced over the course of the pregnancy. Some fish always have this spot, but it will typically grow brighter or darker during once the fish is pregnant.

What do newborn molly fish eat?

What should I feed my baby molly fish? Typically, you should feed your molly fry (baby molly fish) various foods throughout its development, like infusoria, baby brine shrimp, high-quality crushed flakes, freeze-dried foods, worms, and pellets.

How old do mollies have to be to have babies?

They will, in fact, breed between brothers and sisters. Try to separate the male and female fish before they are eight weeks old, which is when they reach sexual maturity.

How do you tell if a molly is male or female?

Anal Fin

Like in all fish, the anal fin in mollies is located on the underside, just behind the abdomen. This fin offers the most effective way to differentiate between male and female mollies. In males, the anal fin appears like a tube-shaped fin that never opens wide.

What is hanging from my molly fish?

Constipation in fish is typically revealed by bloating and the production of stringy feces. Normal fish feces will immediately fall to the substrate; constipated fish feces will appear stringy and hang from the fish.

How do you tell if your fish is pregnant or just fat?

Carrying Eggs - One reason your fish may appear slightly bigger is because it is carrying eggs. If your fish is a female, is not overly fat, and is normal in most other regards, this is a very high possibility. Another indication is if your fish has an enlarged vent; this is where the eggs will come out.

What are the bad signs in fish delivery?

If you smell sour, rancid, or fishy odors in raw or cooked seafood, do not eat it. If you smell either a fleeting or persistent ammonia odor in cooked seafood, do not eat it.

How long do mollies live?

Mollies (Poecilia sphenops) are wonderful fish, and come in a huge variety of colors and fin shapes. Hardy and active, if given the right conditions, they'll live for 3-4 years and produce thousands of babies in their lifetime.

What to do with baby fish you don t want?

Also consider selling or giving away unwanted fry to people with other pets that may use the fish for food, or else contact a local nature center, elementary school or similar organization about free fish for educational purposes.

What is the breeding cycle of mollies?

The breeding cycle in mollies usually remains for approximately 3 to 6 weeks (20 to 40 days). Young Live-bearers are fairly large at birth and their development is very advanced.

Can you let mollies eat their babies?

In a nutshell, yes, molly fish can and will usually eat their fries. These prolific breeders are known for their tendency to consume everything they can fit in their mouths, including their offspring. The fries are also at risk of being eaten by other fish in the same tank.

How do you separate baby fish in a tank?

A good method to remove the fry without disturbing the aquarium too much is to siphon the young out in to a bucket, strained through a fine net. The parents will likely be aggressive to the tube but it is an effective way to remove small fry.

How many mollies can fit in a 10 gallon tank?

A typical female molly grows to be up to 5 inches long. Therefore, you can only keep two of them in a 10-gallon tank. Males are significantly shorter, measuring only three inches long. So you can technically house three of them in a 10-gallon tank.

Can 2 male mollies live together?

You can accommodate up to 4 female mollies and 2 males in a 20-gallon tank. This way, every male will have two females to mate with, and there won't be too much aggression between the fish.

How many Mollys can you put in a 20-gallon tank?

One to three is the ideal male-to-female ratio. As a result, a tank needs six female black mollies for every two males. Also, a 20-gallon tank can accommodate no more than four Dalmatian mollies. These well-known fish have a large size compared to other species and can reach a maximum length of 4.75 inches.

How long to keep molly fry in breeder box?

How long do you keep fry in the breeder box? In general, the babies should be large enough to not fit in mouths of the adult fish before you add them back into your main tank. For livebearer fry, this may be as soon as 4 to 5 weeks.

Can mollies and guppies breed?

Mollies and Guppies Are Close Relatives

That means they're very closely related and can breed together.

How do you stop molly fish from breeding?

Should I remove fish eggs from tank?

Remove the Fry

After the eggs have hatched, the baby fish still aren't out of the danger zone. Separating the fry from the adults not only prevents them from being eaten, but it also allows them to grow bigger and faster because there is less competition for food.

What are the tiny white eggs in my fish tank?

Snail eggs on tank glass

They lay streaks of small white eggs and sometimes infest tanks containing fancy goldfish.

What are the white egg looking things in my fish tank?

White algae can be annoying in an aquarium. Sure, these common tank algae are not dangerous for your fish, but they develop and spread quickly. These algae look like a web with a slick film. They usually don't grow on glass, but they can grow on driftwood, rocks, or decorations.

Do fish eggs float or sink?

Egg buoyancy. The major fractions of marine fish eggs are pelagic or mesopelagic implying that they float above the seabed.

What time of year do fish lay eggs?

Eggs develop more rapidly (in a few weeks) in warmer temperatures, and more slowly in colder water (up to months). Most freshwater fish spawn in the spring, although salmon, char, and some trout spawn in the fall.

What do fish do after they lay eggs?

Most fish release thousands of eggs, scattering them in the water where the male fish fertilize them. The eggs develop and hatch into larvae (baby fish) without any help from the parents. Most larvae are eaten by other creatures, but a few survive to become adults.

How long does it take for molly fish eggs to hatch?

Male mollies fertilize the eggs when they are in the female's belly. The female molly can store sperm and continue giving birth without having to mate. Molly fish's pregnancy cycle lasts between 40 to 60 days. The fertilized eggs hatch after 45 days prompting the female to release the live molly babies.

How long does it take for molly fish to lay eggs?

Common black molly – short, 30-day gestation period. Dalmation molly – long 60-day gestation period.

How do you tell if a molly is a boy or girl?

Anal Fin

Like in all fish, the anal fin in mollies is located on the underside, just behind the abdomen. This fin offers the most effective way to differentiate between male and female mollies. In males, the anal fin appears like a tube-shaped fin that never opens wide.

Why is my molly's belly big?

Swollen Belly

The fluid accumulation is caused by the inability of the kidneys and/or gills to eliminate water from the body, which is a result of the underlying health problem.

Do fish lay eggs on aquarium glass?

Angelfish and Discus will lay eggs on tank glass if nothing else is available. Both species prefer vertical spawning sites, which in the wild might be tree trunks or plants.