Do molly fish lay eggs or give birth? (2024)

Do molly fish lay eggs or give birth?

But unlike other species that may lay eggs, the molly

fish are livebearers. This means they hold their young, or fry, until birthing live fish. But how long does that take? After an average of 30 to 40-day pregnancy, it will take a molly approximately a day to give birth to her fry.

How do you know when 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.

How many babies does a molly fish have?

Female mollies will gestate their young for about 60 days. They can give birth to between 40 and 100 fry. Mollies that are young or are having one of their first few pregnancies will tend to give birth to a smaller rather than larger number of fry.

How does a pregnant molly fish look?

To know if a molly fish is pregnant, you should look for some signs. These include a swollen belly, increased appetite, the presence of a gravid spot on the belly, sudden inclination to warm areas, and changes in behavior such as aggression, hiding, etc.

How long are molly fish in labor?

The fish birthing process can take 1 - 24 hours. It sounds like your molly gave birth while you were away, but the rest of her offspring became food for the other fish. It is unlikely that the baby fish will be able to survive around the other fish.

Can molly fish live with their babies?

Molly babies get no protection from their parents. The tiny fish are just as likely to be eaten by their own mother as they are by other fish in the aquarium, so to survive they're going to need a little help.

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 mollies give birth?

But unlike other species that may lay eggs, the molly fish are livebearers. This means they hold their young, or fry, until birthing live fish. But how long does that take? After an average of 30 to 40-day pregnancy, it will take a molly approximately a day to give birth to her fry.

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.

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.

How can 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.

How many weeks pregnant is molly?

The Love Island star shared her delight at how fans have congratulated her on the news and revealed, at the time of filming, she is 21 weeks pregnant as she talked about her due date.

How long does it take for a fish to finish giving birth?

Fish pregnancy can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 3.5 years depending on the species. Fish pregnancies usually last between 3 weeks and 10 months. This huge range is due to the differences between various fish species.

How do you keep baby mollies alive?

Molly fry can be extremely delicate due to poor water conditions. Change the water regularly to keep your fry healthy. Do not raise your fry in a tank without a heater and thermometer. It is important to keep the water at a consistent, warm temperature in order to keep your fish happy and healthy.

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.

Should I separate baby molly from mother?

Separate The Fry

It is recommended to separate the fry from the adult fish as soon as they are born. It will help to ensure that they have enough space to grow and thrive and make them feel safe as they are not at risk of being eaten by adult fish. You can use a breeding box and isolate the mother in a separate tank.

What can I do with unwanted fry?

Sell or give away extra fish.

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.

Do baby fish need to be separated?

After Your Fish Gives Birth

For many species, it's important to keep fertilized eggs and newly hatched fish, or fry, separate from the adults. Some fish eat their own young while others eat the young of other species. Keeping the fish eggs and fry separate from the adult fish may give them a better chance of survival.

What do you feed newborn 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.

Do I need to separate molly fry?

Ideally, you should have a separate breeding tank for the female molly fish and the breeding tank should match the parameters of the origin tank. After the female molly fish has dropped the fry, you should remove her, so you can continue caring for the fry yourself and prevent the female molly from eating the fry.

How many Mollys can you put 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.

Can you keep male and female molly fish together?

Yes, mollies are quite peaceful fishes. And it wouldn't be a problem keeping males together. The only time they get aggressive is while mating. They will also try to harass the pregnant female molly.

What do 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.

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 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.

Why is my molly shaking?

It occurs when fish are under severe stress, most often because of environmental problems. The classic scenario is when mollies are kept in soft or acidic water conditions. Though tolerant fish in many ways, they do not do well in soft or acidic water, and it is very common to see mollies kept that way start to shimmy.

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 is hanging out of my molly fish?

That little string hanging from fish is there either because of parasites or an inadequate meal supply. However, there's nothing to worry about, since you can treat your fish easily in both cases.

Can mollies reproduce without males?

How can they do without males? They can't entirely. Amazon mollies reproduce through a process called sperm- dependent parthenogenesis (gynogenesis). They produce diploid eggs without meiosis and these eggs are pseudo-fertilized by the sperm of males of different, related species.

Can black and white mollies mate?

While there are several varieties of molly fish, they are extremely easy to breed because all colors are the same species, and all males and females breed with one another.

Can mollies and guppies breed?

Mollies and Guppies Are Close Relatives

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

How long can fish survive in delivery?

Surprisingly, shipping fish and invertebrates in plastic bags is quite a reliable method that has been used for decades. On average, fish can survive for 6-9 hours in a sealed plastic bag as long as other conditions are met.

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.

Why is my pregnant molly not moving?

Molly fish can stay at the bottom of the tank due to swim bladder infections, ich, or pregnancy. This behaviour can also signify that your tank isn't the best environment for your fish. Staying near the bottom of the tank may be a sign that you need to perform a water change or adjust the temperature.

What do fish do before they give birth?

Within about 20 to 40 days after the mating ritual has concluded, the female will develop a bulge in the abdomen; a red or black spot may form toward the rear of the abdomen signifying her pregnancy. Guppies and mollies can deliver as many as 20 fry at once.

How do molly fish give birth?

Mollies do not lay eggs like other fish breeds. Instead, they give birth to live fish. 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.

What are the signs of stress in molly fish?

If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress. Talk to your veterinarian about treatment and look into what may be causing the stress and alleviating it.

What does salt treat in molly fish?

It's their tolerance of salt that led to the myth they require salt to be healthy. That is not true, they don't. That said, they do seem to prefer hard, alkaline water. Your use of cichlid salts to increase the hardness and pH is appropriate.

Why do molly fish jump out of tank?

If the water quality in the tank is poor, the fish might jump out to seek a more appropriate environment. Other factors such as lack of hiding places, low oxygen levels and improper pH balance can also lead to fish jumping out of the tank.

What temperature do mollies like?

It typically requires stable temperatures, ranging between 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The Black Molly has very specific temperature requirements, and those who reside in colder climates will require a heater to maintain stable temperatures.

How do you keep a baby molly alive?

Molly fry can be extremely delicate due to poor water conditions. Change the water regularly to keep your fry healthy. Do not raise your fry in a tank without a heater and thermometer. It is important to keep the water at a consistent, warm temperature in order to keep your fish happy and healthy.