Molly fish do they lay eggs? (2024)

How many eggs do mollies lay?

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 often do molly lay eggs?

Mollies reproduce several times a year. In fact, they are amongst the easiest fish species to breed. If your tank consists of male and female mollies, they will spawn naturally under the right conditions.

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.

Do mollies breed easily?

For the most part, mollies are very easy to breed. A single female can produce over one hundred baby mollies, also called fry, in one live birth. They also come in a variety of colors, and work well with a wide community of other fish. Prepare your tank and yourself beforehand, and breeding mollies should be a breeze.

How long are molly fish pregnant for?

Mollies 50-70 days.

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 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.

How fast does molly fry 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.

How long do molly fish live?

All pet molly fish, regardless of their variety, only live for three to five years on average. This estimate assumes the right care. However, the molly fish's genetics have grown weaker and more prone to developing disease. This is due to poor breeding habitats in captivity.

Do mollies eat their fry?

Generally, yes, molly fish eat their fry. Molly fish are nippy eaters, they usually eat anything they can fit in their mouth. No matter what it is in the tank, the molly fish will nip it instantly as soon as they find it, especially if they're hungry or stressed.

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.

How many mollies can be 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.

Do mollies poop a lot before giving birth?

Mollies poop a lot before giving birth to extract the extra waste not needed in the body before childbirth. Removing this waste makes it easier for the fish to give birth. Therefore, when you notice your pregnant molly pooping more than usual, you start preparing for fries.

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.

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.

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 1 molly fish live alone?

Mollies don't school — that is, they don't move together in synchronicity — but they do swim in a shoaling pattern. They prefer being with other mollies and similar peaceful, shoaling fish, and they get stressed and fearful when they're alone. Experts recommend keeping at least five mollies together.

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

You may keep around four molly fish in a 20-gallon tank. Mollies can typically get along well with many other species of fish since they have a calm temperament. One male and three females can have enough swimming space in a 20-gallon tank.

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 many hours does molly fish give birth?

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.

How long do baby fish need to be separated?

In about 4 to 6 weeks, the babies should be large enough to release into the main aquarium. But be sure the babies have grown larger than the mouths of adult fish. If it's not possible to set up a separate aquarium, drop-in breeders are a great alternative.

Why is my male molly chasing the pregnant female?

Aquarists can tell their fish are ready to breed once the males start chasing the females to breed. This chasing maneuver may seem like aggression to newbies, but it's a signal that the fish are ready to mate.

Are mollies hard to keep alive?

Mollies can easily thrive in the high salinity, but they can have major issues when they get shipped to stores and are suddenly plunged into tanks with no salt in the water at all. Over time, their kidneys can shut down because their bodies are used to living in saltwater.

How long can molly fish stay out of water?

Generally, freshwater fish have a maximum out-of-water survivability time ranging between ten minutes and one hour. For this reason, you'll need to be careful when removing them from water for transport or catch-of-the-day pictures.

What temperature do molly fish 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.

Should baby fish 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.

Are molly fish sensitive?

Mollies are very sensitive to changes in water parameters, so it's important that you keep the tank environment as consistent as possible. Black Mollies love planted aquariums, so the more plants you have, the better.

Can molly Fry survive in tank?

That's depends on how how many adult mollies are living in the tank, the amount of deformed fry in the spawn, and how big the spawn was in general. Though the more plants in the tank, the higher the survival rate is going to be.

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.

Can a male molly breed with guppy?

Guppies and Mollies can easily create hybrids if they are kept in the right conditions. There are two names for two types of hybrids. A hybrid fry from a male Guppy and a female Molly is called Golly, whereas a fry from a male Molly and a female Guppy is called Muppy.

Can 3 male mollies live together?

Yes, mollies are quite peaceful fishes. And it wouldn't be a problem keeping males together.

What is the max molly fish size?

Size: 6 to 15 cm (3½ to 6 inches). Preferred Water Chemistry: Hard, basic fresh water to brackish or marine. Mollies are euryhaline, meaning they do well in fresh, brackish, or marine systems, but they do not thrive in soft water.

What fish can you put with mollies?

Can you overfeed mollies?

The important thing you should know is that mollies are voracious eaters and will not stop eating if you keep offering them food because they can eat in 5-minute intervals. So to avoid overfeeding, you should stick to the general rule of feeding them two times a day at the utmost.

Can you keep all female mollies together?

Of course, you can keep all female or all male mollies in your aquarium if you prefer. Just keep in mind that a group of all males may fight with each other for dominance, while a group of all females will have a great time schooling together.

How many mollies can go 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.

How many male to female mollies are there?

With guppies and mollies, it's best to have about a three to one ratio male to female. So you should pick up three more females for a better spread of the male's attention. You can also consider moving one male to another tank.

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.

What fish Cannot live with mollies?

Choose fish that require a similar tank setup as mollies and can live comfortably within the same parameters (temperature, tank volume, etc.). Goldfish, for example, are not compatible as tank mates for mollies because they prefer much cooler temperatures.

Which fish can live with mollies?

Some species that make good Molly fish tank mates are Dwarf Cichlids, Rams, Discus, Keyhole Cichlids, and Severums. They need at least a 20-gallon tank for the smaller species and up to 55 gallons for the species that can grow 8 inches or more!

Do mollies need a heater?

Yes, they do. Mollies don't need a heater if the temperature is favorable, and that's why they can thrive in the tropics- provided temperatures don't fall below 68-70 °F. Even if you don't live in the tropics but have a well-heated home, you'll still need a heater for your molly fish tank.