Where do molly fish lay their eggs? (2024)

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.

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

As mentioned above, they are slightly unique in that they hold their young inside until giving birth to live fry. Some common species of molly fish include: Common black molly – short, 30-day gestation period. Dalmation molly – long 60-day gestation period.

Will mollies breed in my tank?

Mollies are an ideal choice of live bearing fish (i.e. they don't lay eggs) to place in a community aquarium or fish tank. For the most part, mollies are very easy to breed.

Do mollies have an egg spot?

Gravid Spot

This spot generally grows a little in size and changes color during the fish's gestation period. Similarly, you can confirm your Molly fish is expecting when you notice the gravid spot around its lower body darkening in color.

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.

Do fish eggs float to the top of the tank?

The eggs may be scattered, deposited or buried, depending on the species. Scattered eggs either fall to the substrate, float to the surface or stick to plants, rock or whatever else they come in contact with.

Do fish hide when they lay eggs?

Some egg-laying fish create nesting areas to keep their eggs safe. These may look like small pits or gravel mounds, but they are not always visible.

How long are molly fish pregnant for?

Mollies 50-70 days.

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 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.

What does it look like when a molly fish is having babies?

A Gravid Spot Under Their Belly

Another way to tell if your Molly fish is pregnant is to look for a dark, triangular mark that appears towards the anal cavity near the anal fin. This mark that livebearers have is known as a gravid spot, a cluster of developing baby fry inside the female fish.

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.

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 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 is the white dot on my molly fish?

Often referred to as Itch or Ick, White spot is caused by the Ichyophirius parasite. Parasites are naturally present in aquariums and will be happily controlled by the immune system of your fish in small numbers.

Why is my molly hiding?

Environmental Changes – Anything that alters a fish's environment can spook the fish into hiding. This can include sudden water changes, temperature shifts, pH changes or chemical imbalances. As the tank stabilizes at the optimum environmental conditions, the fish should lose their shyness and stop hiding as much.

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.

What are the small clear eggs in my fish tank?

Snail eggs will be clumped together in a clutch and may have a transparent sac that holds them together. The eggs look like clear little jelly bubbles that may have some coloration depending on the species of the snail.

How long does it take for fish eggs to hatch in a tank?

Incubation. After about 30 days, the fish embryos develop visible eyes, or "eye up". We then safely sort the live versus dead and count these now "eyed up" eggs. About 10 days later, or 40 days after initial fertilization, the "eyed up" eggs hatch into baby fish, known as "alevin".

Do bad eggs sink or float?

Carefully lower your eggs into fresh cold water using a spoon (you can do this in the pan if you're about to boil them). If the eggs stay at the bottom they're fresh; if the eggs float, however, they're stale and best avoided.

How do you check eggs in water?

Place your eggs in the water. If your eggs sink to the bottom and lie flat on their sides, they are very fresh. If your eggs stand on one end at the bottom, they are a few weeks old, but still fine to eat. If your eggs float to the surface, they are no longer fresh.

Do fish eggs need light to hatch?

Incubation of fish embryos should occur in either dim light or darkness. Light can also be used to synchronize hatching. Many species of fish will not hatch in daylight, therefore, if the lights are switched off, hatching will occur a few hours later.

Where do molly fish give birth?

Livebearers have a gravid spot right close to the anal vent. This spot grows larger as a female is about to give birth.

How do I know 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 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.

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.

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.

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 many inches do mollies get?

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.