Will molly fish lay eggs? (2024)

Will 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.

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.

How long are molly fish pregnant for?

Mollies 50-70 days.

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 often do molly fish 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.

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 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 many babies do mollies have first time?

Gestation and Birth

Female mollies will gestate their young for about 60 days. They can give birth to between 40 and 100 fry.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Do fish lay eggs on the glass of the tank?

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.

How do you encourage fish to lay eggs?

Provide them with an abundance of high-protein food, feeding more often than you would normally feed your community aquarium fish, typically three times daily. You are preparing them for breeding, so they must have sufficient energy in their bodies for their own maintenance and growth as well as to produce eggs.

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.

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

You can keep 5 to 6 molly fish in a 20-gallon tank. These friendly fish reach a maximum size of around 3 inches, so they're not the biggest fish in the world. However, they are very active swimmers and need plenty of room to move around.

Can I keep a single molly?

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.

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 do baby mollies eat?

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.

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.

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 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.

Should I separate baby mollies?

If you can't get to the gravid female in time, you may need to capture the little ones and separate them from the other fish in the aquarium. Then you can use the breeding box, net or the separate tank to isolate the fry until they get large enough to fend for themselves.

How old do mollies live for?

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.

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 long can molly fry stay 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 you do with baby fish you don't want?

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.

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.

Why is my molly fish 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.