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 long does it take for fish to give birth?
As examples, the female swordtail and guppy will both give birth to anywhere from 20 to 100 live young after a gestation period of
four to six weeks
, and mollies will produce a brood of 20 to 60 live young after a gestation of six to 10 weeks.
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.
Will mollies eat their babies?
Cannibalism is normal with mollies
and other livebearers like guppies and platys. As fecund as they are, you don't really need to worry about saving every last one.
How can you tell if a balloon molly is pregnant?
The gravid spot will become visible around halfway through the pregnancy and grow with time
. The gravid spot is nothing more than the female's eggs becoming visible through the abdomen. You can later see the silhouette of the fry once they hatch and begin to develop inside the female molly.
What do you do with a pregnant molly?
How many times can a molly fish give birth?
The gestation period of a molly fish is around 60 days. Female mollies can store sperm for months and may fertilize eggs as often as
every 30 days
, even when no male is present in the tank. Mollies may release 10 to 60 live fish at a time.
How do you keep baby mollies alive?
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. Molly fry can be extremely delicate due to poor water conditions. Change the water regularly to keep your fry healthy.
How do you tell if my mollies are mating?
Distinguishing between male and female black mollies is fairly simple.
The males will have the gonopodium instead of a normal anal fin
. Females tend to look larger and rounder than males. Some males will have elongated dorsal fins, but this is not seen on the females.
How many mollies should be kept together?
At least three or four mollies
should be kept together. Mollies are shoaling fish, which means they're more comfortable living with fish of the same species. While you should keep several mollies together, be sure not to overcrowd the tank.
How do you tell if a molly is a boy or girl?
Males are more torpedo-shaped and have bigger fins than females
. The males also have pointed gonopodia, modified anal fins they use to mate with females. Dominant male mollies intensify in color and grow larger fins to produce a mating show for females or to show dominance to other males.
What is the lifespan of a balloon molly?
The balloon molly fish has a life expectancy similar to those of other types of mollies kept in captivity:
three to five years
. This life span is based on ideal conditions, such as brackish water or saltwater rather than freshwater, which can make a balloon molly fish susceptible to disease and illness.
