How Long Are Female Molly Fish Pregnant?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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. Many 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.

How can you tell if a molly is pregnant?

How often do molly fish have babies?

The gestation period of a 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.

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.

What do you do with a pregnant molly?

How long should molly Fry be separated?

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.

How do fish act when giving birth?

How many eggs do mollies lay?

How many eggs do molly typically lay?

None

. They're live-bearers, which means live birth. Anywhere from a few to over a hundred could be born.

How do you know when a balloon molly is about to give birth?

The Eyes of the Fry and Signs of Impending Birth


A few days before delivery, she develops a bulge below the gills, her outline becoming fairly square in this region, while the gravid spot has enlarged its area

.

Can mollies change gender?


Mollies are not able to change gender

. The gender of these fish is determined by their genetics so it is impossible for them to change sex. Your mollies might appear female at the beginning but they will get a male outward appearance as they mature.

How does a molly give birth?

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.

Can you tell if a fish is pregnant?

As your female fish becomes pregnant,

she will grow a bulge at the back of her abdomen

. This typically appears over the course of 20-40 days. Does your fish have a red or black spot? Sometimes, when a female fish is pregnant, she will develop a “gravid spot” on the abdomen.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.