Another Question about fish pregnacy/spawning

[cashay]

I captured on video two of my fish in the act of...(u know)... my question is If she is holding do the males keep trying? yesterday i noticed two different males getting to her, and I was just wondering if they knew when they got pregnant? And it doesn't mean she actually got pregnant right?... I mean there isnt a guarantee just because they made contact... lol this sounds so funny asking... you would think after I have had three kids of my own , I'd know these questions... hahaha but far from knowing the difference in fish...

[murdock6701]

which fish?

[cashay]

Dalmatians, I wish I could tell the difference in the skirt tetra's now, what a female or male differences are,

[Carl]

With Mollies (as well as other livebearers) I have observed males chasing females around regardless of whether or not the females are carrying fry or not.
Since female livebearers can store sperm, my guess is that the males are just keeping them "topped off"

As for the Skirt Tetras, I find these generally more difficult to sex, here are some tips that may help though:
Generally the femlaes are more round and fuller than the males. Another way to tell is the width and placement of the anal fin: the males have wider ones (sort of a heart shape) while the females' anal fins are almost parallel to any vertical stripes they may have.

Carl

[murdock6701]

can almost guarantee the molly is pregnant! they breed like flies....LOL - good luck - ecpect to hear the results in about a month

[cashay]

hmmmm I dont have a tank to keep them in if she is, I gave my daughter my 5 gallon for her new Betta, I only have the 2.5 gallon I kept around for the hospital tank.. I guess I can put her in there after a few weeks to see if she is going to have any... Oh well may have to splurge for another tank.. husband is going to love me! HA

[murdock6701]

2.5 gallon would work fine for fry - read my article about livebearers in the livebearer's section - talks about birthing tanks, etc, - it's under platys but is all the same pretty much - Godd Luck!

[Carl]

Yes, John's (murdocks) contributor notes under Platties are VERY in depth and useful really for all livebrearers.

See:
Fish Profiles; Livebearers

Carl

[cashay]

Thanks guys! I have the hospital tank up and running so I will give her a few weeks in the tank with the others then I will take her out, (if she is pregnant) So I wont have to worry about the other fish helping themselves to some sushi.... At least this go around...

[murdock6701]

bear in mind, she will eat them as well, regardless of what you read about platys and mollies and guppies not eating their own fry - keep an eye on her - having fry is usually over in an hour or less - if you don't use a birthing tank, keep the tank well planted (real or artificial) it will help the survival rate a bit - make sure there's gravel in the bottom as well as they hide there too - good luck!

[cashay]

I will have to put some plants in it, I have a java fern in it but it is very small. so I will be sure to get some in the next few weeks, I hope I am home when she has them, then I can take her out right away...

[murdock6701]

that's why the birthing boxes are nice - you see her having fry, plunk her in, when she's done put her back in the main tank and leave the fry in the little tank til you find a bigger one - the 2.5 should be good for a month, depending on how many she has - she could have 30-80! prolific little buggers! all the males could swim away, never to be seen again and she could still have another batch every 4-6 weeks for a month or 2.....

[cashay]

YOUR KIDDING ME?? oh no I don't need all those fish, I will get the first ones I see, then after that the rest are Lunch!...

[murdock6701]

you chose the mollies darlin'........ ;D

[cashay]

Had I known they were as bad as rabbits, I may have made a different choice! lol

[goldenpuon]

The best thing to do with livebearers such as those is keep the females and males seperate unless you want oodles of babies. I took out 5 male guppies out of my main tank today to stop the reproduction. I have 8 females by themselves now that are probably ALL pregnant. Keep in mind, you can sell the babies once they get larger or if worse comes to worse (sadly I had to do this a couple times) feed them to the parents or other fish.

Also for the fry, depending on how many you have, you will want to siphon the bottom as often as twice a week or more. Less fry means you can do less siphoning. And if you're lucky and don't have to do the siphoning often, do a 50% water change once a week to help with growth (of course opinions vary with how often to do this). Also fry need to be fed a pinch and I mean a VERY small pinch 2-3 times daily (fry are very tiny). I feed mine 3 times daily but Murdock does it 2 I think. Also, when you siphon, be careful not to suck up fry but if any do get sucked up and into the bucket or wherever you're siphoning the water to, don't worry. Just put them back and they should be fine (just a little surprised). Also, don't use a filter that has holes big enough for the fry to get sucked into. A sponge filter works well so this is not an issue.

There is a very small chance she may not be pregnant but if you're seeing mating, odds are its been going on quite a lot while you're not watching so the stakes are extremely high that she is.

I know this is a lot to take in, especially for a beginner. I'm on EA at least once a day. Feel free to PM me with an questions/concerns about livebearer reproduction. Murdock also knows a good deal on the subject. Good luck!

[murdock6701]

thanks for that - made my day and made me laugh!

[cashay]

LOL

February will be a year for keeping fish for me, and I have to say I have learned a lot, although babies are not something i have had in the past so I appreciate the advice. And I think it is very safe to say John does know a good deal about it.. hahaha