I have a 30-gallon tank set up with 7 female and 3 male mollies. The breeding process usually takes a few days and almost three to four weeks are required to see tiny fish, also called fry, appearing in front of you in the aquarium. Mollies are one of the species of fish that are easy to breed as they mate regularly. Log in. 13 Posts . Ideally, you should have a 10-gallon aquarium for a molly fish. I've recently started to breed golddust mollies. Once they have mated, the fry will be born 3-5 weeks after. This makes for a crazy successful breeding platform. If you have female mollies from a pet shop, they will already be pregnant. You need a female and male guppy/molly for then to breed. Just like other molly types, balloon mollies are also live bearers and have a really short breeding span. The simple answer is no, they cannot breed with each other. These black mollies are only 1.5", but yes, they sure are pigs. However, short-finned and sailfin Mollies are quick to breed. Years back, when I first got into reefing, I picked up a couple dalmatian mollies to help discipline me in the art of acclimation. Mollies under the right conditions are very easy to breed. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your nursery tank will act as a temporary home for the fry until they are grown enough to be placed into the tank with your other mollies. Fish mate by the male positioning himself below the female. Allow nursery tank to operate 3 days before adding fry to it. Mollies grow to a rather large size, so you should immediately buy a bigger house for it. Mollies (Poecilia sphenops) are one of the most common aquarium fishes. If you want to increase the population of balloon molly fish in your tank then get your mollies and tank ready for the breeding session. Fertilization: Molly Fishes breed by using the internal fertilization procedure. Although these fish breed readily, young raised in tanks rarely develop the “sail fin” and in fact only reach about 3-31/2 inches in length. When the time comes they give birth to their young ones in the water directly. Whichever male has the biggest fins and boldest colors leads the way. However, if you want the fry to survive till adulthood, you will have to take special care of them and keep them away from other fish in the tank who might eat them. This means the ideal combination of male and female fish is one male for multiple females. Breeding Mollies. There is not much to breeding mollies. It takes up to 30-45 days after fertilization for the fry to be released. emale and uses his genopodium to breed. For breeding, mollies prefer a tank with a temperature at around 80 °F, or even slightly higher. When the mother is close to giving birth, move her into the nursery tank (2-way breeder box or separate nursery tank.). All mollies are easy to sex and can be sexed by looking at their reproductive organs as well as in many species very visible attributes such as large fins on males. Once a month, introduce the mother under supervision into the nursery tank to be around her fry and then return her back to the main tank. The male doesn’t even swim near the females. They won't breed if not provided with ample space. When you want to breed mollies, you need to keep in mind that the conditions for breeding should be perfect. After the mating of male and female mollies, the ejaculation of male molly allows fertilizing eggs inside the female molly. You can tell if it is male beasue they will have the gonopodium. To create optimal comfort for the pet, add salt to the water: 1 teaspoon per 20 liters of water. Mollies are a peaceful breed of fish, meaning that you can keep males and females in the same tank without having to fear violent confrontations between the two. You met want to move the molly who is going to have babies in other tank mollies don't eat there young. They are livebearers and the eggs are produced inside their body. Rinse the gravel, drain and allow to dry. It’s almost like a tetra and a pleco. The first step to breeding guppies and mollies is to pick the right fish. Make sure your pH is right, the water is clean and feed them. For the most part, mollies are very easy to breed. I have ten mollies 2 male and 8 female three of them are Dalmation mollies but none of them are male I have 2 gold dust mollies that are male the rest are all female and our creamsicle. First, you need to prepare a separate aquarium, in which there will be a lot of vegetation and the water temperature is maintained at the level necessary for the fish. The more decorations and decor in the aquarium, the more comfortable the fish will feel. Fish mate by the male positioning himself below the female. A great many people believe that there is just a single type of molly available in fish stores, yet one can find 3 different species of this fish. The Molly and Platy are not closely related. And if you’re wondering how big do molly fish get, the answer is: up to 4.5-inches. You will need to purchase items for your nursery tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'molliesfish_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',114,'0','0'])); If you are using a 2-way breeder box, insert it into the main fish tank and allow to remain there for a few days to allow the other fish to become accustomed to it.eval(ez_write_tag([[320,100],'molliesfish_com-box-4','ezslot_0',122,'0','0'])); 2-Way Breeder Boxeval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'molliesfish_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',123,'0','0'])); Fry can be fed the same food you give to your adult Mollies. Any female can hookup with any male. Molliesfish.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is advisable to to consult a breeder for getting more healthier fish as compared to ordering from a fish pet shop. Balloon mollies are livebearer, which means they do not lay eggs. Source(s): Have been studying guppies and mollies for years. All mollies are easy to sex and can be sexed by looking at their reproductive organs as well as in many species very visible attributes such as large fins on males. Simply place a significant quantity of livebearers in a very large pond. It also attracts female mollies towards mating. Females are usually always pregnant with babies and that’s how you can cosmetically tell the difference between males and females. Female mollies after breeding give birth to over one hundred small mollies or babies or you can even call them to fry babies. Poecilia. Anyways. Mollies thrive in slightly brackish water, and a breeding tank should contain plenty of plants, because the parent fish will eat the fry. Just a mistake most beginners make with mollies. The following interbreeding combinations have been reported: guppy-molly, and swordtail-platys. You are now equipped with enough information to successfully maintain a healthy tank and perhaps make a little money selling your fry. Thoroughly rinse the inside of the tank with plain water. But beware, the resulting fry are mostly sterile, deformed runts, and you will not be able to give them away to a shop. Any molly fish can breed with another breed of molly. When it is time to breed or mate, the mollies do not pair off but instead, the male will fertilize any female they come in contact with or chase and catch. If you want a specific color, strain or type, consult a breeder. Then the Mollies breed when the male chases the f. YouTube Video. Once they have mated, the fry will be born 3-5 weeks after. To breed guppies, keep male and female guppies together in a well-maintained tank. Treat your aquarium water with the water conditioner / dechlorinator. Add the remaining water filling the tank up to 1” of the top. This makes for a crazy successful breeding platform. Your email address will not be published. They usually become sexually mature in six months for females and twelve months for males. Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the hard work and effort placed into starting your Mollies! Male mollies usually acquire Bolder and Brighter color patterns than the Female Mollies. A mature molly can give live birth almost once a month. If you have both males, and females, they WILL breed. When the mother is close to giving birth, move her into the nursery tank (2-way breeder box or separate nursery tank.) I have a 30-gallon tank set up with 7 female and 3 male mollies. Once you have separated the male fry from the female fry, you will need to calculate 1 male to every 2 females. Ordering from a breeder will … Mollies are livebearers, which means their eggs develop inside their body so that live fry can be released. It is very simple to see which are males or females in Mollies. Mollies are live-bearing fish. Mollies can easily breed with closely related species such as guppies. Separate the females from the males just before the fry reaches eight weeks old (sexual maturity.). [1] X Research source You may see the male under the female; this is how the fish copulate. Any molly fish can breed with another breed of molly. Molly fish, or just mollies, are freshwater fish from the genus poecilia, in the poeciliidae family. 3 weeks ago I bought a male molly that seems to be roughly around the same age, but they refuse to breed! You can tell the gender of your fish because the female Balloon Belly Molly has a pregnancy spot and a rounded anal fin. The male Balloon Belly Molly has a pointed anal fin and a larger dorsal fin. Male guppies are usually brighter and more vivid in color than female guppies, and they’re usually smaller. These babies are known as Fry.eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'molliesfish_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',118,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'molliesfish_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',118,'0','1'])); Before allowing your Mollies to mate, you will need to set up a separate tank. Mollies are hierarchical fish. Females will choose the largest males, which will put on display for the females. 2. Platy and Sword tail belong to the same Genus. They are not compatible for breeding because to crossbreed, the two species have to be closely related to each other. Mollies grow to around 3 inches in length and ... After owning molly fish or any livebearer for some time, you will quickly find out how much they breed. I have three mollies I raised from fry, they are currently 8 months old and all female. How to get Mollies to breed ? You should never keep a single female with multiple males. Breeding Mollies. The female will give birth to 10-60 fry at one time. To live comfortably, each extra molly will require about 3 additional gallons. Other livebearers can also breed with mollies. The male doesn’t even swim near the females. However, short-finned and sailfin Mollies are quick to breed. Adult Mollies eat small fry, so it’s necessary to keep them separated until the fry is bigger. When the time comes they give birth to their young ones in the water directly. Most species are easy to breed if their demands are met. How to Breed Mollies & Caring Pregnant Molly [The Right Way], Simplest Tips How to Identify Male & Female Mollies, https://mrfishkeeper.com/molly-fish-food/, How to Care & Grow Molly Fish Fry (Best Tips), Why Should You Choose a Biorb Fish Aquarium? These eggs remain inside the female molly until the … Mollies enjoy neutral to slightly alkaline water pH (up to 8). [Untold Reasons], Things and Habits to Consider while Choosing Tank Mates, Penn Plex Cascade 1000 Canister Filter Review, How to choose Right Fishing Kayak? Size & Shape. Once the fry are born, immediately move the … Sail fin Mollies are available in several color varieties. Breeding of mollies with guppies begin with selecting the fish with specific color, shape, size, pattern and tail type. Female mollies have dull, Timid, and Demure color schemes that’s why the bolder color variations of male mollies seem to be attractive. Breeding Mollies. Mollies are livebearers which mean that they give birth to live young (instead of laying eggs). Female livebearers (mollies, swordtails, guppies & platies) carry up to 6 sperm packets in their bodies from previous matings with males. You may be required to set up more new tanks to accommodate new fry as they mature. However, the fry need a healthy environment to grow and thrive. Live-bearing fish do not lay eggs but give birth to live tiny little fish babies. Set up the filtration system and turn on. There are also about half a dozen zebra danios and a single platy. Mollies breed like no one’s business. On to the breeding. Or similarly, will my mollies try to eat the baby fry? If you do use a 2-way breeder box, you will not need any of the below items. Guppies and mollies can breed together, and swordtails and platies can breed together. Conditions in a breeding tank need to be perfect, the water (and tank in general) should be clean. It is a thinner, pointed fin. Once the fry are born, immediately move the mother back into the main tank. Because male balloon mollies will constantly chase females, it is best to keep a good ratio between males and females. If you want to crossbreed these two species, you can breed Mollies with Guppies and Platies with Swordtails. Guppies breed rapidly on their own, so you don’t need to do anything special to get them to breed. However, you will need to ground up the fish food before feeding to the fry. Or similarly, will my mollies try to eat the baby fry? This tank will house the fry until they are grown enough to introduce into the main tank with the other fish. 5 mollies require atleast a 10G tank. Female mollies will give birth to fry every 3-5 weeks. You will have to do partial water changes each week, otherwise fish waste that are toxic will rise making your fish sick as they are a tropical fish they need the right temperature (around 28C). 15-30 gallon tank (size is dependent upon how many fry you have) OR use a simple 2-way breeder box that goes directly into your existing tank. (5 Things to Know), Molly Fish Tank Mates(Live Bearing,Bottom Feeder & Non live Bearer). Females are larger than males and fairly easy to identify, especially because of that near-constant pregnancy. Breeding Mollies. Add your artificial plants and accessories. All the species in this genus are mollies except for the endler's livebearer. They are livebearers and the eggs are produced inside their body. Breeding mollies at home does not cause trouble to the aquarist if he follows simple rules. Mollies are a peaceful breed of fish, meaning that you can keep males and females in the same tank without having to fear violent confrontations between the two. Although both egg layers, they cannot breed together. Male mollies are mostly larger in size than females. If you allow her to stay with the fry, she will eat the fry. There are also about half a dozen zebra danios and a single platy. 3 weeks ago I bought a male molly that seems to be roughly around the same age, but they refuse to breed! Use a paper towel to dry. I have three mollies I raised from fry, they are currently 8 months old and all female. Once the female is pregnant, they will keep the eggs in her body for 60-70 days until they hatch. Mollies are one of the species of fish that are easy to breed as they mate regularly. Most species are easy to breed if their demands are met. They are one of the easiest fish groups to breed in captivity and will mate regularly. Allow the fish to mate with one another. My question is would you suggest a breeding net even though there aren't any "big" fish in the tank? For Sailfins and other larger mollies, however, you’ll need to arrange a 30-gallon aquarium. Then harvest them as they breed. Mollies are livebearers which mean that they give birth to live young (instead of laying eggs). They lived for a short while, but that tank crashed due to some bad source water. These two belong to the same family i.e. You can also grind up bloodworms, and brine shrimp and give to the fry. 4 Immediately remove the adult females and male from the aquarium and put them in another tank. Mollies breed like no one’s business. Discussion Starter • #1 • May 19, 2012 (Edited) I was digging around online and stumbled upon something stating that Lyretail Mollies have trouble, or won't breed for most. First off, mollies do best in brackish water. Molly fish are livebearers and the females seem to almost always be pregnant, thanks to the voracious Molly fish breeding behavior. Is yours? With free heat, the next thing that is needed is a pond to breed the livebearers in. In any case, a large portion of the mollies available in pet stores is … Although some recommend adding aquarium salt to the breeding tank, I find that having water with hardness of potable quality works just fine when breeding molly fish. They breed like flies, nothing to it. 7 how to breed … Depending on the species, you may add up to four mollies to the tank. Fill your aquarium halfway with room temperature water. One of the easiest fish to breed. Only then will the mollies breed. Once you know the sex of your fry, steps need to be taken to make sure they do not mate. My question is would you suggest a breeding net even though there aren't any "big" fish in the tank? Florida, Thailand, Hawaii are all popular spots for people to have a fish farm. I've recently started to breed golddust mollies. The fish can sometime breed within thier own genus but not cross. Mollies are one of those most prevalent types of fish in the aquarium. Molly and Guppies to a different Genus. 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