baloon Mollies

[cheekycherub]

Hi Guys,
Im new to this site and thought what a great idea it would be to join.
I am wanting to find out how to tell when Balloon Mollies are close to giving birth? They seem to be fat all the time and I know they carry already fertilised eggs all the time, but I read somewhere that you can get to know when they are about to release the babies. I have a nice amount now and am trying to breed them, but I would love to be able to tell when I should move them into their breeding tank. I lost the last lot and have about 5 girls that are looking pretty fat. I would appreciate any help you may be able to give me on symptoms.


Cheekycherub

 

[Blinky]

I'm no molly expert, I have platys though which I believe are similar in the way they show their pregnancy...
Can you see a gravid spot? (I'm not sure what colour your mollies are, if they're black we're out of luck, if they're dalmations we might be getting somewhere) a black spot at the back of their bellies? My calico platys are white based with black spots, so I can see the fry's eyes through the belly, and I use the concentration of eyes and how fat the fish has become (how is it they don't explode?!) to guage when she's about to pop.
Observing the fish closely will help as well. I've got two females in a tank waiting to give birth, one closer than the other (I have to put them in there together, if I leave just one in the community tank the males will chase her to death). Right now, the very pregnant fish is secretive, chases the other female away, and spends more time resting and hiding than swimming. Normally she's gregarious, swimming all over, and getting excited at feeding time with the rest of them. When her behaviour changes, I know the time is close.
It's better to move a female sooner than later. If you move them too late they can abort a brood, giving birth too fast and too soon from the stress. About a week is what I've heard is 'best', but then I've also heard of people buying livebearers and the stress from transport causes them to give birth (to healthy live babies) in the bag!

 

[cheekycherub]

balloon Molllies

Hi and thanks for your help. I tried to have a look for eyes but cant see any. Also the majority of the mollies are lighter colours with a few black and dalmation. I cant see the spot you mention on any of them and especially as I am looking for a black spot on a black spotted fish!!!!! (dalmations) hmmmm Will have to keep looking I think. I have noticed the dalmations bottom fins have suddenly gone all white, so not sure what that is about?!
Its seems to be hard since the Balloon Mollies are already naturally over fat and they always look pregnant. Im so scared to leave them in the comunity tank in case they have their babies and the others eat them. I have one baby born from the first few days after I got the mollies home and I have named him appropriatley "Nemo" as all his brothers and sisters got eaten by mum. That mum is still fat as a ball but I read that only have the next lot in around 60 days.
I have a floating breeders container that has the grid bottom in it to trap the babies under mum so I hope that is suitable.
Thanks again for your help, I will have to master the skill of this pregnancy thing.

cheekycherub

 

[farli]

they accually give birth every 28-30 days...i breed mollies and i have noticed that the female will suddenly be chased my the males...I take her out and about 2 days later she gives birth. I give her one breather day, usually in my one gallon, then return her to the 20 gallon. the Gravid spot that Blinky talked about are only on some livebearers. all my guppies have them, but only my all white mollies have it. How long have you had your mollies? Spend about 15 min a day just watching them, before you feed them. you will quickly get to know your mollies, their little quirks, and funny things...then you can notice the changes that Blinky also mentioned. good luck!

P.S. float lots of plants on the top, and you can save more from certain doom!

 

[cheekycherub]

Hi Farli,
thanks heaps for the info, Im having a hard time finding out about them. I have purchased 8 females and 3 males. They are all colours and are all fat. I did have a look for the eyes throught the tummy that were mentioned, and I can see black tiny weni spots but not sure whether it is intestines or eyes!!
I have only had the mollies for around 3 weeks now and still getting to know them, they seem really friendly and I would love to breed them on a bigger scale. I have an order in for another 5 females preferably blacks and dalmations.
I have them in a 6 foot tank with danos,neons and catfish. I only have the floating breeding tank that holds 2, they are fairly small so I was worried about them getting stressed out in such a small area if they arent as far along as I am thinking. Maybe I need to set up a whole new tank for the pregnant ones with a big grid floor in it to catch any born. What do you think??
I will float some more plants on the top .


cheekycherub