pregnant molly won't give birth

[angyles]

I have a pregnant molly that refuses to give birth. She's been as big as a house for well over 8 months. seriously. I don't know how she's swimming, it's so rediculous. Totally square, over 1" diameter...HUGE. you can see a giant protruding hole where there should be babies coming out, but they just won't!

any advice on triggering birth? I tried dropping her into one of my other tanks hoping maybe a switch in water params would stress her into birth. nope. I'm at a total loss.

 

[WeedCali]

Dropsy? Constipation?

 

[angyles]

no, she's absolutely pregnant.

 

[WeedCali]

how can you be so sure?

if she is, you can always try the 'squeeze her til they pop out' method

 

[smitty]

I don't know about the squeeze until they pop out methods, and I probably would not try that. I also do not believe that she could be pregnant for 8 months and live.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

about 3 weeks from impregnation to birth. its not possible 8 months prego.

 

[slipgate]

Ours were always stimulated to give birth right after a water change if we put warmer water in.

 

[BettaFishMommy]

i agree with Mg, mollies simply cannot be pregnant for that long.

if she truly is preggers, have you tried putting her in a breeder net so that she might feel safer giving birth?

heck, i'd put her in the breeder net anyway and fast her to see if it simply is a case of piggy molly.

 

[tonergirl]

years ago I had a pregnant Platty and she was huge with babies and it seemed like she was never going to give birth and I thought she would die for sure and then one morning I got up and she was at the bottom of the tank and it looked like all her insides were on the outside(really gross) and she did die but she did give birth to a bunch of tiny little babies. I actually don't remember how long she was huge but it did seem like forever, at the time.

 

[angyles]

well thanks for all the input. I have been breeding mollies for several years so I do know she is pregnant. she started growing in june of last year. I know that because I tore the entire tank down and rescaped it in june. By late july she was ready to pop, then jsut never did. It is possible for a fish to get impacted with eggs or babies. I know that. I have had a molly a couple years ago who was pregnant for a few months and then she suddenly died for no obvious reason. I fear that's what wil happen to this one as well.
I guess I'll jsut let nature take it's course.