Maternity Tank for livebearers?

Austin

Hey guys. I recently moved all my fry over to a 44 gallon tank to raise them. I have an empty 10g, with apparently 6500k lights, so I decided to plant it. I don't have any fish in it atm. I was wondering if with mollies/platies/guppies if I can move a female in there for a few days when I know she is close to giving birth, and then moving her out when she is done? Will this stress her too much?

What parameters will I need to look out for if I did this? If the PH and temperature are the same or very close can I simply catch her and put her in there? Or should I float her first?

Anyways, I'm wondering if this would possibly work. Has anyone else done this?

Not sure I should even do this. Might end up with TOO MANY fry.

kamrail

i'd float her first

Austin

Hmm, if I'd need to float her I'd be worried that would mean the water parameters must be different. I don't want to stress her out. D= Also it would be good in case my balloon mollies go crazy over my black balloon molly once she gives birth like last time. So she could rest. My platies don't seem to be so agressive and they didn't do it to my other balloon mollies that gave birth. :o

frmrgrl87

I had a pair of preggo mollies in a community tank with other fish that would have loved to have the live food. I didn't want that!! so i moved my two mollies to a maternity tank (filled it with clean-ish water from the old tank during a water change) and then did their own water change. I lowered the temp on their heater about two degrees and they had their babies the next day! (yesterday!!) so excited, they are absolutely the cutest things ever! To keep the majority of the babies alive, i moved the mommas back to the community tank until they are ready to pop again. Depending on my success with these babies they may or may not go back to the maternity tank next time (no more room for babies! )

Austin

ahh, ok I think I'll try it then! :D Congrats on the babies! I am in the same boat as you I think~ I think even with my 44g it'll run out of room quick with 30 babies every 3-4 days (I have like 10 female livebearers). I gotta wait a while, though. The last birth I've had that I know of and recorded was February 22nd.