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How much longer for my Molly?

4K views 36 replies 6 participants last post by  DragonFish 
#1 ·
I bought 3 female fish for my tank on Friday. I bought 2 "Fancy Guppy" females and a Balloon Belly Molly. One of the Guppies and the Molly were pregnant when I bought them. I was told that my Molly is almost done with her pregnancy, but she's not "squared off". The Guppy still has a few weeks to go. Would it make it easier if I gave yall a picture of the Molly?
 
#6 ·
She looks very, very close ;) Never had a Balloon myself so I don't know what they look like when there about to give birth, but I'd suppose look for the usual squared off livebearer belly, as you had mentioned. Without knowing when her last drop was/when she became pregnant it can be very hard to guess. Squared belly is your best bet, watch her closely and keep us updated! Get some pics of the fry if you can, always wondered what Ballon Molly fry looked like ;)

And congrats on the fish dream! Means your becoming one of us crazy ones x3
 
#9 ·
How exciting! :-D

Carful though, Breeder nets/boxes can stress out the expecting mother. That doesn't mean not use them, I have to use them too if I want to save any fry from my Platys(If my angel doesn't get them, by Dwarf Gourami will), but just be carful. If she doesn't drop in.....oh, 36-48 hours then take her out so she doesn't become too stressed :)
Also, perhaps add a small plastic plant/stem of a bushyish live plant into the breeder net for the fry to hide from mother in ;-)

Best of luck! I hope you have lots of little fry soon!
 
#10 ·
I decided to take her out because she was looking a bit stressed. She's still quite partial to the bottom of the tank. I had to (I KNOW THIS IS SO BAD!) put my hand up to the glass where she was to get her up to the top of the tank for dinner noms because when I open the hood, usually all the livebearers, and sometimes the Ghost Catfish all spaz up to the top center of the tank, and she didn't.
 
#11 ·
Ahh, that is a sign that shes getting close. I don't know how long before(can't remember^^; )but they will stop eating before they give birth. Best not to mess with her ;-)

With my guppies, I watched them carefully and when I noticed the signs(hanging out near the bottom, squared off belly)I placed them in the breeder box that night and usually sometime in the morning I had a nice batch of fry :) They seemed to be less stressed this way, I'm guessing because it was night time. Perhaps try that?
 
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