pregnant tropical fish

Question
hi, we have 2 neon blue gouramis, 3 golden rams, 1 siamese fighter(red/male i think), and 4 possible female mollies and one male. i say possibly because 4 of the mollies are very huge on their bellies and to tell the truth i don't know if they are pregnant and the other mollie is normal size.(how do i know when they will give birth i.e tell tale signs etc. and one of the gouramis is up in the corner of the tank and also has a large bellie she/he hasnt moved for a while just being surrounded by the golden rams??????  help if they are preggas when will i know thanks  

Answer
Hi Lucy,
  Female mollies are often basically pregnant most of their adult life.  They give birth typically every few weeks if things are going well.  As for exactly when a female molly will give birth, you can't really tell.  

  Bettas (siamese fighting fish) don't get pregnant as such. The male makes a bubble nest at the surface and the female lays eggs which the male spits up into the nest.  Female bettas often mature eggs over a long time so she might appear to be "fat" for many months before she lays eggs.  

 Bottom line: you just have to keep watching and see what happens.  That's part of the fun!

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>