trop fish and birth

Question
hi ok i guess i should have done my homework before getting my fish. I had 2 Mickey mouse fish one just died not sure why, one dalmatian had 2 but again one died, and a few other kinds of I guess Mollies my qu is Iam not sure who is the female or when shes preg. and one of the females have given birth twice now, looked in my tank I had two small babys doing fine no breeding or birthing net or box and now i have two more little ones what should I do with the babys? should I just leave them be? Do Mollies breed with any kind of other Mollies? The one Mickey mouse molly that I have left seems upset up down side to side chases the other fish not nipping or anything but did look like at one point that it maybe a male hovering over another fish everywhere the other went he was right there, why? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Jennifer,
Telling the differences between male and female livebearers, (whether it be mollies, guppies, platies or swordtails) is easy. The shape of their bottom fin makes it very easy. The female has a fan-shaped bottom fin. While the male's is slender and pointed.

These photos may help too-
*Male platy
http://www.fishforever.co.uk/images/male2.jpg

*Female platy
http://www.fishforever.co.uk/images/female.jpg


Most female livebearers are pregnant all the time, able to produce several broods from just one mating. So even when taken out of a tank containing a male, she will continue to have fry at least a few more times.

Many times, fry can survive just fine in the main aquarium, as long as there is plenty of cover for them to hide in the form of floating plants and bunches of plants in the corners and back. And if they get little bits of finely crushed flake food placed in areas where they congregate 3-4 times a day.

Mollies indeed breed with other all other types of mollies.

Male livebearers have very strong breeding instincts and will fight with other males and often chase females relentlessly. Sometimes you have to keep only 1 male per tank with a minimum 4-5 females or more to help spread out the courtship displays so no single fish gets stressed.

I hope this helps answer your questions and best of luck!
Karen~