Is my Sailfin Molly Pregnant

Question
QUESTION: Hi Chris

I have set up an aquarium and it's been about two weeks now that I've had them and  bought them as a per (male and female) from the pet store. Now I wanted to know on how exactly to spot if my female molly is pregnant and how does it last because I was advised to by a breeding tank of which I have done and now resent the male Molly I had died and it was very active and all though I can't say why it died. I have a picture of it and if it was possible then I would send it to you so that you can advise me accordingly.

I need to also know on how to look after the young ones once there are some and basically I want to also know how to look after them because I have a gold platty as well and I can tell what the sex is though it's pretty much blotted underneth and before I forget my molly developed a small black spot towards it tail but now that has changed a black line right at the end of the body between the body of the fish and where the fn starts.

ANSWER: Hi Martin;

If your tank is new the male may have died from the effects of "New Tank Syndrome". Your tank's filter and gravel are trying to grow and colonize beneficial bacteria that consumes fish waste toxins. Make lots of partial water changes and get a test kit to detect ammonia and nitrite (Not nitrAte, it's different) so you know when changes are needed. Here is my web page about it;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

Baby mollies are easy to care for. Feed them 3 times a day , but only enough that they eat all of the food in less than 5 minutes. Also make frequent water changes. Your baby tank has to go through a break-in period too so even daily water changes may have to be made to keep toxins under control. Siphon excess food and waste right away so it doesn't make them sick.

If you can get live aquarium plants and add them to both tanks it will help the break-in period because they will have some of the beneficial bacteria on them that your tank is trying to grow. The fish need them to eat on anyway. The babies especially will enjoy them. Mollies like plants such as Anacharis (elodea), Java moss, and Duckweed. Make sure your choices are "true aquatic" plants. There are some sold that don't belong in aquariums but are actually just house plants submerged. They don't live very long in your tank and can foul the water. Here is a link to examples to avoid, with photos at the bottom of the page;

http://www.sydneycichlid.com/non-aquatic-plants.htm

Have fun with your new fish!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Chris

Sorry to bother man but I also asked hot I can spot if my female molly is pregnant and how long does it last and in cases were they lay eggs then how long does it take before they hatch because I was told at the pet store that there's food you can give your mollies to actually lay eggs unless if you want them to give you live baby mollies. I was advised to by a breeding tank of which I have done

Answer
Hi Martin;

Sorry I missed that part of your question. To tell when livebearing females such as mollies, platies, swordtails and guppies are nearly ready to deliver, watch for their bellies to take on a more boxy shape. The bottom and sides get a little bit flat and the mother will hide more. This usually means she is just 5 days or less from delivery. The babies are usually born just before dawn.

Female mollies are pretty much pregnant all the time if there has been a male with them. Even after being separated from the male they can have litters for several months. They store the sperm in their reproductive system for use later if there is no male. They have babies about every 6 weeks or so.

They don't lay eggs at all, they are livebearers so I don't know what the pet store people are talking about. If a molly or other livebearer seems to be laying eggs or delivering partly developed babies still inside of their sacs, it means she is prematurely delivering and the babies won't survive. Healthy newborn baby fish can eat tiny bits of cooked egg yolks, but that's all I can think of the pet store people might have been trying to say. Weird. Either that or it's  something I don't know about! You might ask them to give you  more details. I'm curious what they would say...

Good Luck!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins