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Fish/Black Molly babies

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Expert: Lynda - 7/9/2009


Question
We had a bit of a surprise last week when our MALE Black Molly gave birth to at least 14 young !  We've had her about 7 months and were told "she" was a "he" by the shop where we bought her. She is in a tank with a few guppies, a couple of cleaners and a cherry barb but no other Mollies........can they cross-breed outside of the various Molly types or would she have been pregnant when we got her ?

I say at least 14 babies since we know of three that the barb got to before we had a chance to separate them and we have 11 in a nursery tank that are now a week old.

Answer
Hi Jeremy,
Yes, Mollies, and Guppies can cross-breed.  If she had been pregnant before you bought her, she would have had fry before now.  They usually have babies once a month after they have had fry.  Feed the fry well, 3 times a day, and make sure your water is free of ammonia, and nitrites.  Do water changes everyday of 10% and they should do very well.
It would be interesting to see what the little ones will look like once they get bigger.  
Lynda

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Lynda

Expertise

I can help you with cichlids, african cichlids, betta fish. I have bred most of them, including the Discus, and Angel Fish, and Rams. I have also bred many african cichlids. I have bred bettas too...well I am a fish nut! I can help you with most diseases, and have experience in setting up a tank. I can tell you tricks on keeping your water alkaline without products. I also speak and write french. I have experience with salt water fish, but would rather not get into that field. Please when writing to me, give me detailed information. The size of your tank, your water chemistry, etc. The more I know, the more I can help you. I cannot guess at what you have, so please give me information and I will do my outmost to help you with any question you ask me. Please do not ask me questions on Goldfish, mollies, platies, and guppies. Lynda

Experience

I have worked in Petshops in the fish department...was Manager in two...and alot of my experience came from my home where I had 26 aquariums from 20 gallons to 200 gallons.

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I have a MSN group but it has nothing to do with fish

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I have finished high school, and went to college, in accounting

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