Isn’t it amazing to see your adoring Mollies giving birth to their babies? But till you wait for that moment, you will have to prepare and care for the pregnant Molly fish primarily. So, while caring for them, should I separate pregnant Molly fish from others? I have developed this article to answer the most asked question precisely to solve your dilemma.
Yes, it would help if you separated pregnant Molly fish from others. Since Mollies usually eat whatever fits into their mouth, they will even chase and munch Molly fry like a snack if kept in the main tank. Therefore, it is essential to separate pregnant Molly fish from before to save them immediately after they are born. You can use a breeding box or net for separating, provide enough hiding spots, or maintain a separate tank for her.
Also, other fish in the aquarium, especially male Mollies, tend to bully or chase the pregnant Molly fish, which builds stress and aggression. So to let your fish live peacefully, separating them is a great idea. So, separating pregnant Molly fish will help her live peacefully and save Molly fry.
You might not get the whole idea about pregnancy in molly fish. That’s why I suggest you read the whole article below.
Should I Separate Pregnant Molly Fish From Others?
This question might have perplexed you a lot. But the answer is quite simple. Separating the pregnant Molly fish is crucial if you want your Molly Fry or baby Mollies to live and grow right after birth. If not, the choice is all yours!
Also, your pregnant Molly fish requires a peaceful environment to relax, which is unlikely to happen in the main tank with other fish.
So, yes, you should separate the pregnant Molly fish from others in the main tank. It saves both Molly Fry and pregnant Molly fish from many deadly disturbances.
Why Should You Separate Pregnant Molly Fish?
More precise, I have explained why you should separate pregnant Molly fish from others in brief:
Saving Molly Fry Immediately After Birth
Molly fry or baby Mollies are very small when they are born. Molly fish give birth to all the fry at once. They can be an easy meal for any fish species, including Mollies: if they stay in the main tank.
Mollies will leave no chance to chase and munch them once they notice baby Mollies in their tank. So, it is better to separate their mother Molly fish from others before they are born to save them from this risk.
If you want to see Molly Fry growing and enduring later, you have to make a move from today. Thus, you shall separate the pregnant Molly fish from others in the tank.
Protection From Bullying Male Mollies
Not just Molly Fry, but the pregnant Molly fish is also not safe if she stays in the main tank. Usually, male Mollies in the tank will chase and bully the females even if the fish is pregnant.
Their chasing game lasts until their mating inducement gets unsatisfied. Even for the pregnant Molly fish, the male Mollies often chase and mate. It affects the physical and mental well-being of the fish.
To avoid this issue, separating the pregnant Molly fish right after you find out that she is expecting is vital.
Reduce Stress
Separating Molly fish when she is pregnant also reduces the stress, which possibly builds if stayed in the main tank.
Usually, the pregnant Molly fish stays dull, lacks appetite, and rests at the expecting stage. In the main tank, the fish is likely to face stressful instants from other fish.
The stressful situation may pile up to the extreme, affecting her health and triggering her aggression.
How Can I Separate Pregnant Molly Fish From Others?
If you are willing to see Molly Fry grow and thrive, saving them before their birth is significant. For this, you will have to separate the pregnant Molly fish primarily.
Hence, you can separate pregnant Molly fish from others by following methods:
Installing Breeding Box
If you want the pregnant Molly fish to live in the main tank but separately, installing a breeding box can be fine. However, it is one of the best choices to separate and save the Molly fry after birth.
A breeding box is a container made to protect the expecting Molly fish by providing a separate tank place in the tank.
The tank water runs through a water pump in this box without troubling the fish inside it. So, your fish will certainly have no problem surviving in the box.
Take the pregnant Molly fish and keep it in the breeding box till she gives birth. Once she gives birth to the Molly fry, the babies will fall into another section of the breeding box, leaving the mother Molly behind.
You can separate the pregnant Molly fish from others even after staying in the main tank.
Hiding Spots
Another way you can separate the pregnant Molly fish in the main tank is by maintaining enough hiding spots for her.
You can separate the pregnant Molly from other fish by hiding spots like artificial plants, live plants, and other aquarium decorations. Molly fish loves to hide once in a while to get away from all the stress of pregnancy and the presence of other fish in the tank.
But, this method may not be effective as a breeding box set up after the birth of Molly fry. Furthermore, they are unlikely to last long as once they are noticeable, other fish will attack and eat them instantly.
Maintaining A Separate Tank For Pregnant Molly
A separate tank is a definite requirement to see Molly Fry live and grow. However, if it is requisite after Molly Fry is born, why not prepare it from the beginning by maintaining a separate tank for pregnant Molly fish?
Yes, you can maintain another tank for pregnant Molly fish only to separate the fish from others. However, it will surely save your Molly Fry later and care for the pregnant Molly Fish throughout the gestation period.
However, there are various tank conditions required even in the separate tank. This very tank will also act as a fry tank; it is necessary to know how to set up a fry tank.
The tank’s ideal water temperature, pH level, and aquarium water hardness are requisite. Also, some live aquarium plants, suitable filtration, and lighting would enhance the tank.
How Long Should I Separate Pregnant Molly?
Firstly, you shall separate the pregnant Molly fish using various methods mentioned above as soon as you realize the fish is expecting.
The soonest you separate the pregnant Molly fish, the better the fish can live throughout the gestation period.
Regarding how long shall you separate the fish is until the fish gives birth to her babies. Once you see the pregnant Molly fish giving birth to Molly Fry, separate the mother Molly immediately. Put the mother Molly Fish back in its main tank with other fish.
After Molly Fry is born, you can no longer keep the pregnant/mother Molly fish in a separate tank. Your fish has no maternal feeling no matter how long molly fish carries these babies; as sad as it looks, it is the fact that she can also eat her babies.
How To Know If My Molly Fish Is Pregnant?
If you are a beginner aquarist, this information can be exciting! Understanding pregnancy signs helps you to identify if your fish is pregnant or not. However, if you have been following Mollies closely before, you must be aware of these signs!
Like in humans, it is visible even in Mollies whether they are pregnant or fat. To realize and note their pregnancy signs, it only takes you to observe the fish regularly but carefully. These signs will also help you easily identify male and female molly fish.
But remember, the pregnancy symptoms in Mollies are not definite soon after they mate. Once the fertilization succeeds, the gestation period starts, where the signs of pregnancy get pretty precise.
So, here are some obvious pregnancy symptoms that help you to know if your fish is pregnant or not:
Swollen Belly
The first and most obvious symptom that you can see in a pregnant Molly fish is a swollen belly. Once fertilization follows, you can see a change in the abdomen area of your female Mollies.
Usually, their bellies are rounder in general. But when pregnant, it gets thicker and somewhat square form from the round.
The belly will start increasing, where it looks like a swollen one. But in actuality, the baby inside her belly starts growing, which enlarges the fish belly.
Do not get confused in a pregnant Mollies belly and swollen belly in Dropsy disease.
A pregnant Molly fish will not have pinecone-like scales, redness of the skin, and fins, but fish suffering from Dropsy disease will have.
Visible Black Spots On Belly
If you can spot some black spots on your Mollies lower abdomen, it is a prominent sign that she is pregnant.
In most colorful female Mollies, some black spots start appearing during pregnancy. Many aquarists believe these black spots are babies.
However, in Black Mollies, these spots are unnoticeable as the color of the fish overshadows them. Yet, you can identify a pregnant Black Molly with their changing physical appearance and behaviors. These mollies will also change color when the pregnancy takes the toil on them.
Unusual Eating Behavior
A pregnant Molly fish unusually eats. Means; that she eats more than she used to in general. Because she will be carrying babies inside her, as molly fish are livebearing fish, a pregnant Molly fish eats more.
So it is also a clear sign of pregnancy that you can spot. But if you are unaware of how much the fish is generally consumed, this sign of pregnancy would be difficult for you to guess.
Thus, make sure you analyze and provide the precise quantity of food to Mollies. It helps you to differentiate if any bulky female Molly fish has suddenly started to intake more than usual or not.
Aggression Due To Pregnancy
You might have heard that female Mollies are not aggressive like the males. But this case is not reliable when she is pregnant.
A pregnant Molly fish can get aggressive suddenly if she feels uneasy or stressed during the pregnancy stage. It is just like experiencing mood swings in humans when a woman expects a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the FAQs and the answers people often ask about.
Do Mollies Eat Their Babies?
Yes, Molly fish eat their babies. They generally eat every tiny matter that fits inside their mouth. So, even if Molly Fry is their baby, they will still start munching them.
How Long Do You Need To Separate Baby Mollies?
From birth to till next 21 days, it is necessary to separate baby Mollies. After keeping them in a separate tank for 14 to 21 days, you can see them growing large enough to live in the main tank without any risk.
You need to take care of molly fish fry to have a few of them alive and healthy by the end of the molly fish breeding cycle.
Conclusion
It would help to separate the pregnant Molly fish from others in the main tank. You can save molly fry from other fish after birth while saving pregnant fish from different stress and bullying throughout the gestation period.
Once you see pregnancy symptoms, immediately separate the fish from others. Once you isolate the pregnant Molly, the fish and Molly Fry will get more secure.
Keep your fish safe and happy!
Good Luck!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!
Image Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChGgp54QPL0
