mollies not breeding?

[F!zH]

Ive bought 2 mollies one male and one female, over 2 weeks ago and they have settled in nicely. The female was pregant when i bought her and gave birth not a couple of days after i got them home. But since then there has been no mating intrest between the two. The mlae will lazily follow the female for maybe 2 seconds every now and again but thats as far as he will go. Why are they not intrested? And is there anything i can do to help them?

[Wetpets]

Please post your tank parameters and pics - that would help.

[F!zH]

lol I just fidured it out! I was watching him and it turns out he's only got on fin on his side! he's black so i couldnt see but he's missing one of his...well the fin just behind his gill no wonder hes slow

[Little Embers]

2 seconds is all it takes LOL! but seriously he only needs to touch her vent and she can be inseminated. I personally think it is a good thing that he isn't harassing her, particularly as she only dropped fry a week ago...I honestly think it is better to let the female rest between breedings as it puts a great strain on her body and is very stressful. I also would suggest (although I don't think you have the room in the 10 gall with the 2 goldfish as well) that the better ratio is to have 1 male and 2-3 females, the reason for this is to spread the harassment from the male between the females, because a single female can literally be harassed to death by the males constant pestering. If your male molly is sick or has injured himself that definitely could be the reason he doesn't appear to be interested.

I know you mentioned in another thread, that you will be moving the goldfish when they get too big and I do not wish to start a discussion about that here, but I do have concerns as I honestly do not think coldwater and tropical fish should be in the same tank because their temperature needs are different, their dietary needs are also different. I am worried that your tank may not be fully cycled and that the temperature may not be suited to either the goldfish or the mollies.

Is it possible for you to give us your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, as well the tank temperature?

BTW...How are the fry doing?

[Wetpets]

On the generic Molly subject...

Mollys have a much longer cycle than most other livebearers... so don't expect them to be making whopee straight after she's given birth. It will take weeks to months for her to be open to courtship again.

Secondly, I note that your tank is 10g. Unlike Platys and Guppies, Mollys require a lot of space per fish to be bred successfully and continuously - Although I come at this from a commercial point of view: I keep 3 females and a male (as Little Embers pointed out!) in a 90L (around 22g). Although the growout tank ought to be bigger to promote healthy, lively fish.

Just some info... :fish2:

[Jaster]

I can't stop my mollys. They are at each other constantly... lol The girls even chase the boys around! Not in a 'get away from me' kind of chase but rubbing against them. We call them the horny fish... lol they're worse then my guppys! :1luvu: :hmm3grin2orange:

I do 3 to 1 as well.

[Wetpets]

My black sailfin male is known as "the rapist". He'll even go after other species - if he were a dog no doubt he'd be one of the leg-humping varieties!

[F!zH]

The only thing with the male having no intrest is that the female harrases the other fish. I have a 20 gallon tank but finding a place to put it is hard and if i cycle the tank then do i leave the fish where they are until its cycled or..?

Ammonia - 2 Nitrite - 1 Nitrate - 9

[F!zH]

So ivw got the 20 and it can go nicely where the 10 is but how do i put the 20 where the 10 to cycle for a few weeks? Can I, guessing, cycle the 20 near by and after it it has cycled, drain half the water of both tanks, take 25% of the 10gallon tank water and put into the 20g, keep temps the sae and then accumnualte the fish slowly..o.O actually if youve got any ideas itd probably be better

[Northernguy]

Its easy,just switch the tanks around.
Put your fish in a bucket for now with a filter if possible.
Change the tanks over.When you are done put the filter from the ten on the twenty and run the other filter as well.
Alomost instant cycle if your ten is cycled.Just monitor your perameters in case of a mini cycle.Do your water changes for any peaks.