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by skeletor on December 28th, 2004

skeletor

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How long does it take baby mollies to grow up enough so that the mother won't eat them?

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Answers. 8 helpful answers below.

  • by fighterfish on December 20th, 2007

    fighterfish

    unfortuatly they grow painstakingly slow@least6mnths,but some parents if keept well fed wont eat them after a month or so.

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  • by onzanzabarsands on April 10th, 2006

    onzanzabarsands

    I breed mollies, so let me tell you there will always be some that don't survive. To help ensure your fry's lives make sure there are plenty of floating plants. If you have some decorations in your tank that is great, but having some just free floating gives the fry more protection against other fish and the filter. When feeding them either use micropellets or make sure to smash the regular fish flakes so they will be able to eat and grow fast. I have had some grow up in my canister filter and be fine, however, it is a good idea to check all your filters for survivors. Good luck.

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  • by rosie on June 18th, 2009

    rosie

    I was so happy when my molly had frys. However only one survived. After three weeks it looked big so I placed it in the aquarium and in a few days it was eaten. I only had two adult mollies at the time and one was the mom. i would wait a little longer.

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  • by Goldencat on October 15th, 2008

    Goldencat

    Have not had much problem with mine: dalmations, lyretails, and black. Lots of hornwort floating like a green cloud to one side, plus feed four times a day... more babies every time i turn around.

    Mollies being supposedly vegetarian, have never shown the motivation to eat their fry in my tanks.

    Everyone else does it for them :-P

    In the nursery tank, the adults, juveniles and new fry are all schlepping around, calm as anything. The babies ARE naturally nervous for a week or so, and hide in the plants.

    I have seen the bolder, month old ones come out and take food from an adult. Just not feeling like eating meat, I guess.

    Normal fish - I'd keep them apart until they were too big to eat easily.

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  • by Dibble on September 20th, 2008

    Dibble

    It takes my guppies which r like mollies 4-6 monthes.

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  • by violet on April 13th, 2008

    violet

    I'm not sure but most books say plenty of plants ,places to hide, & a castle or sea shell helps with plants.
    At least 2-3 months old, mine are so small at 3 months old, but almost ready to put them in the 10 gallon tank with mom. The smaller tank needed cleaning like a change of water and food fermented & fish doo doo on bottom removed. I think this affects babies life span also.

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  • by Anonymous on January 23rd, 2006

    Anonymous

    Well, i'm fairly sure they grow up quite fast, just like their relatives the guppies. But individuals can grow at different rates; just put the babies in when they are too large to fit into the mother's mouth. If you just want to put away the small tank you're keeping them in, put floating plants and java moss into the larger tank, this will give the babies a place to hide from their mother.

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  • by khjohnson89 on February 15th, 2012

    khjohnson89

    I have lots of balloon mollies, have fry that have been in the tank for two months. If you want more babies to survive, buy a breeding trap (costs like 6 bucks at the pet store). This has a small plastic grate in the bottom. You put the pregnant molly inside, and when she gives birth, the babies drop through the grate where the mother cannot get them. I also bought a nursery tank, which was a separate section attached that sucks the babies out after they are born using an air pump. After a couple months, they look big enough that the mom wouldn't eat them, but I'm not chancing it. No babies have died since birth, when a few died shortly after being born. They are quite large already though, so 4-6 months does seem like a good estimate.

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