Lyretail in xiphophorines (members of the genus Xiphophorus containing platies, variatus, and swords) is a dominant gene. So, any fish inheriting a copy of the gene will grow a lyretail. Since the males are functionally sterile, the females must be mated to non-lyretail males.

Can lyretail mollies breed?

Albeit there being several varieties of molly fish, they all can be mated because regardless of the color or fin configuration, they are the same species, and any male will readily fertilize with all females. ... So, put simply, different colors and shapes of mollies are still the same fish and will readily breed.

What is a Molly lyretail?

These fish are small, only reaching 5 inches, and males have large dorsal fins, wild forms are gray with rows of dark spots. They are very popular in the hobby, as such, many color and fin varieties have been developed. The Black Lyretail variety is black with white markings and has a long tailfin with long edges.

Will Mollys cross breed?

Mollies and Platies are not compatible for breeding. For crossbreeding, the two species must be closely related to each other. As Mollies belong to the family Poecilia and Platies belong to the Xiphophorus therefore, they cannot crossbreed.

Will mollies breed in my tank?

Mollies are livebearers, which means their eggs develop inside their body so that live fry can be released. They are one of the easiest fish groups to breed in captivity and will mate regularly. Conditions in a breeding tank need to be perfect, the water (and tank in general) should be clean.

Molly Fish Care and Breeding: Let's Clear up All The Confusion!

What are the signs of a molly giving birth?

The Eyes of the Fry and Signs of Impending Birth

To accommodate the developing eggs, the mother's body expands, becoming deeper and broader. A few days before delivery, she develops a bulge below the gills, her outline becoming fairly square in this region, while the gravid spot has enlarged its area.

Will Molly fish eat their babies?

In a breeding net, the fry are exposed to the same water conditions the rest of the tank is experiencing. Cannibalism is normal with mollies and other livebearers like guppies and platys. As fecund as they are, you don't really need to worry about saving every last one.

Can mollies and balloon mollies breed?

Most Mollies you see in the stores are already hybrids of several different wild species. Yes, the distorted bodied 'Balloon' Mollies will be able to breed with most of the other Mollies, including Dalmations.

Can guppies and mollies breed?

Potential cross breeding between guppies and mollies

These adult fish are not fertile and will not reproduce. Sadly, most babies from the guppies and mollies will die before, during or shortly after they are born. Both guppies and mollies can carry sperm for a long time after reproducing.

Can mollies change gender?

Registered. No, it can happen after a female fish has been, or is pregnant. I had a female molly change genders, and with a gonopodium, spit out some fry.

How many mollies should be kept together?

Mollies tend to stick together most of the time, which is why you should keep them in groups of 4 or more. If you are planning to keep more than 4 mollies, make sure you get a 20-gallon tank at least. A 45- gallon tank should be a perfect choice if you plan to manage multiple shoals of mollies.

Are mollies fin nippers?

Mollies are common freshwater aquarium fish. They look a lot like a cross between a tetra and a fancy goldfish. There are two main varieties of mollies, short-fin and sailfin. ... More than one molly can be kept in a tank together, however, they have been known to nip the fins of others in their tank.

Is Dalmation Molly aggressive?

A male Molly fish will chase a female

If your mollies are breeding, then you'll see an uptick in this kind of aggressively chasing other fish. But, don't be mistaken, Mollies are not typically aggressive, but sometimes you will have an alpha Molly fish that is simply a bully!

How can you tell if a balloon Molly is pregnant?

Physical signs to know if she is pregnant

1 – Her belly is changing and gets squared off. Normal mollies have round bellies. But if she is pregnant, her belly will start to become more square and thicker. 2 – Black lines on her belly will be visible.

What color will my Molly Fry be?

What color will my Molly Fry be? Molly fries can be any color they want to be. Normally, they are close to the colors of the parents. Fries are dark grey but as they are growing and getting older, they will start changing color.

Can 2 mollies live together?

But with that being said mollies are generally seen to be extremely peaceful fish. Especially in circumstances when one male molly is being kept with two female mollies. However, if you house all male mollies then as previously mentioned you may notice aggression amongst them.

What is the most profitable fish to breed?

1. Dwarf Cichlids (Apistogramma) Dwarf cichlids are a large family of freshwater fish, with the Apistogramma being a large genus. ...
2. Wild Caught Cichlids (Cichlidae) ...
3. Discus (Symphysodon) ...
4. Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus Zebra) ...
5. Clownfish (Amphiprioninae) ...
6. Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma Flavescens)

How big do Gold Dust Mollies get?

Growing to a maximum of nearly 5 inches, the Gold Panda Molly requires a tank of at least 25 gallons with algae and plenty of room to swim. The tall dorsal fin of the male will not develop if adequate room is not provided for him to swim.

How long do Mollies stay pregnant?

Mollies 50-70 days.

What fish can live with black mollies?

Black Molly Suitable Tank Mates

Black Molly fish are a peaceful, community fish who will happily live with almost any other peaceful, community fish. Some of the fish we have successfully kept with our Black Mollies are Guppies, Danios, Tetras, other Mollies, Swordtails, Gouramis, Platies and even female Betta fish.

Will guppies eat Molly Fry?

Yes, they will eat them. You could possibly get away without any loss, but that will depend on the temperament of the Molly. It may be better to keep her away from the new fry until at least they are able to swim away.

How many babies can a molly fish have at one time?

Gestation and Birth

They can give birth to between 40 and 100 fry. Mollies that are young or are having one of their first few pregnancies will tend to give birth to a smaller rather than larger number of fry. When a molly female is near her time to give birth, you will need to separate her from the rest of the tank.

What is the lifespan of molly fish?

The molly fish lifespan is two to five years. This freshwater fish is not known to live a long life. Their lifespan actually depends on the environment you provide when keeping them as a pet. The water conditions impact the lifespan of mollies as they are prone to diseases if the water conditions are poor.