Want to Breed Mollies

HuricaneKatt

HuricaneKatt

AC Members
Feb 1, 2010
54
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6
Anchorage, AK
Hey,
I am new to the forum! haha Anyways I have a ferret who is on an all raw/natural diet. I want to breed some freshwater fish for him to eat, as well as to have a fun fish tank for myself. Right now I have a 14G tank or a 10G that I can use. I would like to use the 14 if I can find a place to put it. Anyways, I need a fish that can be eaten by my ferret so right now I am looking at (fresh water, not brackish) Mollies, Guppies, and Minnows. I am not sure if or when I will do this (have to find a place for the tank!) but I really want to. So, here are my questions...

What do I need/need to do to breed Mollies?
I can only feed my ferret the 1st generation of babies and up as the original fish will have been in chemicals, etc and not fed a natural diet. How can I be sure that the tank and fish are all parasite/disease free so that the babies will be "clean?"
Can I have other fish in with the Mollies (i.e. can I breed Mollies and Guppies in the same tank? Can I get one or two pretty fish and maybe a snail or crab?)
Can I put those cool moss balls in the tank?
What kinds of plants are best, and do I really need them?
Do I Have to get a breeding net to put the babies in, or is there a chance that they will avoid being eaten?
How many babies do they have, how often, and how long does it take them to get to be full size?

Thanks! Sorry for all of the questions, just trying to get all of the info and see if this is doable or not.
 
1) A 10 or 14 gal is too small to breed and grow Mollies for the Ferret to eat.
2) In a bigger tank (30 gal +) it would still take months before the fish is even at eat-able size.
 
I feed my ferrets(and my cats, dogs and rats) raw too. Fish would be fine for a treat but are not a normal part of the nature diet of ferrets. Mice, rats rabbits and even quail would be a much better option. But, as a treat they would be fine. Mollies are too big for a 14 gallon. If you want to breed mollies or platies I would go with at least a 30. Guppies you could maybe get away with a 20, but keep in mind you need room for the young to grow out. If they are cramped it will stunt there growth. A larger tank they will grow quicker and get larger.


Can I have other fish in with the Mollies (i.e. can I breed Mollies and Guppies in the same tank? Can I get one or two pretty fish and maybe a snail or crab?) I wouldn't add any other fish if your goal is breeding. Maybe some snails or shrimp. But no crabs, the common ones seen are not true aquatics anyways. Besides the fact that the can catch and kill fish.
Can I put those cool moss balls in the tank? Yes, you can have the moss balls and other plants. Infact I would recommend it. It will give your fry places to hide and food too.
What kinds of plants are best, and do I really need them? You do not need them but I would highly recommend they. Mosses would be great, like moss balls and java moss. Feathery plants like milfoil, anacharis, fanwort, cabomba, hornwort, parots feather and foxtail. Other good plants are java fern, water sprite, water wisteria, lotus and hygro. There are also many others too. The plants will give the fry a place to hide and will also provid food like microorganisims.
Do I Have to get a breeding net to put the babies in, or is there a chance that they will avoid being eaten? I do not like breeding nets. Lots of live plants will help the young more.
How many babies do they have, how often, and how long does it take them to get to be full size? There are alot of variables at play here. Like size of tank, age and size of parents, how many fish you have and what kind. One other thing I would recommend is to get a sponge filter. They work great and I have used them with great sucsess. They can not suck up the fry and will also grow little things for the fry to eat. It also woun't blow the fry around like HOB or canisters will.
 
Thanks! Looks like that won't work then. haha And yes, I would be - or would have been - breeding the fish just for treats lol He eats all kinds of yummy foods ;) Well, I will have to find some other fun stuff to put in the tank then...I would like some really pretty colors. Kind of tropical looking maybe without actually being saltwater. Suggestions?
 
HuricaneKatt said:
Thanks! I would like some really pretty colors. Kind of tropical looking maybe without actually being saltwater. Suggestions?
Click to expand...


Colors??=== Platies!! Have all the colors of the rainbow!!
 
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