Some fish in my tank had babies. I'm kinda ignorant or newbie with the whole fish thing, so pardon me. Upon birth I had 1 guppy with a large tail (mail I think?), and 1 black molly. I was told the molly is a male by my fiance's mom, but I think she's mistaken. They look like guppies, but are developing black spots now. If it's not possible for this to happen, my only guess is that the molly was somehow pregnant before being put in the tank. I find this hard to believe because it was in the tank for months before the little fish appeared. I got the molly from my fiance's mother because hers had babies. The molly was still to my knowledge an adolescent when I received it, but I dont' know when fish become fertile.
Can fish intermate?
- Thread starter haydenm315
- Start date
Most livebearers are breed when very young--too young to be viable. They store the sperm until their body matures, and then impregnate themselves. This is why pretty much all female livebearers are pregnant when you get them--if they've ever been around a mature male, they've been impregnated.
Cross breeding can occur, but typically between more similar species than a guppy and a molly. Molly/platy/swords will all cross breed if kept together.
Cross breeding can occur, but typically between more similar species than a guppy and a molly. Molly/platy/swords will all cross breed if kept together.
Fish can interbreed if they are closely related. Fish can also store sperm for more than one pregnancy for months at a time. The latter is probably the best explanation possible. Most of the time it's a platy x Swordtail that we hear about.
PS, do you have any pictures of the guppy, molly or fry perchance?
EDIT: I see Orion beat me to it. Well, from the mouth of two people now.
PS, do you have any pictures of the guppy, molly or fry perchance?
EDIT: I see Orion beat me to it. Well, from the mouth of two people now.
very interesting responses. I think an important piece of information was left out of my original post. I did have a male swordtail in the tank, though unfortunately he recently bit the bucket along with the guppy 
(another thread for that one)
The reason I singled out the guppy and molly was because they were inseperable. The molly was constantly on the guppy's rear and followed it all around the tank. It even remained by the guppy's side when it got tragically ill last night and died this morning.
I never really saw the molly and swordtail together, but maybe it's more probable that they did something. I can snap some pictures of them later on to see if that helps solve the mystery.
(another thread for that one) The reason I singled out the guppy and molly was because they were inseperable. The molly was constantly on the guppy's rear and followed it all around the tank. It even remained by the guppy's side when it got tragically ill last night and died this morning.
I never really saw the molly and swordtail together, but maybe it's more probable that they did something. I can snap some pictures of them later on to see if that helps solve the mystery.
they must breed once, but after that they will save some of the sperm inside of themselves for one or two more batches of fry in the future. they can be pregnant multiple times from one mating.
Yup.... I had to give him a swirling funeral this morning. Here I am, Mr. sports man, gym fanatic, wrestler/jiu jitsu person... and I feel bad for a little guppy. It's not just the guppy I feel bad for. The guppy and molly were best buds, and it's in mourning as well. :sad: I've heard that a goldfish's life resets every minute. I wonder if it's a myth. The guppy and molly were inseperable.mvigor said:
Total myth. Most fish have pretty good memories. How else would they know to swarm to the top everytime you open the tank.