After a couple decades.. Mollies again...

[Redfoot NERD]

Well this old { dime a dozen } 55 has had Spotted turtles in it [ 1999-2000 ] and then Diamondback Terrapins [ 2009-2011 ].. but never fish. Early '80's bred Mollies in a couple 20L tanks.. but haven't had them since.. until now.

Early on there were Black mollies and Marbled mollies and Green Sailfin mollies.. and then Lyre-tail black mollies.

{ please forgive these 'first' pics.. I'll figure it out.. tricky lighting and they don't usually sit there and pose }

Now there are names I can't pronounce so I'll call this one a Gold Sailfin Lyre-tail -

Again with an Orange.. both males - very gravid females to the right and Gold-dust Lyre-tails in the background..

These are live-bearers.. 2" - 2 1/2" now and have babies every 28 days! I now have a 10 gal. tank as a nursery and maternity ward.. with a half-dozen babies I've found in the main tank so far.. the adults are very cannibalistic!

Terry

Will get better pics of individual ones hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Balboa]

Once again amazing photography Terry! I've never gotten a picture half that good of my fish.

Its been a long time gone since I kept Mollies, but they were always one of my favorites as well. I think I got tired of always having fry tanks and trying to save the babies (not sure what it is I just can't sit by and let them get eaten). They sure are prolific.

 

[Tom]

Never had much luck with the mollies. I don't think my tap water suited them. I tried ever degree of brackishness from straight fresh to salt. Never could get them to thrive and reproduce. My water was, however, perfect for African Cichlids or for treating and mixing your own salt for saltwater tanks.

Great pics Terry. Fantastic color. They are obviously doing well for you.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Tom: Mollies require high alkaline ( ph 7.6+ is fine ) and a full tablespoon of "sea-salt" per 5 gal. of water.

Balboa: Thank you.. finishing decor touches ASAP.. [ and then some serious camera tweaking! ] - until then...Male "Gold-dust" and one of his girlfriends -

That's 'fred' in the background...

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Well I think I have the decor the way I want it now.. pics tomorrow.

Caught a couple of the albino "Cory-cats" in the corner.. they seldom stop!

Orange lyre-tail male behind them.

Two of the Gold-dust were very gravid so I put them in the 'nursery' tank last night.. this morning one had "delivered" and by early afternoon the other had too! I quit counting at 20...

This one is next -

Terry

 

[terryo]

Nerd...post some pictures of the babies, and your nursery tank. It's been years since I've had tropical fish. I think the most interesting are the Angel Fish. Why don't you try raising some of those? What fun! And of course your pictures are great.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Finally got around to taking pics of babies for TerryO - she had probly 25 last night.. one female! Each baby is maybe? 1/4".

Two other females had ??? earlier this week.

I'll get a pic of the "maternity" and "nursery" tank ASAP.

After 10-12 weeks they start showing their "lyre-tail" developing -

One of the females - right at 2" ?

It really does take patience to get decent pics of fish.. a new pic of the "gold" male ASAP...

NERD

 

[Fernando]

wow amazing...great photos!