Telling the differences between pregnancy and fatness in Molly fish is quite challenging, especially for inexperienced aquarium owners.
These two conditions feature some similar traits that are hard to distinguish. If you raise both female and male fish in the tank, it’s essential to know the signs of pregnancy in your pet fish.
It’ll help you modify the diet and tank conditions, creating an ideal environment for fish growth. So, how to tell if a molly is pregnant or fat?
Keep reading this post, and I will show you a straightforward answer!
Contents
How To Tell If A Molly Is Fat Or Pregnant? 5 Useful Tips
A pregnant fish will always develop unusual traits and behaviors that the tank owners can quickly notice.
Here are some typical traits of pregnancy in Molly fish that you should consider:
A Stretched Out Or Swollen-Out Belly
A pregnant Molly fish will look chubby and fatter than its tankmates, especially in the abdominal area beneath its stomach.
You will see the visible rounding when the fish is near its breeding state.
The bellies of Molly fish are significantly rounded and can contain more than 100 baby Molly fish.
Despite the babies’ tiny body size, such a large number will inevitably make Molly’s belly stretch out or swollen.
Gravid Spots Under The Fish Belly
You can monitor Molly’s anal cavity and look for triangular marks running toward this area.
This mark is where the baby mollies’ clusters concentrate, and you can make them more visible by using UV lightning.
Unfortunately, these gravid spots are only visible on colorful and lighter Molly fish.
You have to use other methods to check for pregnancy in dark-skin Molly.
Changes In Molly’s Behaviors
Pregnant Molly fish will develop aggressive behaviors and temperaments when they are bothered.
The fish have the tendency to avoid the other tankmates and hide in safe spots in the tank.
If you see the chubby Molly having these tendencies, quickly separate them in another tank.
Ensure that the tank has many comfortable and cozy places for the Molly fish to hide and rest.
Pregnant Fish Eat More Food
Since pregnant Molly has to provide the baby fries with nutrition, they will consume significantly more food.
You should increase their feeding and choose nutritious food sources for the fish.
The Tendency To Seek Warmth
A pregnant Molly loves staying around warm spots near the temperature stabilizers or heating systems.
It is because the Molly fish need to maintain their high body temperature during gestation.
When Is Molly Fat, Not Pregnant?
A fat Molly fish can develop similar traits to a pregnant one, but there are some noticeable differences in their behaviors.
Here are some subtle signs you can monitor in fat Molly fish.
- The fish swim in a vertical pattern or lean their bodies upside down due to the concentration of fat in the belly.
- An unusually rounded and swollen belly or bloated abdomens are also signs of fatness in Molly.
- Fat Molly can also develop yellowish spots and patterns on their skin.
- The white abdominal area of the fish appears with red spots or streaks.
- The fish tend to eat more regularly in larger amounts of food.
How To Keep Molly Fish Thin And Healthy?
Due to their omnivorous nature, Molly fish can consume any food you give them.
Therefore, Molly fish are prone to overfeeding, which can lead to constipation and increase their body size.
Keeping Molly fish thin and preventing fatness is vital for their healthy growth. You can follow these tips and preventive measures to care for your pet fish.
First, you should keep the amount of food fed to Molly at a lower quantity.
Also, prioritize nutritious food like flakes, bloodworms, or wavers rather than feeding the fish a large amount of food.
I know it may sound contradicting, but feeding Molly too many veggies and fruits is detrimental to their health.
Ensure there is a balance of meat, living foods, and veggies in the fish diet to enhance their healthy growth.
FAQs
The answers below will help you understand more about fatness and pregnancy in Molly fish. Check out the sections below to care for your fish better!
How To Keep Your Molly Fish Thin?
You don’t need to worry when your Molly fish becomes fat and chubby. This state indicates that they are pregnant and need special care from the owners.
However, Molly fish can still get fat if you overfeed them or when they suffer from constipation and bacterial infection.
You should modify the fish diet and feed them fiber-rich food.
How to Care For Pregnant Or Fat Molly Fish?
It would be best if you keep the pregnant fish in a separate tank and provide them with suitable food and water parameters.
Meanwhile, avoid overfeeding the fat molly fish and check if they are suffering from constipation.
How Long Will Molly Fish Become Pregnant?
The pregnancy period in Molly fish lasts between 45 to 60 days, depending on the fish’s conditions.
However, female Molly fish can store sperm from the male and fertilize themselves once a month.
Is The Chance Of Fatness Or Pregnancy In Molly Fish Higher?
Since Molly fish can store sperm and fertilize themselves once a month, the chance of pregnancy in Molly fish is significantly higher.
However, you should not exclude the chance of fatness caused by constipation or overfeeding.
Final Thoughts
I hope these instructions and tips can help you identify the proper state of your Molly pet fish.
Whether the fish are pregnant or fat, you should implement proper care and adjustment to ensure their healthy growth.
The traits of fatness and pregnancy in Molly fish may look quite subtle and hard to differentiate.
Therefore, you should pay close attention to the details and the fish’s behaviors to make the decision. Thank you for reading!
