How do mollies have

Mollies give birth to live young, a process known as viviparity. Mollies are livebearers are capable of internal fertilization, meaning the male fertilizes the eggs internally then the fertilized eggs develop within the female's body. The gestation period varies between species and can last from 21 days to 6 weeks.

During pregnancy, the female molly develops a specialized structure called a brood pouch or gestation chamber, where the developing embryos receive nourishment from the mother through a specialized structure known as the placenta. The placenta allows the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste between the mother and the developing embryos.

As the embryos develop, they grow inside the brood pouch and receive all their nutrition from the mother. The mother's body provides them with oxygen, food, and protection until they are fully formed and ready to be born. The fry (baby mollies) are fully developed and capable of swimming and feeding independently from the moment they are born.

The number of fry born in a single brood can vary depending on the species and size of the female, with some species producing as few as 10-20 fry, while others can give birth to over 100 fry at a time.

Once the fry are born, they are free-swimming and fend for themselves. The female molly may provide some level of parental care by protecting the young from predators and occasionally cleaning them. However, parental care is limited in mollies compared to other livebearers like guppies or platies.

Mollies are prolific breeders, and they can reproduce multiple times throughout the year, resulting in a large population growth if left unchecked.

Here is a summary of the process of how mollies have babies:

1. Internal Fertilization: The male molly fertilizes the eggs internally during mating.

2. Gestation Period: The fertilized eggs develop within the female's body for a species-specific gestation period.

3. Brood Pouch: The female molly develops a brood pouch where the embryos receive nourishment through a placenta-like structure.

4. Live Birth: After the gestation period, the female gives birth to live fry (baby mollies).

5. Free-Swimming: The fry are fully developed and capable of swimming and feeding independently from birth.

6. Limited Parental Care: The female may provide some protection and cleaning of the fry, but parental care is generally limited in mollies.