How to Tell if an Orange Mollie Fish is Pregnant

The orange mollie, or molly, is a tropical freshwater fish. Add 1 tsp. per 5 gallons of fresh water to give the mollie just the right amount of salt. The orange mollie is a livebearing fish, which means it gives birth to living babies rather than eggs. Orange mollies breed almost constantly, so you may need to separate the males and females from time to time. Female mollies are rounder in shape than males, which may make it difficult to tell if an orange mollie is pregnant.

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch the size of the orange mollie's stomach, which will begin to grow larger and rounder as pregnancy advances.

    • 2

      Look for a dark, triangle-shaped spot near the fish's tail. The spot is called the gravid spot, and becomes larger and easier to notice in pregnant mollie fish.

    • 3

      Look closely at the fish's stomach, and you may be able to see the eyes of the developing fish within.

    • 4

      Observe the orange mollie for signs of behavioral changes. Pregnant orange mollie fish may begin consuming more food, moving more slowly and spending more time alone.

    • 5

      Watch for signs of baby orange mollie fish appearing in the tank. Pregnant live mollies may take several hours to release babies, up to 30 of which may be released at once.