Livebearer, relatively harder to breed than other mollies; gestation 4-8 weeks. Broods are usually 20-60, occasionally up to 200; fry are large and take brine shrimp nauplii or powdered flake from birth.
A male and 3-4 females in a 200 L+ tank.
Planted tank with floating plants; very hard alkaline water with a little marine salt, warm and heavily filtered.
Stable warm 26-28 C water, plenty of algae and vegetables.
Usually 20-60 young per brood, up to 200; gestation 4-8 weeks.
Feed baby brine shrimp, crushed spirulina flake and keep fry in warm hard water until about 3 cm.
One breeding tank for the yucatan molly, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 22–28 °C · pH 7.5–8.5 · hard water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 15 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the yucatan molly in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 520 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
The male is slightly smaller, with a gonopodium and a large, long sail-like dorsal fin; the female is larger with a small dorsal fin.
Typical for livebearers
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.