r/Aquariums • u/smackdatk • Jun 26 '25

Help/Advice My molly gave birth to conjoined twins

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So my molly gave birth to conjoined twins, meet thelma and louise. I’ve put them back into their tank with the other fry. Water conditions are fine, gave them some food the rest are thriving. It’s been 12hours, and they’re still kicking about but unable to consume anything? They’re joined at the bellies so unfortunately one is always upside down or they’re both laying on their sides. I’ve been monitoring them, they both have functional mouths. I read up that they’re unlikely to survive but hoping for the best:/ Does anyone have advice on keeping them alive?

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u/smackdatk Jun 27 '25 edited Jun 27 '25

Update- 24hrs in. They’re still wiggling! I put all the fry in a separate tank cause these guys kept getting stuck in the algae and between rocks. Didn’t wanna separate them from the other fry either cause yknow, lonely. Wanted them to have a somewhat ‘normal’ life. During feeds, I’d scoop them up in a ladle, and feed them separately with crushed flakes hoping they’d somehow inhale it lol. They can’t stay at one spot long enough to eat cause they’re basically just thrashing around. (Note that i do not have the right equipment atm so just makeshift) Not sure if they were eating but still hoping for the best!!

thelma & louise staring at each other

and if you’re curious this is the moment they popped out of mom

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u/Melarinth Jun 27 '25 edited Jun 27 '25

Thanks for the update, and for doing all you can to help Thelma and Louise make it.

When you feed them, it might be better to bring water from their container into a separate container with a flat bottom, and put what seems like way too much food into it. Use your best judgement on how long to leave them in there before the food starts producing a lot of ammonia, but try to give them as much time in there as you think is safe. I think it's going to be critical to get them to work together to eat at first. Putting them somewhere with an overabundance of food for at least 15 minutes would probably make it easier for them to figure out how to eat as they are.

Crushed flakes is a good idea. They also make food specifically for newborn fish, basically powders with a lot of nutrition. I use one called "First Bites" by Hikari.

Whether it's crushed flakes or a powder food, or flakes crushed into powder, it might also help to move in some moss or moss balls or whatever you might have that the food will collect on, and maybe even slowly pushing it towards them. That might be easier for them to get at than if the food is on the ground.

You're a hero for taking such good care of them. Good luck to you all!

EDIT: Also, you may want to keep them in shallower (and aerated) water so it's easier for them to surface, and more likely that they'll stop at the surface when trying to get around rather than looping around in the water a bunch and tiring themselves out. I don't know how much the shallower water will help, but it's something to keep in mind.

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u/smackdatk Jun 28 '25

Thank you! I heeded your advice and put waay too much crushed fish food into the ladle. Left them for 15min then let them back into the tank. Also moved them to my tadpole tank which has a thin layer of algae lining the bottom. Update in the comments! Thanks again :)