Is my Molly sick?

J

JackieFish84

Small Fish
#1
Sep 24, 2008
44
0
0
#1
I have about a month old freshwater tank...and I have 4 mollies....1 male and 1 female dalmation and 1 male and 1 female balloon.

The water is doing ok...and I just did a large water change yesterday and cleaned the gravel.

Today my female dalmation molly is just staying in place at the top of the tank. She isn't gasping for air, I believe she ate before...but she's just not swimming and even when the other fish zoom bye her she doesn't move.

I think she's sick but I dont know whats wrong and the only other tank I have is very small...2.5 gallons...but I can quaranteen her in there is needed.

Please help...the dalmations r my favorite!!
:(
 

J

JackieFish84

Small Fish
#3
Sep 24, 2008
44
0
0
#3
20G, i tested the water it's fine, i didn't notice any other fish harass her

and now my female balloon molly is doing the same thing!!! But the two males are fine!

I'm so confused. Should i q/t?
 

bunker_1

bunker_1

Large Fish
#4
Mar 24, 2008
584
0
0
Cincinnati
#4
Welcome to the tank. I have silver mollies and every once in a while one of my females stays staionary. If she gets bothered enough, she will swim a little and then go back. I would just keep an eye on her. What size tank are they in now?
 

J

JackieFish84

Small Fish
#7
Sep 24, 2008
44
0
0
#7
i just noticed it today although i just walked over to the tank and they all swam to greet me. Don't you love that? I sprinkled a few flakes to see if they would eat and they did...and now they seem ok....I just got so worried cause I actually had my goldfish die last night (different tank), so when i saw her just "standing" there I thought the worst.

Now the female balloon just went back to her "standing still" position and the dalmation is trying to eat scraps off the tank floor so I think that's a good sign.

How would I know if they are pregnant?? My dalmation looks skinny...i don't think she's changed since I got her...

the balloon is fat, but they ARE indeed balloon mollies...and both r fat, and have been so since I got them...no change that I can see.
 

bunker_1

bunker_1

Large Fish
#8
Mar 24, 2008
584
0
0
Cincinnati
#8
You really need to get one more female of each, minimum. The males will "mate" a single female to death. It is really the stress that kills them. The first thin I would do is buy two more females
 

J

JackieFish84

Small Fish
#11
Sep 24, 2008
44
0
0
#11
Ammonia is 0.25ppm, the tank is stil cycling so I do a small change every to every other day...but I just did my big water change yesterday. Nitrites are 0, I dont have a nitrate test though. Ph...7.0
Do I need any other tests?
I know the ammonia should be 0...but like i said it's still cycling. (I didn't realize I should have cycled it first, but the fish have been ok so far, and I've been good with the water changes)
What do I do if they are pregnant? Any special foods or anything??
 

Kissyboots

Kissyboots

Superstar Fish
#14
Dec 17, 2007
1,889
1
36
Arizona
cid-461aece5d238e494.spaces.live.com
#14
JackieFish84 said:
What do I do if they are pregnant? Any special foods or anything??
Click to expand...
Unless you want a bunch of babies, don't do anything...you can always throw in some java moss. I hear the fry love to hide in that or else they'll get eaten.
Btw, are you using test stips or liquid? Liquid is more accurate.

Edit: 3:1 is a better ratio. But don't overstock!
 

bunker_1

bunker_1

Large Fish
#16
Mar 24, 2008
584
0
0
Cincinnati
#16
Two F to one M is a good mix. 3-1 is ok. There is no special food needed. You should start planning on what you are going to do with the fry now, though. My silver has about 100 every 2 months. This is the standard first step to MTS!!!
 

J

JackieFish84

Small Fish
#17
Sep 24, 2008
44
0
0
#17
Liquid test kit....
If i don't do anything will some of the babies live?

Oh and I forgot to mention I have a catfish too. He seems like an aggressive eater...I dont want all of the babies to get eaten!!

I wouldn't mind raising the babies....I can get another small tank for underneath mine...the stand has a spot...
and then I can give them away to friends/family and keep the ones I want...

Hmm...so it's possible they r pregnant without that dark spot?? My female balloon could be caus she's a lil chunky....but the dalmation is still skinny.
 

bunker_1

bunker_1

Large Fish
#18
Mar 24, 2008
584
0
0
Cincinnati
#18
Kissyboots said:
Ah, ok, I'm going off the swordtails I used to have. Pardon my insufficient knowledge of mollies and such. :D
Click to expand...
My swords do have that also. I think thier bellies are a little more translucent.

The fry love the jave moss for sure. Crushed flake will work for the fry but I prefer frozend brine shrimp. I give all my tanks a 9 o'clock snack every night.
 

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