Tipsy Cory?

[frankenfish]

well my albino cory is acting a little strangely. when he's just chilling out and not swimming he leans to one side. like so much that if he went any further he'd fall onto his side. wen i tap on the glass he wakes right up. like being woken from a nap he snaps right out of it. he's eating fine too. should i be worried?

 

[OrangeCones]

should i be worried?

Yes.

Your 5gallon tank is wayyyyyyy overstocked.

What are the readings of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? What is your water change schedule?

 

[frankenfish]

lol. i know it is. no ammonia testification yet. nitrate is 20. nitrite is 0. i do a 40-50% water change every 6 or 7 days

 

[Newman]

I would advise on at least re-homing the mollies. they will never be fit for a small tank like that.

 

[frankenfish]

within the next few months i will be getting hopefully a 20 gallon or at the very least a 10 gallon. i'm roughing it out till then. so long as nothing will die in the meantime. lol

 

[Newman]

the cory might be the first, but hopefully it'll all hold out till then

 

[OrangeCones]

lol. i know it is. no ammonia testification yet. nitrate is 20. nitrite is 0. i do a 40-50% water change every 6 or 7 days

At 300+% stocking, ammonia is the most important test for the tank. What dechlorinator do you use?

 

[frankenfish]

What dechlorinator do you use?

rightstart or startright. something like that.

here's the stuff Start Right Crystal / Size 20 Oz - Pet Supplies Comparison Shopping

 

[OrangeCones]

rightstart or startright. something like that.

here's the stuff Start Right Crystal / Size 20 Oz - Pet Supplies Comparison Shopping

That product does not detoxify ammonia. If your tap water contains chloramine, you may be adding ammonia to your tank without knowing it.

Good luck!

 

[littletankbigworld]

Sadly, I highly doubt the fish in your tank will last that long. You really need to get a test kit. If you really want to save your fish, I would upgrade to at least a 10 gallon tank. They are only 10 bucks at walmart, and you can use your current filter and everything on the 10 gallon, along with the same gravel and plants. Also, a DIY lid can be made from plastic canvas. 10 gallon still seems a bit small because mollies are so messy, but it would be a lot better.

 

[Newman]

go for at least the 20 gal, if you can in any way lol

 

[frankenfish]

Sadly, I highly doubt the fish in your tank will last that long. You really need to get a test kit. If you really want to save your fish, I would upgrade to at least a 10 gallon tank. They are only 10 bucks at walmart, and you can use your current filter and everything on the 10 gallon, along with the same gravel and plants. Also, a DIY lid can be made from plastic canvas. 10 gallon still seems a bit small because mollies are so messy, but it would be a lot better.

well they've done fine for the last 4 months. i think they'l make it a few more months. i can't get a new tank now because of space restrictions in my room. i will be moving out in september and will be getting a much bigger tank in the process.

 

[Sharkee]

frequent partial water changes would help just to keep things in check.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Agreed. 20 Gallon would be better, but if he is running out of space, a ten gallon will suffice until he can get a 20. Good luck. Frequent water changes will help, but they can only do so much.

 

[frankenfish]

just had one of my oto's die..... didn't see that coming. plenty of algae on the glass so i don't think he starved. especially because the bigger one is still alive. hmmmm.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Otos are EXTREMELY sensitive to high nitrate, so that is probably why.