Dalmation Molly strange behavior... sick?

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TropicAZ

Small Fish
#1
Apr 16, 2009
32
0
0
Phoenix AZ
#1
I have a dalmation molly in my 25 gallon tank. She's been there for about 2 weeks now. She is normally very active and swims like crazy all the time. I woke up this morning and noticed that she was at the bottom of the tank in the corner, staying very still, fits tucked away against her body. She looked fine, nothing noticable on her... and she came out to eat when I fed everyone. But as soon as she ate, she went right back to that corner and stayed still again.

My tank water is perfect, however for the last 2 weeks or so Ive been having a horrible ammonia problem, and it's dropped from 1ppm down to .25 in the last two days. Could this drastic change have something to do with it? It dropped because the tank finally cycled when I added Cycle to it.

I wanted to keep an eye on her but I had to go to work. Someone please tell me she's gonna be okay! It could be nothing but Im paranoid about losing a fish!

Thanks for any advice you can give!
 

jo3olous

jo3olous

Large Fish
#2
Aug 6, 2008
909
1
0
Philadelphia, PA
#2
TropicAZ said:
I have a dalmation molly in my 25 gallon tank. She's been there for about 2 weeks now. She is normally very active and swims like crazy all the time. I woke up this morning and noticed that she was at the bottom of the tank in the corner, staying very still, fits tucked away against her body. She looked fine, nothing noticable on her... and she came out to eat when I fed everyone. But as soon as she ate, she went right back to that corner and stayed still again.

My tank water is perfect, however for the last 2 weeks or so Ive been having a horrible ammonia problem, and it's dropped from 1ppm down to .25 in the last two days. Could this drastic change have something to do with it? It dropped because the tank finally cycled when I added Cycle to it.

I wanted to keep an eye on her but I had to go to work. Someone please tell me she's gonna be okay! It could be nothing but Im paranoid about losing a fish!

Thanks for any advice you can give!
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did you do a fish-in cycle? how long have you had the tank (a tank can take a month or more to cycle sometimes). Are you sure your water readings are accurate?
 

T

TropicAZ

Small Fish
#3
Apr 16, 2009
32
0
0
Phoenix AZ
#3
The tank has been active for about 5 or 6 weeks now. I was uninformed when I first started the cycle, and I added 3 or 4 fish right away. They all lived, and for a while the ammonia levels were good. They started rising about the time I added the molly. However, after added the bio stuff, I'm almost positive the tank is fully cycled now. No other fish is acting different, only the molly.
 

jo3olous

jo3olous

Large Fish
#4
Aug 6, 2008
909
1
0
Philadelphia, PA
#4
TropicAZ said:
The tank has been active for about 5 or 6 weeks now. I was uninformed when I first started the cycle, and I added 3 or 4 fish right away. They all lived, and for a while the ammonia levels were good. They started rising about the time I added the molly. However, after added the bio stuff, I'm almost positive the tank is fully cycled now. No other fish is acting different, only the molly.
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could the molly have been sick before you bought it? how did the other fish in the store you got it from look?
 

T

TropicAZ

Small Fish
#5
Apr 16, 2009
32
0
0
Phoenix AZ
#5
Everyone looked good. Even the molly I got was fine... this is the first time she's acted different. I got to thinking about it, and I think I'm just being paranoid. Fish do sleep right? I mean how could I tell if she's just resting?
 

B

BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#6
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#6
Certainly fish sleep. But a fish that isolates itself (a community fish more specifically) is definately sick.
Could it be that you nitrite levels are elevated? Nitrite is known to be more toxic than ammonia.
I recommend doing partial water changes and to keep an eye on the molly to see if there are any other signs.

Also, the "bio-stuff" is said to be nothing more than a waste of money and will not cycle your tank quicker. I'm prepared to be wrong on that.
Anyway, it would be a good idea to purchase a testing kit (liquid tests) so that you will know for sure whats going on in your water.

Good luck
 

beckyd

beckyd

Large Fish
#7
Mar 16, 2009
381
0
0
#7
She could be preparing to deliver. My females sometimes act like you are describing and babies soon show up. Especially if she hangs around the heater.
 

P

pooper

New Fish
#9
Dec 14, 2013
1
0
0
#9
Why did my dalmation molly male die after its mate had kids

BlueStraggler said:
laboring for two weeks though? Thats a long time so I think its more likely something else in this case.
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It was already acting weird after its mates birth then it died (the male died after the femae gave birth)
actually it dosent take long it may take 40 days or longer to have their kids and it is commen they will die soon after the fish will have them in several areas of the tank, most of them will end uop dead
 

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