Molly sprial swimming - help our fish is dying!!

[mollymom]

I just bought a balloon molly and I think after 24 hours it's dying. The water is getting brownish, and the fish is sprial swimming. It's 7pm, the pet store is closed. What can I do to help this fish??

What can I do to better cycle my tank to avoid this in the future??

Any advice would be appreciate. Thanks!

 

[Seleya]

We need some information..... What sort of a tank is it in? How large? What are the water parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Have you cycled the tank? How?

Before answering, please do as large a water change as you are able. At least 50%. Be sure to dechlorinate.

 

[MissFishy]

Ditto, the first thing you need to do is a HUGE water change. If you're unclear on what this is, click on the link in my signature. It has basic cycling and water change info.

When you say the tank is getting brown, is it dirty? What are the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels? This sounds like a likely case of ammonia poisoning, this can be helped by huge water changes, I would start by doing two 75% water changes.