molly problem

[caz]

my female molly is swimming vertically. im not sure how to explain it any tbetter, also it seems like she is struggleing to stay under water or something. thanx guys

[ChilDawg]

That's swimm bladder disease...you are gonna want to Google that in order to see what can be done to treat it.

[caz]

After researching this on google, I believe two of my fish have this. They are in a large tank with many other fish. Should I remove the fish and place them in another tank and continue to feed the other fish in the normal tank, or just keep the two in the big tank and not feed all of my fish for two days?? Thanx

[ChilDawg]

http://www.netpets.com/fish/reference/freshref/swimbldr.html

I'd separate them for quarantine.

[caz]

If I separate them, I will be putting them in with baby mollies and platties... those are the two fish that are sick. The babies arent so much babies, but cant go in the big tank yet...

[wetmanNY]

That wouldn't be a quarantine then.

Is the pH in the molly tank >7.0 and is there some salt in the water?

[caz]

ph-7.0 salt-yes

[aquatrippe]

it could well be a bacterial bladder infection but these symptoms are might also be signaling poor or incomplete diet.

Mollies really do require some vegetable matter in their diet and the lack of it could be causing intestinal blockages.

I would look at is water quality and as someone else suggested salt dosages... I really feel that mollies MUST have salt to do well.. others may disagree but that is my experience.

Of course this must be aquarium salt, for freshwater aquariums..

If I were you I might try the "pea cure" which is simply taking a thawed frozen pea, popping it out of its skin and chopping it into little bite sized bits.. Mollies will love this and it will purge the fishes digestive system.

If changes in your water quality, adding salt and the pea cure doesnt work, then I would try medication..I think Jungle has a swimbladder cure.. not sure..someone must..

Try the pea cure or vegetable flakes first, my experience with livebearers is that much of the time this is the problem with these symptoms.. and its best not to use meds unless needed...

Aquatrippe

[caz]

i use aquarium salt.

can i use canned peas?

[ChilDawg]

I'd go with the frozens if possible.

[aquatrippe]

go with frozen.. never tried canned..so can't advise..

[ChilDawg]

There's all sorts of preservatives in canned peas. I don't know if those are good for fish.

[caz]

aight, yeah that makes sense

[caz]

i did a complete water change, didnt feed for 2 days, then fed peas, and neither one of my fish seem better. now what?

[Faramir]

Of course this must be aquarium salt, for freshwater aquariums..


Beg to differ.

The best salt for making brackish (even slightly brackish) conditions is the salt sold for marine aquaria.

F/W aquarium salt is a no-no with me. They won't tell you what's in it. One brand seems to basically be the same as the sea salt you buy at the supermarket; another claims to be just NaCl - again, I can buy that in big bags a lot cheaper.

[bestbet98133]

I breed balloon mollies for a LFS and must say thru much trial and error, this is what works for my mollies:

Take small amount (15) frozen peas (not canned), put in a strainer and pour (1 cup) boiling water over peas. To quickly blanch without boiling out nutrients. Then pop out insides of pea, discard the skin and put in ziploc bag and squish (I use rolling pin). The degree of mushing would depend on the mollie size. My babies get almost babyfood consistency. Not only is this healthy for them but they love it!!

Also, each day I clip a fresh piece of (throughly washed) zuchinni to the side of the tank The mollies love to graze on this.

In addition to a varied diet of flake/pellet foods, if any chance of breeding, mollies need to have a diet with spirulina algae in it for demands of. I use HBH Soft&Moist Spirulina Breeder Conditioner.
Hope this help & hope your little guys are doing better.

[tricksterpup]

I agree whole heartedly with Faramir, it is best to use the marine salt over aquarium salt. Synthetic ocean salt is much safer to use than many of the different salts sold as aquarium salt. Also mollies enjoy large tanks for moving around. They are a livebearer that doesnt like to be cramped and you will not get incredible finage from them in a small tank

Now as for the salt debate, i placed a link a week ago about mollies and salt. It is a very interesting read. It is by Dr. Ted Collitti who writes a column in FAMA.
His website is also a wealth of information.
jim

http://tcoletti.tripod.com/thelivebearer.html
and the artical is here at
http://tcoletti.tripod.com/molly_salt_debate.html