Yellow male Molly Sick?!?!

[secuono]

I have 1 male molly, 2 females and a bunch of male & female Platy, they live in a planted, heated 55g tank. The male suddenly started sulking at the bottom of the tank yesterday. There are no physical damages on him anywhere and he ate when I fed them. They have been in this newer tank from a 30g for over 4 weeks now, no change in temps or new fish.
What could be wrong? Last few days, 2 preggo platy and one non-preggo were also acting up but it cleared a day later. This guy started a day after they got better and has been lazy for two days so far instead of just one.

[froglover007]

Are there temp fluctuations and what are the water parameters?

[secuono]

Temps are normal, parameters I don't check anymore unless it's a new tank.

[mel_20_20]

I would highly recommend that you test the parameters with a liquid test kit. You may be having ammonia or nitrite spikes. Also, the nitrates might be higher than the safe levels.

First thing to help us figure this out is to test and post the params: ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, ph, temp.

These things could help as well:
Water change schedule; frequency and volume. Type of filtration. Type of water conditioner. Frequency of vacuuming the substrate. Any new additions to the tank.
Feeding schedule and type of food. How long the tank has been set up. Numbers and types of fish and other occupants in the tank

Hope we can help.

[EscVelocity]

Live bearers are notorious for getting constipated and then getting internal infections. This is mainly due to lack of fiber in their diet. They need greens.
I would go ahead and start all of them on a diet of greens like peas and algae wafers/spirulina pellets at least 2x's a week. It wont hurt em' anyhoo, even if it turns out to be some other problem like water parameters.

[kyryah]

Live bearers are notorious for getting constipated and then getting internal infections. This is mainly due to lack of fiber in their diet. They need greens.
I would go ahead and start all of them on a diet of greens like peas and algae wafers/spirulina pellets at least 2x's a week. It wont hurt em' anyhoo, even if it turns out to be some other problem like water parameters.

I don't know if this is in fact the problem with your molly, but this is a great point. Livebearers, mollies especially, are, like goldfish, mostly vegetarian. Most tropical foods such as flakes and sinking pellets are high in protein and starch, and low in complex carbs and digestible fiber.

I feed my mollies the same diet actually that I feed my goldfish. It is a homemade gel food that contains 40-50% protein and is made mostly out of vegetable matter.

We still need to know parameters, and the other information that Melody asked for, but you could try feeding some mashed, thawed frozen peas that have the shells removed.

a GH and KH reading would also be helpful, as mollies generally need a bit harder water.


Kristina

[secuono]

Water change-2x week, w/e gets all of the bottom clean, usually 40qts or so.
Type of filtration-60g HOB aquaclears
Type of water conditioner-API small dropper
Any new additions to the tank-like i've said b4, no new fish
Feeding schedule and type of food-tropical fish food ground up into small bits. once a day unless there are really preggo females about, then 2x a day
How long the tank has been set up-2 months with other fish, then dumped out water and 1 month with these fish in it
Numbers and types of fish-like i've said b4, 55g with 3 molly, 13 or so platy that's it

[EscVelocity]

Are you testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?
You might be cycling, and the lil guy might be succumbing to toxin's in your water.
It could also be diet, since you are only feeding flake food. Those foods are more geared towards carnivores.
Please list you water chemistry for us so you can get a good diagnoses.
Good luck w/ your fishies!

[secuono]

None of my tanks are cycling, I don't add fish until it's done and then I check water a week after.

[secuono]

ph-6
ammonia-0
nitrites-0
nitrates-5
the male is up and swimming about. my red wag who gave birth a few days ago is still in distress from time to time, normal?

The water is not the problem, I had a very badly f-ed up small male Opaline Gourami who I placed with them to recover. He now lives permanently with them and they get along very well. He was put in with a 3.5IN female Opaline in my 120g and she harrased him and bit at him until he jumped out 4in into the air, dropped 3ft to the concrete ground in very cold air. He was out there flipping and flopping for at least 5min before I found him. Most of his fins were gone and he had 3 holes/mad scrapes on his front half. His two front fins were blood red a few days later once he started using them. But now, he is a very happy and almost in perfect physical health again. ^.^
I was going to return him if they didn't get along, but after such a survival, I thought he deserved better than to be tossed back to a lfs that weren't going to give him what he needed.

[secuono]

I started feeding them some Goldfish food since it is a more plant based food, also an algae wafer broken up at night.

[secuono]

I also didn't feed them last night, prolly wont tonight either. She is much more active than she was.

[secuono]

He is back to being lazy, swims around but 'drags' his rear end around it seems. No idea what to do but leave him be.

[secuono]

He is eating and such fine, but he breathes heavily, at least, faster than I've noticed my 2 female Molly breathing.