Mean Mollies

brigid_marie

brigid_marie

AC Members
Feb 3, 2006
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Tiffin
I had posted earlier, that I had set up a 10g goldfish tank and my roomate decided to be "nice" and buy 2 mollies and a neon swordtail to put in with them... without my consent. The pet store she bought them from wouldn't take them back and she just said i should flush them (GASP!). They are really beautiful, but the mollies are nipping at the goldfish. I haven't found anyone who wants them, so I've decided that I'm going to kill my next work study paycheck on a new tank for them.

1- Will the 2 mollies + neon swordtail be okay in a tank together?
2- How big should the tank be for them?
 
The ten gallon is fine for the mollies and sword.

If you are buying another tank buy a bigger tank for your goldfish (what type is it?) they require much more than 10 gallons.
 
:(

Just in the past couple of hours, the goldfish thats been picked on keeps drifting upwards and won't eat, he just nips at the bubbles by the walls. Part of his back fin has been reduced to whispy strings. It isn't just the mollies picking on him either, everyone is taking nips at him. I read somewhere that in a community tank, other members will pick on a weak or sick fish. I put the poor guy in my Q tank with his own food that he won't have to fight for.

Any suggestions?
My mom, who has had fish since before I was born, says i should buy the wide spectrum antibiotic drops...

Could the other fish be sick? What should I do with the main tank?

And, as soon as its cycled, the goldfish are moving to a 20g.
 
What kind of goldfish is it?

How long has it been in the 10 gallon tank?

I assume the new "intros" (boy if anyone ever dumped new fish in my tank without asking I would EXPLODE) were nott quarantined?

If he's been in there long enough he will be stunted, and have defects in his growth that contribute to low immunity and generally be less able to fight off parasites and disease introduced by the mollies & sword.

I hope things improve. Keep him in quarantine for as long as necessary, as any fish will pretty much always attack a sick fish, even typically "vegetarian" fish like plecos!

edit: wait you have more than one goldfish in a ten gallon tank? eek.
 
Fancy Goldfish require 20 gallons EACH and should not be housed with tropicals at all. They are huge waste producers and also need double filteration (either two filters rated for the tank size or 1 filter rated for double the tank size).

Fancies grow from 6" to 10", depending on the type and can live -- IF they are housed properly -- 20+ years. If they are not housed properly at the onset, they will physically never reach their true size. Their internal organs, however, will continue to grow until there is no more room inside the fish. Then they die.

Here's an extreme example of a stunted goldfish:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66928&highlight=stunted

I realize that you are not talking about putting them in that small of a tank, however they need their space. The bigger the tank, the better.

Comet or "feeder" goldfish really shouldn't be put in a tank at all, IMO. They grow well over 12" and need to be put into a pond.

If you have 2 goldfish, please put them in at least a 30-36 gallon tank. Anymore than that, add 15 gallons for each additional fish.

Roan
 
If you only have 3 tropical fish (and they don't breed and give you more), you will probably be okay housing them in a 10 gallon tank. However, a lot of people think mollies should have at least a 20 gal. Like I said I think they’ll be fine once the goldfish are moved to a bigger home. However, you'll have to work a little harder to keep the tank healthy.

It's good of you to try and correct the situation ,verus just flushing the poor fish.
 
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