NellieP

My husband and I after much thinking decided to purchase our first fish tank. I was so excited and should have done more research and naively thought the petshop would know all that I needed to know.*
* * We purchased a 29 galllon kit and set it up using the aqua-safe and as per the pet-shop let the aquarium run for 24 hours before putting any fish.* We put 2 Dalmation Molly's (1male and 1 Female) And 3 Red Platys (1 Male and 2 Females).* Several days later added 2 Gold Dust Mollys and 2 Glass Fish.
* * All the fish acted very lively until last night, I noticed they just started not swimming around as much.* This morning 1 of the Red Platys was floating on top of the water dead.* I have done more research now and know that I should probably have not put all the fish in that soon and should have added salt (which I did today). I am just trying to figure out why they are not acting right, since I do not want them all to die. I noticed tonight that several of the fish had a pinkish thread looking thing hanging out of the bottom of their bellies. I am hoping that it is just them going to the bathroom. The guy at the aquarium store said it could be, but is usually darker. It comes off after they swim around a few minutes. I also noticed that the female Dalmation Molly is shaking, almost like you do when you are cold. 1 of the Gold dust Molly's is shaking too.* The male Dalmation Molly is not swimming much at all. I do not want them to die but fear they are just not acting right. I am taking some of the water tomorrow to have it tested to see if something is not right with the water.* I added 2 live plants today after reading that it would help with oxygen and the fish like it. I am doing lots of research and know more than I did this morning. But am also trying to save the ones I have left.* I notice no spots like typical with the ich I am reading about. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.* I am very curious about the shaking and the pink thread hanging from the fish, and the male Molly not being very active.* Thanks so much for any responses.

lokky.funky

As all pet shops do, yours too have advised you with wrong information. Have you read about the Nitrogen Cycle? If not.. please go through it thoroughly. It is so vital for every aspiring aquarium hobbyist.

It is available in the following link,
http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/freshw...ginners.0.html

Probably, your tank has started cycling. You'll have to closely monitor the fishes' behaviour and change a few % of water as many times as required.

You can add some salt to the water. This will help the fishes develop a slime coat. Moreover, mollies are brackish water fishes. So they would be if aquarium salt is present in the water. Make sure you dissolve the salt well before putting the water into the aquarium.

Also, be sure that this will not affect you other fish (mainly Glass fishes)