Petey&PattyFan

Hey everyone, um Petey my male Black Molly. Has been acting weird. He has been lying on the bottom of the tank, not even coming up for feedings. And he is always the one who takes all the food. So I checked the filter, and it was dirty, and the water even looked dirty. So I just changed the the filter, and he is like jumping up and down now! Well he on the bottom sucking rocks like he always does, and oh right now he just shot up to the top! Ok then it was just the filter, but I would still like to know some things about sickness.

Shawnie

IMO 3 weeks is a short time to cycle the tank..and changing your filter, probabaly set it back into a mini cycle if it was cycled already....so keep a good eye on him....daily water changes treated with prime will help the process along.....goodluck

mcdonald.kk

There is a good list of fish diseases on the fishlore website to help you get started. I'm curious, your aquarium info says you have a saltwater tank? What kind of filter are you using? It is generally recommended that you change your filter once a month. Some people rinse the filter in treated water and just buy replacement carbon instead of switching out the whole thing. I know that the carbon is only effective for a certain amount of time before it needs to be replaced. How often do you check your water for ammonia, pH, nitrites, nitrates? These are important readings and can help you determine why your fish might be acting stressed. How long do you leave your light on? Do you have live plants in your aquarium? These things can affect your water too. Make sure that you don't ever vacuum your gravel AND change your filter at the same time because these are the places where your "good" bacteria live that help break down fish waste and debris.

Shawnie

didnt know mollys could go in saltwater hmmmmm....somethings fishy

Halibut

Pun intended?

I did read somewhere that alittle salt in the freshwater tank is good for mollies but have no idea really. Ive read here about people not using the carbon at all but just rinsing the filter media in tank water durinf water changes. I'll actually be trying that this week. If you want to continue using the filter cartridges with carbon then I would follow the MFG's advice on replacement(usually about 3-4 weeks).

COBettaCouple

I'd run without salt. It does build up in time and really isn't needed for mollies. The irritation from it can cause problems for them due to over production of slime coating.

Petey&PattyFan

Sadly Petey died today. So we got 4 new fish, and I don't know if it's just because of the first day thing but there not, well I can't say there not moving, but there just swimming around places a tad slow. My dad is going to do a water test. But I would like some advice.

susitna-flower

When the first fish died was the perfect opportunity to finish cycling your tank without hurting any more fish. You stated in your profile you know about the nitrogen cycle, but clearly you don't know the results of your water tests.

You need to test your water, and will probably see ammonia off the charts! Unless you do 50% water changes every day until the cycle is finished you will loose these fish as well. Here is a link that will fully explain the cycle. We recommend the API Master test kit for freshwater (liquid).

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Good Luck.

sirdarksol

This is a rare circumstance, but I've got to say that I disagree with you, Dave. Salt is not an irritant to mollies. They are naturally brackish fish. They actually prefer some salt in their water. The amount depends partially on the breed as different breeds are accustomed to different amounts of salt.
However, if using salt, I suggest using marine salt, not aquarium salt. This more closely allows you to match estuary water.

COBettaCouple

Hmm.. I didn't realize that about mollies.

I'm sorry that you lost Petey.

Lucy

Sorry you lost Petey, I bet he was a really nice fish.

As susitna-flower said, you really need to be doing daily water changes until your cycle is complete, tests should show 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and some nitrates (5-20).

I hope this doesn't happen, but if you lose anymore fish, be patient and don't replace them until after the cycle is done.

Be careful not to overstock your tank, what kind of fish did you get?

What test is your dad using and what are the results?

sirdarksol

Sorry you lost your fish.

Petey&PattyFan

Reading up on the water cycle, I do know about it, but not ALL about it. Thank you EVERYONE for your wonderful advice, it has helped me tons for understanding fish, I don't think I would even had known my fish is pregnant if it wasn't for all your guys! I really appreciate it. Thanks again.

I now have 3 tetra's, which get along great with my two Mollies. And I know that mollies give live birth, and tetra's lay eggs. But I had a few questions, what do the eggs look like? And how do you spot them? I know that you can not tell the gender of a tetra, and the breeding depends.

I will be sure to change my water every day, and If anymore fish die(Which they shouldn't) I will not replace them until I get good test results, but I havn't gotten them yet. But they are swimming around and pooping there heads out of the water, they seem very happy!


Mollies do like slat in there water, with every water change your supposed to put a tea spoon of aquarium slat.


Ok I just read a lot on the Nitrogen Cycle, and I think I am going to buy some of the Biospira, maybe it will help my cycle! And i am going to start doing about a 20% water change every day, and I have a back-up-tank, or a second tank where I was planning to put my baby fish in, or the "wounded" fish in there. Is that a good idea?

Shawnie

I think its a great idea..and your fish will appreciate it very much...goodluck

sirdarksol

I would again like to suggest using marine salt rather than aquarium salt. Also, the amount that goes in depends on the amount of water being changed out. I do my changes in 5g amounts, and they get a tablespoon per bucket.

COBettaCouple

The eggs will be pretty small and see-thru'ish. Some tetras lay them on leaves or other surfaces in clumps and some scatter the eggs. A new thread in the tetra forum will get you more definite information from tetra owners.

Petey&PattyFan

Thanks CObetta! Thats very useful information!