MollyGirl2006

Hello I am new to the forum and I have a few questions. I have a twenty gallon tank that is freshwater only. I have had it set up for about two months, but I had a smaller tank back in September and just wanted to upgrade. The nitrogen cycle has been done for a couple weeks and I have been adding fish every two weeks, but only one or two at a time because I don't want to over load the filter. Recently I have noticed my two male mollys, Darth Vader and Luke, have been bothering each other and nipping too. I asked a close fish expert that I know of and he said to get three more females. I was concerned because I don't know what I would do with fry, but I have family members that would gladly take them. Last night my family came home and I noticed my one little female, toadett, was swimming still and looked like she was in shock and shivering or having a seizure. She was also pushing out her feces at the same time and i thought that maybe she was just having a hard time going to the bathroom. So I turned the light off for the night and I woke up this morning and noticed that her one eye looks fine and the other eye is all black, but is not "popping" out. I have never noticed it before so I can't tell you if it has changed or not. Some of the other females eyes are the same way and they have been acting fine. Now toadett is swimming fine and eats good, so we don't know what is wrong with her. Is she blind in the one eye? Also I know you are suppose to do water changes and I have been doing one once every month, but I think I should be doing them a little more frequently, any advice? I would greatly appreciate it!

susitna-flower

HI, MOLLYGIRL, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!


Your aquarium profile is confusing. How many mollies are in your tank? I counted 9. Is that right?

Are you testing your water? You said the tests are all 0....that couldn't be if this tank has been set up for awhile. Most here recommend the API Master test kit, as it gives the most accurate and easy to read result.

If I read the fish correctly that you have in your tank, it is severly over stocked. Couple that with only changing water once a month, and I can imagine you will start to experience many of the associated problems.

First get some good readings on your water tests. Next change water, 25-50% each week. Once you get your tests done, if the nitrate is over 20 you need to do 25-50% every other day until it goes back down to between 5 & 10...

My suggestion is to start looking for a bigger tank. You need to have that crowd in at least a 55 gallon....this would also give you the current tank for fry....Good Luck

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore. I would agree on the tank being very overstocked and it's probably led to what's wrong with her. Do you have a picture that you could post of her, to help identify what's wrong?

I'd start using Prime to treat your tap water and doing water changes of about 40% twice a week to help the fish out.

MollyGirl2006

Sorry for the confusion but I have five mollys, four glofish, and three catfish. My littlest female, the one that is acting weird, is okay now. She just gets in a phase where she will just want to lay on the gravel, but will still swim around, maybe she is pregnant.

susitna-flower

Water changes will help your fish feel better......