Minnow

I recently had a molly die after getting dropsy. Now another molly is sick, but the symptoms are completely different.
- Her stomach is sunken in
- She swims with a weird side to side motion, quickly, with her head tilted up
- She spends a lot of time hiding behind things at the bottom of the tank

She is still eating, but she is clearly weak, and I put her in the breeder net to keep her safe from the other mollies, who were having a lot of fun chasing her about. I have been doing water changes every two or three days, and giving them vitachem. Yesterday, I put some garlic in the tank (see my thread Garlic Panic!), and I have been feeding them peas every few nights.

I thought it might be some sort of internal parasite, so I used Jungle Labs Parasite Clear dissolving tablets, but I only had enough for two full doses. There was one tablet left over, so I put that in the breeder net with her.

What do you think is wrong with her, and what can I do to help her? All the other fish in the tank are healthy, and my aquarium stats are up-to-date. If you need pictures, I can get some.

Mike19

is the side to side motion, constant or dose it come and go.

i had a similar encounter with my mollies, both love to sit behind the heater and filter. one day one of them was on an angle and just floating ( thought it was dead) although it seems to be swimming normal now. my water parameters are fine also.

Minnow

It's constant. She is looking a little better today, her stomach is not as sunken in, but it is not rounded like my other mollies. She seems a little upset that I put her in the breeder net, but it was either that or have her picked to death by the others.

Mike19

is she being nipped?

Minnow

She was. They were chasing her all around, and wouldn't let her get any food. I figured she'd be safer if I seperated her. It's times like this I wish I had a quarantine tank...

Mike19

whats your ratio to M:F, im not a big expert so i hope someone who has some experience will find this thread. do you spread the food around the tank or in one place?.

Minnow

They're all female. We did have one male, but we took him back because we don't have anywhere to put the fry we would surely end up with. I spread the food around, and there's always enough for everyone.

The mollies have been getting a little nasty lately, they've been chasing each other around more than they used to. They're not bugging the other fish, though.

Minnow

I still can't figure out what's wrong with her. Any ideas? Until I figure it out, I will keep giving vitachem and peas, and garlic once a week.

Minnow

Well, she's looking better, I think she is recovering. She's still thin, but her stomach is not sunken in anymore. I'm not sure if I should let her out yet. She doesn't seem happy to be confined, but I'm afraid the others will hurt her if I let her out. I wish someone would reply, I'd like to know what's wrong with her so I can get a better idea of how to help her.

Minnow

Well, I'm going to have to go by my own judgment on this one, it seems. I think I will let her out today, and see how it goes. She is acting stressed in the breeder net, and I think that she will recover faster if she is happier. She is still thin and swims weird, but seems otherwise healthy. Advice would be appreciated.