bmxer193

I had 2 mollies in a 10gal tank and about 2 weeks ago 1 molly died . After the molly relized that the other molly was dead it got very scaryed if you turned on the light or walk passed the tank he would shoot across the tank and into his very small hiding place behind some shells. He only comes up for food once a day (he use to eat 2s a day). After a few day passed (after the other molly dieing) he stayed hinden behind the shells and Only came up for food. o and he trys to go after his own reflection.

The other day i bought 2 new platies and add them to the tank. He acts like the platies arent there (and i know he knows there, there) and still stays in his hidding spot and only comes up for food. He shows no signs of being sick.

The tank is at:
Nitrate:20
Nitrite:0
PH:7.0

Any idea whats wrong and how to help him?

armadillo

My mollies hate being isolated from their pears. I feel so bad when I have to isolate one for medical reasons.

I think he needs molly tank mates. Also, they are better off in at least a trio.

I'd say he's freaking out. In the meantime (before you find a longer-term solution, I mean), I'd use a conditionner that helps fish de-stress (I know EasyLive does that, and I think so does Amquel +).

bmxer193

do you think it would be safe to add another 2 mollies to the tank? the mollies are 2" that makes 6"+ i have about 2" of platies in there already that makes 8" (but i dont know how bigg my platies will get, i think they are still pretty young)

And i have seen a few different types of stress coat at my LPS, ill get some of that

armadillo

Personally, I'd do it, but that would make you slightly overcrowded. Each molly may get to about 3", so add 2 mollies and you've got 9". Each platy is about 2.5", so that 's a total of 14" for a 10G. I think I may have exagerated their size, though. Not all reach that size. So you could say you've got about 12" worth of fish, which, in my opinion, is better than a neurotic fish.

That leaves you with 2 platys, with the risk of the same problem developing for them. I have 2 platys in a molly tank, and I have to say they're fine.

If you have that option, you'd perhaps be more comfortable splitting the mollies and the platys, and adding a couple of platys to the new tank? I know it wouldnt' be an option for me space-wise, but I don't know for you.

Ooooor, you could return either one molly, or two platys?