Karma_Sea

Today I noticed that my male balloon molly has started to swim on his side and upside down. He is acting like there is a large curent in the tank, but there is not. I have no idea what is wrong with him and if there is any way to save him it would be helpful. Thank you.

angelfish220

sounds like a swim bladder issue. what are your readings?

Karma_Sea

Crazy thing is I have no kit... it got mixed in with some other stuff and now it is gone! I'll see if I can get my brother over with his kit to get a reading.

angelfish220

How often do you change your water? what amount? exaclly how many fish do you have in that tank?

Karma_Sea

I have 13 fish in my 20g tank. I change water about once a week to once every other week. I do 5-10 gallons at a time, whatever it takes to make it clean. Could it have something to do with the fact that I just added two new fish?

angelfish220

might be, from the looks of it, it might be from being way overstocked.

Karma_Sea

The thing that gets me is that earlyer today everything was fine, he was not acting funny at all.

lilsoccakid

is your tank cycled? i would do daily 50% water changes for a couple days, then at laest 40% a week until u get the tank from being so overstocked. the pleco grows to be 24'' and the clown loach grows to be 12'', and needs to be in a group

Karma_Sea

Should I do a water change with him acting that way; Will it not stress him to much?

Karma_Sea

He seems to be doing fine today, like nothing was ever wrong. My brother is coming over later today to test my water and make any corrections that might need made. Thank you all for your help, I've had Kirby so long and he is such a character that I would miss him, and his girlfriend Bissell would be lost without him. Not to mention how messy my tank would be without him cleaning every scrap of food out of it!