Cerys

Hi! About 15 days ago I got a small (2.5 gallon) tank and three mollys. After the initial breaking in, two of my mollys are doing well. The other never really got better, and is now spending most of his time lying on his side at the bottom of the tank. For the past week, when he swam, it was on his side. Now, when he swims, he flips over and over, like he's doing a continuous barrel roll. I've been doing a 40% water change every three days to see if it helps, but while the others are happy, he remains on the bottom of the tank. Is there anything I should do for him?

agabr123

it sounds like swim bladder disorder, but unfortunately i don't know if it's even possible to treat that.

also, that tank is too small for your mollies. mollies get to about 3 inches EACH, you'd need at least a 10 gallon tan to house them comfortably and even then you wouldn't be able to add any more fish.

navyscuba

Hey like Agabr123 said is bladder disorder here is some info about it.
DISEASE: SWIM BLADDER DISORDER

uGENERAL INFO:

This is also a common betta problem. It is not contagious. It comes from overfeeding. It is especially common in very young bettas (30 to 60 days old) and can affect some Double Tail bettas when overfed or stressed..
uSYMPTOMS:

Bettas with a swim bladder disorder will have difficulty swimming, because their swim bladder (located alongside the spine between the belly and the tail) is either too short (causing them to not be able to swim horizontally) or it is swollen (causing them to float on one side). Double Tail bettas, because they have a shorter body, are especially prone to the “floaters” problem. In the case of a short swim bladder, the bettas will not be able to maneuver and swimming becomes so difficult, they prefer to just lay at the bottom, sliding on their bellies, which is why they are called “belly sliders”. And they do look like a pathetic bunch, at that point.
uTREATMENT:

Bettas may recover on their own, but since overfeeding induces swimbladder disorders in most cases, the first thing to do is feed a lot less. brine shrimp and too much of it is the biggest culprit, so if your bettas are bellysliding, stop the brine shrimp for a while and thereafter learn to have a more balanced diet, alternating brine shrimp with microworms or worms (depending on how old your bettas are). Do not kill a betta with a swimbladder disorder. It may recover on its own at any time, and is not suffering. Further more, the ailment is NOT contagious. To help the fish if it cannot eat, lower the water level. Adding some BettaZing to the water for a few weeks may not hurt either . Good luck.

Cerys

Thank you. I'll research some more on that.

I'l be able to move them to a five gallon tank this weekend. Anything larger will have to wait until we move, since anything above 5 is prohibited here, sadly.

Cerys

Navyscuba, thank you so much! I was worried that he was suffering, but as long as he's not (just so very pathetic looking!) I'll just cut down on his food, buy some Bettazing, and wait him out.

navyscuba

You are welcome. Good Luck.

Cerys

Well, it appears he cannot straighten out his body now. I just came home to find him folded in half head to tailfin, unable to swim at all. Does anyone know if perhaps he is at the stage where he should be let go? Or should I wait him out? I hate to see him suffering, if he is.

agabr123

wow, i'm not really sure....i'm sorry about your molly

i'd watch him for a few days and see if he gets worse or gets better or stays the same....

Cerys

Agabr123 and Navyscuba, thank you for your help with my molly. Sadly, Faramir passed away last night. My husband, after unsuccessful fish cpr, held a small memorial service for him in the bathroom, with our daughter as pall bearer and cat as attendant

The other two are still happy and healthy, so, so far , so good.

Again, thanks!