MyFishkies

He's new (a week) pretty lethargic now he's in the back of the tank on his back. What do I do Other mollies are fine. Testing water now.

MyFishkies

nitrite is "caution" not stress. It's usually 0. What changed it? Help! Will search but hoping for fast answers

heather84

id advise that you do a water change to get the levels down

MyFishkies

How much? I fished him out since he appeared to be stuck, but he keeps turning upside down, like he can't right himself. Should I put him in the shrimp tank? Would the move be too stressful? What made the nitrite level go up?

Tony G.

Sorry you are having trouble. Did you quarantine him before adding him to the tank? He might be carrying some parasites that could be hurting him. Is there any way you could post a picture of him?

MyFishkies

There's not much to get a pic of and I can't post pics right now. Don't ask!

I bought him and the 2 females 2 weeks ago, did not quarantine any of them. Added them all to my tank last week. I've been doing water changes (10%) daily. Using stress coat, stress zyme and Dechlorinator.

He's been pretty dull and lethargic since I got him, and tonight I found him like this. I've moved him (he just kept sinking in the main tank) he's in a breeder net in my shrimp tank, where the nitrite level is fine.

DeanAsploded

It is possible that he just came from a bad batch of mollies.

Just throwing that out there.

MyFishkies

That occurred to me since he's never acted like the others. I guess I'll wait and see. I really don't want to wake up to a dead fish tomorrow...

MyFishkies

Well I don't have to wake up to a dead fish tomorrow...he died about 10 minutes ago. I'd really like to understand what happened. I think he might have come sick from the store, he's never been right. But if not, and other fish perish, I might just give up. This is very stressful. Or maybe I'm just feeling sorry for myself. .

Shawnie

im sorry you lost him..rip!..the tank wasnt cycled do you know your ammonia and nitrate reading? you said you had nitrites so thats an uncycled tank you need the daily water changes with some prime or ammo lock and stop using the stress zyme until the tank is completely cycled,,dont add anymore fish until then either ....

iloveengl

Please don't give up; I understand how awful it feels to lose a fishy friend (my little guppy died yesterday after a weeks-long struggle that got really sad at the end ). Here's a link I used when I first started to learn about the cycle: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm. Once your tank cycles, it will be easier & less stressful. I'm really sorry you lost your little buddy, especially after such a brief time with him.

To keep your other fish safe, you may want to buy a bottle of PRIME to neutralize the ammonia for 24 hrs. during water changes and maybe look into TetraSafeStart to speed the cycle process (though, I've never used TSS, it's received positive reviews from members).

MyFishkies

I'm so sorry about your guppy!

I bought prime...didn't know to stop using Stress Zyme but I will stop. Did a 25% water change this morning. The other fish are fine it seems. Maybe he was already sick of course, I am not taking a poor dead fish back to the store for a $5 refund! How could anyone keep a dead fish? But I will not be getting any more fish from there. My first two mollies came from the same place, just figured I screwed up when they died. Perhaps I did, perhaps not.

Also, the person who took the serpae tetras is bringing me 3 swordtails in a month or so when they fry are bigger, so I guess I'll wait a while too before replacing my Molly.

So, unless something awful happens, I'm not giving up. Just was very disheartened last night. I literally sat and watched him die.

no, my tank wasn't cycled. Long story in another post but I don't think I could have done differently. We live and learn.

Thank you everyone