Black Molly Death

[Reece]

Came home from work today to find my black molly at the bottom of the tank dead. I thought it didn't look right this morning but not really very unusual behaviour. Had it 5 months with no problems.

I did notice however that its belly has been looking quite swollen/fat but to no major extent. Also a few of my neon tetras and my betta look to have swollen/fat bellys? Any ideas of anyone? All water tests came back with good readings for the usual nasties.

 

[HayzH]

any pineconing? Are all the fish accounted for? how often do you feed?

 

[Paradise3]

Are they bloated?
Try feeding them some Garden Peas. Just put 2 Garden Peas in a cup and pour boiled water ver them. Let them cool on some tissue paper and De-Shell them. Them crush them into the water with your fingers.

 

[Reece]

all fish accounted for, but what is pineconing?

Feed them once a day, 4 days of the week diet is flakes, the other 3 days is bloodworm. always a medium sized pinch plus my cory has 2 small pellets a day

 

[hughessomefish]

Sounds to me like it could be dropsey Which is a condition of deteriorating health, This can be caused from water quality so this does put you other fish in harms way as you are experiencing.

 

[Reece]

Ok just googled "Dropsy" so a big water change is on the cards then and hope for the best. I usually do a 20% water change a week (64 litre tank) maybe need to up the regualarity of the water change?

also looking round I've just found a leaf of my amazon swords decomposing in an oinament that was out of sight? I imagine this wouldn't be good?

 

[Jen.Cavanaugh]

Ok just googled "Dropsy" so a big water change is on the cards then and hope for the best. I usually do a 20% water change a week (64 litre tank) maybe need to up the regualarity of the water change?

also looking round I've just found a leaf of my amazon swords decomposing in an oinament that was out of sight? I imagine this wouldn't be good?

I'm no expert, so hopefully someone else can confirm... my understanding is that anything that is decomposing in the tank will cause a rise in ammonia levels.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yes, leaves decomposing can cause ammonia levels to rise slightly, but if it is only one leaf, it probably is not the source of the problem. Merely remove the decaying leaf and that problem is solved.

The bigger problem may be caused by overfeeding. This can cause bloating in fish. What is your regular feeding regime? How much? What food? How often?


Personally, my fish get a mix of Tetra Min flake, frozen bloodworms, algae wafers, shrimp pellets, freeze dried bloodworms, frozen peas and fasted once a week. Make sure that the food is consumed rapidly each time you feed (about 30 seconds) and once a day is all that is required.

 

[Reece]

Yes, leaves decomposing can cause ammonia levels to rise slightly, but if it is only one leaf, it probably is not the source of the problem. Merely remove the decaying leaf and that problem is solved.

The bigger problem may be caused by overfeeding. This can cause bloating in fish. What is your regular feeding regime? How much? What food? How often?


Personally, my fish get a mix of Tetra Min flake, frozen bloodworms, algae wafers, shrimp pellets, freeze dried bloodworms, frozen peas and fasted once a week. Make sure that the food is consumed rapidly each time you feed (about 30 seconds) and once a day is all that is required.

I feed onece a day ( every evening) is either a small pinch of "love fish" tropical flake or a small pinch of "king british" dried bloodworm, I alternate between the 2. and one small pellet everyday for cory. Food is always consumed by fish very rapidly. Have done a 50% water change today and will be keep an eye on water test results closely.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Do you fast them at all, or give them peas? The peas help to keep the digestive system "flowing".


Dropsy is still possible... which is unfortunate if it is that. Of course, dropsy is more a description of the symptom than it is prescriptive of the cause. And rarely can fish recover. Did you see any pineconing (scale protrude from the body like a pinecone, rather than lying flat one on top of the others)?

 

[Reece]

Do you fast them at all, or give them peas? The peas help to keep the digestive system "flowing".


Dropsy is still possible... which is unfortunate if it is that. Of course, dropsy is more a description of the symptom than it is prescriptive of the cause. And rarely can fish recover. Did you see any pineconing (scale protrude from the body like a pinecone, rather than lying flat one on top of the others)?

No don't fast them but will start to, don't give them peas as never came across this before but will try from now on. Never noticed any scales protruding outwards (never heard it referred to as pineconing til this thread) as do check regularly has read it can be a sign of ill health etc.

Tbh I'm still on a learning curve as this is my first aquarium and unfortuantely learning at the cost of a fish

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It is a learning process for all of us. We all started somewhere.

 

[Col1957]

Hi

Dropsy : Symptoms.
Swollen abdomen, scales may protrude from the body. Dropsy refers to all diseases that make the belly swell abnormally. Cronic dropsy develops slowly but in acute cases , swelling is sudden.

Cause. Either organ failure or environmental factors in the tank , excessive sodium chloride levels , hight nitrate levels, bacteria , or unsuitable diet.

Treatment. Not a lot can be done really but you can change their diet and water conditions, if you have not already i would setup a second filter with activated carbon and filter floss so if there are any ( unknown to you ) nasties in there it just might help sort it out

Constipation can also be misteken for dropsy.
Symptoms, fish become severely weakened, do not feed and rest on the bottom

All the best
Col.