Dead Molly

[Mola Mola]

Woke up morning to find one of the black mollies that I introduced to my new tank yesterday, dead at the bottom of the tank.

The rest of the tank inhabitants are 8 platies, 5 other black mollies, and two Red Thai Crabs (which I shall be returning to the store).

As far as I can tell, there is no damage to the body, so it doesn't look like a crab murder!

I've tested the water, no ammonia, no nitrate and only a trace of nitrate (I had done almost a complete water change at the end of my fishless cycle), and pH is 7.6. However the water temperature is still 29C (I've opened the lid of the tank, to see if that helps bring it down).

Should I put it down to just the stress of introduction to the tank?

 

[Tizer]

Mollys are well known for keeling over easily, as are most livebearing fish. You do need to get the temp down to something around 25C really, especially with the weather the way it is at the moment, hot cold hot cold. Again this is another good reason why you shouldnt introduce fish before you go on hols, dead fish pump out ammonia. If you can, get your filter in a position where it ripples the surface a little, that will help bring the temp down slightly and of course help oxygenate the water.

 

[Mola Mola]

Mollys are well known for keeling over easily, as are most livebearing fish. You do need to get the temp down to something around 25C really, especially with the weather the way it is at the moment, hot cold hot cold. Again this is another good reason why you shouldnt introduce fish before you go on hols, dead fish pump out ammonia. If you can, get your filter in a position where it ripples the surface a little, that will help bring the temp down slightly and of course help oxygenate the water.

Thanks Tizer, much appreciated. I'll keep the lid open and hopefully it will come down, it's a bit frustrating that I can't seem to get the temp down (however it is better than it was a few weeks ago, when I could hardly get it below 31C).

I haven't completely filled the tank with water so, I think I am getting a good amount of surface agitation.

Thanks again.