Headstanding Molly

[bigbill]

My molly is standing on its head. All seemed normal until yesterday. she's eating, but it looks like she's having trouble breathing. when she swims her head is pointing downwards and it seems like it's difficult to swim. It's a small 5 gal. tank with one other fish. I did a water change because the ph was 7.6 on the low range and 8.4 on the high end. Ph is now 6.8, ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, nitrate 5.0 ppm. what could it be ? do I need to quarantine? There are no visible signs of illness. The other fish looks and acts perfectly fine. Please help!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

The large change in pH may be having an affect on her. It is better to have them at a less ideal pH that is stable, rather than a pH that is bounced around. Extreme pH changes can stress the fish, and sometimes kill them.

 

[bigbill]

The large change in pH may be having an affect on her. It is better to have them at a less ideal pH that is stable, rather than a pH that is bounced around. Extreme pH changes can stress the fish, and sometimes kill them.

 

[bigbill]

The ph has always been fairly stable, when I did my weekly water change last week it was 7.0.I don't know what could make it swing so wildly, any ideas?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

That I do not know. How did you cycle your tank? What are your other water parameters? (Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate)

 

[bigbill]

That I do not know. How did you cycle your tank? What are your other water parameters? (Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate)

It's not a new tank, It's been cycled for nearly a year. Ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm and nitrate 5.0 ppm.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I have had pH fluctuations in the past. I do not know what caused them. You can get some crushed coral. Put a little in a stocking and put it in your filter. Its a natural buffer that will natural keep your pH stable.