Hello Fish Forums, Plus Help.

[Riksta]

Hello Fish Forums.

I'm glad to be a part of a Fish Forum.

The help I need with is my saflin molly. It is upside-down on the bottom of my tank, but it is still alive. I talked to someone aa a fish shop and he said that it could have a swim bladder problem. Today it started to produce a white transparent string.

The steps I have taken so far are two 30% water changes, added revitalising tonic to the water, and in the process of staving then adding peas (recommended?).

I was wondering what you all can advise me to do, thanks.

 

[Riksta]

 

[holidayinn]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Think more info is needed to help you in this situation, such as:

How did you cycle the tank?
Did you use dechlorinator with the water change?

You are doing the right thing in changing the water 4sure.

 

[aly_starh]

Welcome to TFF

Regarding your molly, about the Swim Bladder Disease, it could most likey have been caused by internal bacteria, and the "white transparant thing" proves this.

Carry on adding the salt to the water, this will help make sure its as clean as possible. Starve the fish for a few days, i would say maximum 4, then feed it a de-shelled pea. Or if it wont feed off the pea, after starving it, feed it live foods.

Hope that helps

 

[Riksta]

Welcome to TFF

Regarding your molly, about the Swim Bladder Disease, it could most likey have been caused by internal bacteria, and the "white transparant thing" proves this.

Carry on adding the salt to the water, this will help make sure its as clean as possible. Starve the fish for a few days, i would say maximum 4, then feed it a de-shelled pea. Or if it wont feed off the pea, after starving it, feed it live foods.

Hope that helps

Thanks.

I'm in the process of starving now (2 days). What percentage water change should I do?

EDIT: One of my platy's is pecking at the molly. Is this due to the starving, or perhaps trying to help the molly?

 

[Riksta]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Think more info is needed to help you in this situation, such as:

How did you cycle the tank?
Did you use dechlorinator with the water change?

You are doing the right thing in changing the water 4sure.

I syphon the water out of the tank and into a bucket. I then put some water into the bucket trying to get it to the same temperature as the tank, I then add Nutrafin Aqua Plus using the correct measurements. I then pour it into the tank.

 

[arobinson1984]

If possible, I would get one of them hard plastic floating breeding traps which you can get from most lfs, float it in the top of your tank and put the molly in there, it will help ensure that no other fish can get to it and attack it whilst it is unable to defend itself.

How old is the tank?
Was the tank ever cycled? If you are not sure, then that would be a no.

Andy

 

[Riksta]

I would say the tank is about 1 year old. I got the tank from a friend who moved up to a larger tank, and he did cycle it. Last night the molly died, just unfortunate really as I did not know what to do/expect.

Thank you all for the help, and I will hassle you all with more questions in the future

 

[arobinson1984]

It sounds like it could have been 'dropsy' which if it was then its very difficult to cure, once a fish gets to the stage where it cant keep its balance its normally too late to recover.

How often do you change your tanks water? gravel vac?

Andy

 

[Riksta]

It sounds like it could have been 'dropsy' which if it was then its very difficult to cure, once a fish gets to the stage where it cant keep its balance its normally too late to recover.

How often do you change your tanks water? gravel vac?

Andy

I usually do a 30% every week or two. And I do not think I have a gravel vac.

 

[arobinson1984]

First off, you NEED a gravel vac unless the tank is extremely heavily planted. By not having one you will start to compromise the healthiness of the tank.

Food and fish waste sink to the bottom of your tank and will settle down beneath the gravel, even though you cant see waste in the gravel doesnt mean there isnt plenty there.

I'd increase your water change amount. I personally do 50-60% EVERY week, normally on a sunday as I have a routine. Gravel vaccing should also be done weekly at the same time as doing the water change.

Andy

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, sounds like we're getting to the core of the problem now. Agree with that last post - gravel vaccing is very important --wd--

 

[erk628]

One thing I would like to add to this is I would suggest you get a liquid test kit. Most of us here at TFF use API master test kit which tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and ph. Make sure though you get the liquid test kit and not the strips because the strips are very inaccurate. Seeing how you don't think you have a gravel vac it would be fair to say you probably don't know how to use one properly so I will explain. Theres a big plastic tube on one end and a hose that connects to it. You put the plastic tube in the tank and grab the hose and give it a good suck to start the siphon and then set the tube in a bucket be careful when sucking that you don't drink it almost all of us have a time or two . Next take the big tube shove it straight down into the gravel until you hit the bottom of the tank and then watch all the poo,food, etc come up once you don't see it anymore pull it out and shove it back in right next to it. Keep doing this until you have done the whole tank. Most of the time you do this by the time your done you will have taking out about 25 to 30% of the water.