Help: New Molly Sunk

[cib]

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Tank size: 60 L
tank temp: 79 F

Sorry no water chemistry readings but plan to get kit to test them tomorrow.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
New fish (Sailfin Molly) - collected today along with 4 other Sailfin Mollies to join in tank with 6 Neon Tetras. Seemed fine in store (pets at home).
Added to home tank slowly (bag set in water to equalise temps, small hole to combine water and then finally added to tank over period of one hour - 20 mins each stage).
The fish in question, after adding to the tank properly, just sunk quickly and stayed at the bottom. It keeps falling on to it's side or upside down but then rights itself but always has it's mouth touching the gravel and tail towards the top of the tank (45 deg angle ish). It moves with the slight current in the water created by the pump on the filter and doesn't seem to have any control.
No unusual bumps or marks visible but it's orange with black specks over it so hard to spot unusual colours.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Had the tank 3 1/2 weeks, tetras added one week ago and these fish tonight. Did water change this evening in hope to help ill fish on recommendation of other user on this site (15-20% changed).

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Used "TETRA Aqua - Aqua Safe" and "TETRA Aqua - Easy Balance" when setting up the tank 3 1/2 weeks ago but no other chemicals since.

Tank inhabitants:
6 Neon Tetras (in tank 1 week with no problems), 5 Sailfin Mollies - 4 appear fine and one obvious exception.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
Added two fake plants at same time as adding Mollies.

Am new to fish and so may need some things described in a very basic fashion. Sorry but thank you !

ANY help appreciated.

 

[Cory_Dad]

I assume that all the fish you purchased looked active and healthy at the fish store?

You say you've had the tank 3 1/2 weeks. Was the tank properly cycled or did you just add water and then fish? (I hope you did)

How many water changes have you done since you first put water into the tank? (should be every week)

Without the water specs I can't be sure but it may be that it's in shock from an ammonia, nitrite, nitrate spike.

I would do a lot more than a 20% water change. But you really need to get your water tested to be sure.

Be sure to pretreat the water before adding and that the temp is relatively matched.

Good luck.

 

[cib]

The fish actually died ... unfortunately, quickly followed by a second this morning.
I had the water tested in a "Pet's at home" store. It came out as slightly elevated Ammonium and Nitrates but not to the extent that could cause problems for the Mollies (or Neon Tetras for that matter) so the cause of the deaths is unknown so far.

I did cycle the tank for nearly 2 weeks before adding any fish. I added Neon Tetras first (6) last Wednesday then the Mollies last night.
I have done two water changes now under the advice that I let the bacterias build up initially.

What do you mean by pretreat the water ? With what ?
The temp was matched exactly - staying steady at 79-81 F. Is that correct ?
The heater seems to have some kind of malfunction as it is only set to 65 F but throughout the tank is in high 70s.

Thanks for the help - lets hope the others survive whatever is wrong here !

 

[Davo86]

Lol sorry but if there is ammonia present that is BAD, even at 0.1, did they write down the actual numbers? did they test for nitrites?
Also how did you cycle the tank?

If the fish couldn't stay upright then it sounds like a bacterial problem that was likely caused by the dirty water,

 

[Cory_Dad]

The fish actually died ... unfortunately, quickly followed by a second this morning.
I had the water tested in a "Pet's at home" store. It came out as slightly elevated Ammonium and Nitrates but not to the extent that could cause problems for the Mollies (or Neon Tetras for that matter) so the cause of the deaths is unknown so far.

I did cycle the tank for nearly 2 weeks before adding any fish. I added Neon Tetras first (6) last Wednesday then the Mollies last night.
I have done two water changes now under the advice that I let the bacterias build up initially.

What do you mean by pretreat the water ? With what ?
The temp was matched exactly - staying steady at 79-81 F. Is that correct ?
The heater seems to have some kind of malfunction as it is only set to 65 F but throughout the tank is in high 70s.

Thanks for the help - lets hope the others survive whatever is wrong here !

Arg. Sorry to hear that you lost two.

By pre-treating I mean adding some dechlor which will remove chlorine and chloramine from the water. Products like Prime also neutralize Ammonia and Nitrite.

It's a good idea to do a 20% water change once a week. Even if you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite (I don't believe you did) the nitrate will climb unless you have a massively planted tank with few fish. The water changes will lower the nitrate.

I'd also get that heater looked at. It makes me nervous as it could go wonky and raise the temp to 90 or shut off completely.

Good luck.