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[KellyT1203]

One of my female mollies is acting funny. She is a silver molly, could be pregnant I dont know. I don't see a gravid spot but she does have a little belly on her. There is a male in the tank and he is kind of busy with the ladies.

I noticed that she was swimming straight up and down. Not on her back or anything, just straight up and down for a few second then back to normal.

The tank is fairly new. It has been up and running for 3 weeks now, fish have been in there for not quite as long but almost. I kind of jumped to the gun of adding a few fish. Then I ended up adding more becuase we bought some fish and then had to take some fish off my mom.

So in the tank there is 1 male molly, 5 female mollies, 2 scissor tail rasboras, and 1 male and 1 female platy.

Ammonia is at .25 ppm, I don't know the other stats because I ran out of the testing strips a few days ago and haven't bought any because I am waiting for a delivery from aquariumguys.com. Whats the point in buying test strips when I am just a few days from receiving my liquid test kit in the mail.

Anywho, last I checked with the test strips everything was fine, only nitrAtes showed a SLIGHT reading.

The only thing to do was to do a water change. So I took 12 gallons out. I have put 6 in so far and am slowly adding the other six. The water is brackish. I have put 1/2 teaspoon of aquarium salt to every gallon of water. Also used tetra dechlorinator.

Fish seems to be doing a little better. She is moving around quickly and I haven't seen her swim straight up and down since I added the 6 gallons. Any suggestions on what it could be other than possible high nitrItes? Is this a sign that she is about to give birth. I am kind of a newbie here.

 

[abzorbd]

When mine give birth they're kind of lethargic. They'll find an area that has some hiding qualities to it and stay there for a while. They usually hide by my java moss. They'll chase others away.

Ideally the ammonia is a little high but not high enough to be a problem. (in my opinion)
NitrAtes aren't too bad. A small amount is ok. I believe about 80 or less is non lethal.


My fish do that sometimes too. Is there enough oxygen in the water?

Let us know what you stats are when you get your liquid tests.

 

[KellyT1203]

There should be plenty of oxygen. I have an airstone underneath a pirate ship in there, the water that comes out after being filter on the top for oxygen exchange, plus I have an undergravel filter that has 2 things comping up out of the water that pushes water on the surface too. So I don't think that there is an oxygen problem. I turned up the air flow to the air stone under the pirate shipe when I treated for ich and haven't changed it. Ich is all gone now. Has been for about 5 days.

I am almost thinking of going to the LFS and getting the test strips. I don't know. I just dont see wasting 9 bucks for them when my master test kit is coming any day now.

 

[KellyT1203]

Update!!!!! My fish is fine and so are my tank readings. I took it to my LAS. My pH is 7.5, nitrAtes at 5, nitrItes at 0, and my ammonia at .25. Whoohoo. Doing great!

I got another scissor tail rasbora and an orange female platy. They are being acclimated as we speak. Oh, my silver molly is no longer acting like that. She scared me there for a bit.

I'll have to put some pics up sometime.