Mollies

[shrimpster97]

my 2 silver mollie (make and female) do this weird thing where they will swim vertically up to the surface and breathe. ive never seen them do this or any other fish do this. i guess they need air but why would they swim vertically to get to the surface. any idea?

 

[Netherways]

Hi,

I was staying in a hotel In China that had a massive 400gal wall tank with alot of fish that you don't normally see in the UK. When the outside temp got to around 44 or higher all the fish would start swimming to the top like that for air. Although the tank thermometer said the temp had only changed by about .2 deg. C.
As soon as night came and the outside temp would go down by 10 or so the fish would resume normal habbits.

Seeing as the tank temp only went up by a couple of points could it have something to do with outside humidity on the tank?

Sorry I can't really help but just putting in my similar experience.

Alex

 

[Opcn]

No sorry its not humidity Its the amount of Disolved Oxygen. As water temperatures rise the ability of the water to hold oxygen goes down and it can hit a thresh hold at which certain fish can no longer function and must go to the surface not to breath but to pass the thin surface layer of water throught there gills. Incresed surface agitation and airation should help.

HTH