Molly With Bent Tail

[Lin]

I have an orange molly that is nearly a year old, she has a black male in the same tank. A month ago she appeared to start hanging upside down in the water and he was really pushing her around. Then she seemed to get a red patch midway down (I will try to put a picture) and in the end I put her in a small separate tank with some medication to perk her up. She also seems to have developed an ugly, mishapen mouth, but is eating fine.

Afte a week in there she was swimming straight and seemed fine. I bought two more small female mollies and put them in the big tank to occupy the male although so far he doesn't seem interested. Then I put her back in the main tank. He immediately showed his interest again and followed and chased her all over for a week and in the end, she started hanging head down i the water with her body bent in the middle, but she still seemed okay.

After a week in the small tank she seemed okay again, so thi morning put her back in the main tank. After a couple of hours of being harassed again, she is doing the same thing, floating head down with her body/tail bent over, so have put her in the small tank again.

Have no idea what to do next, I have been told to just leave her in the big tank and let nature take its course, or put keep her in the small tank and treat with a medication for balance problems. I seem to be spending a lot of time over this little molly, but as you all know, its easy to become attached to one. Any suggestions please?

 

[Blade118]

She looks pregant. Maby she cant handle the babys weight (just an idea)

 

[guppymommy]

I would NOT put her back into the big tank. If she keeps having the problems when put back in that tank, why continue to subject her to this misery? Keep her in a seperate tank or get rid of your agressive male. Just my opinion.

 

[Lin]

Well guppy mummy, have left her in the small tank and she seems quite happy... I just think they are shoaling fish and should be with a group. Although I would also rather she lived! So will leave her there. I considered putting medication in today for her balance problem but decided against it as I have no idea why she keeps having this bent tail problem. She is quite fat, so possibly pregnant and having problems.

Anyway she is going to have a small tank to herself for a while and we will see what happens! She is eating fine and tends to wedge her tail underneath things to keep her balance which seems quite a bright thing to do! I don't think the male is particularly aggressive at all, the new female mollies have hardly any probs with him, nor do any other fish in the tank, he just seems to like this little orange lady. Reckon he just fancies her more than the others!

Oh well as long as they're happy.

 

[jonny-5]

have you put salt in the water,i know this is vital for some mollies if not all!?! Just a thought thats all

 

[Lin]

Yes, I did add salt, although it is not something I do as a rule because I have hoplosternums in the tank, and an eel... don't think sale would be a good idea for those two. Anyway the other mollies are fine. I reckon she may have some problem, but on her own she is fine apart from swimming oddly and as long as she is eating and living, I will just have to have the second tank up... thanks

 

[Lin]

Well my lovely bent Molly has been in her tank on her own for a while now and she seems pretty happy. She is very bent though, almost double, mostly she feeds by standing on her head with her tail bent, but she is eating everything I put in and seems bright and cheerful.

When she is stationery she has to wedge her tail under something to hold her straight. She has the same distended stomach she had in mid July, but again, nothing is happening there, so if there are babies, they are very slow...

I reckon she is going to live her life out in the little tank.. I am going to try to put photos on to show you, Linda

 

[Lin]