Strange Mollie Behaviour

[Bex]

Not sure what is going on but my mollies and platys are behaving very oddly today. They are all hanging at the top like they are getting air - I know fish don't breath like this and my tank is well planted so oxygen should not be the problem. They are all at the top by the filter. They haven't done this before?

Unfortunately, I was badly advised to cycle with fish by my LFS (I know, I know - everything I have read says this was bad!) but the have been in there for over 3 weeks and no casualties. My nitrites have finally started dropping (down to 2.0 ppm too high still but better) ammonia is less than 0.2 and nitrates are starting to show.

Any idea what my mollies and platys are doing?

It is only 2 of my platys - the other 2 seem fine?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many gallons is the tank and what temp is it? How many mollys & platies/fish in general do you have in there? You need to do a 40% water change with dechlorinator to lower the nitrites and ammonia, such toxins can cause fish to exhibit behavior like gasping as it takes a toll on the fish's body.

 

[Bex]

How many gallons is the tank and what temp is it? How many mollys & platies/fish in general do you have in there? You need to do a 40% water change with dechlorinator to lower the nitrites and ammonia, such toxins can cause fish to exhibit behavior like gasping as it takes a toll on the fish's body.

My tank is 30 gallon and I have 4 mollies and 4 platys. I did a 40% water change yesterday but nitrites are still quite high (2.0ppm) whereas ammonia is pretty low (less than 0.2)

 

[WILDER]

The cycle takes it's toll on a fish as it like living in a toilet as they have to go through the ammonia process then the nitrite process, it can cause a fish immune system to shut down.
Do another water change increase aeration, and with only having livebearers in the tank add some salt, one tablespoon to 5gal.

 

[Bex]

Ok, just done a 35% water change and the are all at the top still. How long after a water change does it take to see a change in the bad stuff? My nitrites should drop again after this one as they dropped after yesterday's but I did it before I went to work and tested when I got back.

Are my mollies likely to die overnight?

 

[WILDER]

Did you add the salt as it will help protect them and there gills, are there gills red and inflamed, to be honest they don't sound good at all, sounds like the cycle has took it toll on them.

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

 

[Bex]

Ok, just done a 35% water change and the are all at the top still. How long after a water change does it take to see a change in the bad stuff? My nitrites should drop again after this one as they dropped after yesterday's but I did it before I went to work and tested when I got back.

Are my mollies likely to die overnight?

Their gills aren't red or inflamed and this has only been since I got home from work - they were fine this morning! I haven't added salt as LFS closed - get home at 18:30. They occasionally come down and swim around and then go back up. Not all platys are up there either - just the mollies.

I have had a really close look at them and can't see anything wrong physically - just the swimming at the top?

 

[WILDER]

Table salt will be fine.

 

[Bex]

Table salt will be fine.

Ok, will put some salt in!

Just one more question! Hopefully if these fish survive this setback, once the tank is cycled I want to put some silver sharks in and some high fin catfish - will they be ok with a little bit of salt or will I have to do a water change to remove most of it first?

 

[WILDER]

No silver shark they are bala sharks and need a tank of no less than 100gal, even small they should be in a tank of 75gals.