White Molly Swims Verticly, Head Down - Help

[bjka]

My new Molly ( had her for 2 weeks) started swimming vertically 3 days ago. Her fins are clamped. She looks slimmer than week ago but I have seen her eating. Water condition is good and other fish are happy as always. Please help. Bianca

 

[the_lock_man]

OK, a few questions for you.
 
I know you said water condition is good, but can you please post up ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH readings, and if you have KH as well, that would be handy.
 
How long has the tank been set up?
How did you cycle it (and do you know what cycling is)?
What chemicals do you use in the tank?
Have you added anything new in the last 3-4 days?

 

[bjka]

I can't give you all water details at the moment as I'm at work but can answer the other questions.
 
 
Tank is running for 4 months (3 weeks without fish). I use Terta aqua safe when I do water changes every other week. Nothing new was added in to the tank. I got the white Molly together with black and orange molly (which is absolutely fine).
I have 90l tank with 3 bettas, 2 corys, 6 neons, 5 harlequins, 4 mollys and live plants.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Like The Lock Man has already requested, more information is good, I would also ask if your tank has been Cycled ?
 
If unsure what i mean, have a look at this, http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/
 
Have you been changing tank water regularly?
If so, how often and how much.
 
Tank water temperature?
 
Also have you cleaned the filter in any way?
 
New fish or tank equipment added recently?
 
The more information you can provide, the better to give us a clearer picture of what may be happening regarding your fish and tank. 
Water parameter reading are the first thing we look ate, so if possible once you're home from work to post the exact water test readings and also which type of test it are you using may be helpful to know as well. (Liquid based test kit or paper strip dip kit?)

 

[nic1]

Hello,
It could be a number of things,
Like the above posts said please check your water levels,
Also it may be swim bladder disease... fish can swim any way up, float, sink, be eating well or not eating at all, have clamped fins or show no signs of infection,starving the fish for 3 days then feeding peas may help some what,
Here's a link to swim bladder disease http/freshaquarium.about.com/od/problemsolving/p/swim_bladder_disorder.htm

Second thin I can think of is it being neurological, do you have soft or hard water? Mollies prefer hard water and their immune systems are compromised when in soft water, they also prefer the water to be a bit brackish so put some aquarium salt in there and see if he makes any improvements.
But before you do anything check your parameters and let us know so we can help more. Thanks

 

[WILDER]

For now try some shelled peas.
Or soak her favourite food in garlic juice.
To stimulate her appetite.
Does she look pale or darker in colour?
Does she rest in plants, or bottom of tank for long periods of time?
Is she turning upside down, or have a mad dash around the tank?
What do you normally feed your fish?

 

[the_lock_man]

 do you have soft or hard water? Mollies prefer hard water and their immune systems are compromised when in soft water, they also prefer the water to be a bit brackish so put some aquarium salt in there and see if he makes any improvements.
 

 
This is why I asked about your pH and KH readings, to establish if it might be down to water chemistry, although I'm not sure it affects their immune systems.
 
Whilst I agree that mollies do like brackish water, the other fish in the tank are definitely freshwater, and the cories in particular do not like salt at all. Taking this course of action, if it helps the molly, will certainly do the other fish no good whatsoever.
 
Oh, and BJKA, please reassure me - the three bettas are all female, aren't they?

 

[bjka]

I will let you know my results when I get back home. But I was told by Pets at home that the water conditions were great when I was buying that Molly.  I understand all your concerns but why is it only 1 out of 4 is not well?
 
the_lock_man - 2 female and 1 male. The male is very peaceful and the same with females. To all your surprise I had a very aggressive Neon tetra which just disappeared one day.

 

[Meeresstille]

That only one fish gets sick sometimes and not the others is not uncommon. It may be that they're weak genetically, or have a weaker immune-system than the others. Stress from having the wrong tank-mates can make fish sick also. 
I once had a Rummynose Tetra swimming exactly like your Molly, it lived like that for many months until the tank contracted ich and this fish died.
 
What you need to do though, is to look at the fish species you have and read up on them. What are their requirements in water parameters, temperature, pH, size of tank, and tank-mates. 
Having a male Betta in a community tank can be risky. Sometimes (not often) it can go well, but keeping a male Betta in the same tank without a divider with female Bettas is a big "No-No". 
 
They all may seem peaceful now, but things can change when the lights are off, and things can change as time goes on. Many mystery illnesses, and mystery injuries, and even fish deaths are caused by tank-mates not getting along.

 

[bjka]

My water conditions are as below (tested yesterday wit Tetra 6 in 1 strip)
NO3 - 25MG/L
NO2 - 0
GH - 4oD
kH - 3oD
pH -- 6.8
Cl2 - 0
 
The fish stays at the bottom of the tank most of the time from time to time trying to move around. I have tried peas but she wouldn't eat anything last night. She dis this morning jus a little bit. No change in colour. I feed my fish flakes and once a week frozen food.
 
To all suggestion of swim bladder problem I would say her swim bladder is punctured as she is not swollen but thin as paper.

 

[the_lock_man]

the_lock_man - 2 female and 1 male. The male is very peaceful and the same with females. To all your surprise I had a very aggressive Neon tetra which just disappeared one day.

 
Disaster waiting to happen, IMHO. But that is just an aside to the real issue.
 

I will let you know my results when I get back home. But I was told by Pets at home that the water conditions were great when I was buying that Molly.  I understand all your concerns but why is it only 1 out of 4 is not well?
 

 
How come someone who smokes 120 a day doesn't get lung cancer? How come there's always one person in the household that doesn't pick up the cold that everyone else has got? Some fish are stronger, more resilient than others, just like with humans. Remember that in the wild, the fish which shows a weakness is the fish that is eaten by the bigger fish. Just because some look perfectly normal doesn't mean they aren't suffering.
 

My water conditions are as below (tested yesterday wit Tetra 6 in 1 strip)
NO3 - 25MG/L
NO2 - 0
GH - 4oD
kH - 3oD
pH -- 6.8
Cl2 - 0
 
The fish stays at the bottom of the tank most of the time from time to time trying to move around. I have tried peas but she wouldn't eat anything last night. She dis this morning jus a little bit. No change in colour. I feed my fish flakes and once a week frozen food.
 
To all suggestion of swim bladder problem I would say her swim bladder is punctured as she is not swollen but thin as paper.

 
THere's no ammonia reading there, which is the pitfall of those Tetra strips, I would definitely invest in a liquid test kit. However, looking at those results, it strikes me that it's more likely to be a water hardness issue.
 
Mollies are hard-water fish. Hard-water fish (ie livebearers, Rift Valley cichlids) have evolved to take up a certain amount of minerals from the water over a period of time - it's called osmoregulation.
 
With soft-water fish, they need to take less minerals in - so they can live reasonably well in hardwater, because there is more than enough minerals dissolved in the water for their needs. However, a hardwater fish living in softwater cannot take in the minerals it needs, because there isn't enough.
 
You have a low KH and GH reading (both readings of the level of dissolved minerals in your water), and mollies need a fairly high amount. If they cannot take in the minerals they need, they will become ill.