Fish Problems

[KrystaK]

I introduced two Molly's, a platy and a panda cory (I think) about a month ago.

In the last few days I've noticed some problems with my male Molly and the platy I introduced.
The molly seems to have a crick in his spine, around his 'neck' though he can swim it takes a lot more effort for him than it did before. He still eats and tries to chase his girls but he doesn't enjoy that like he used to, its just to much work for him to compensate and swim. I was wondering if this was possibly due to stress?

Also, the female platy I bought seems to have lost all her energy. She just lays on the bottom gasping. I dont think the male platy chased her to exhaustion, I mean the other femle platy can deal with him no problem, though she is bigger....

So does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong? I really think my platy will be gone soon, and I want to fix these problems before any more of my fishies die, I like them... I get the feeling that it may be stress or something, but that doesn't make much sense. the only stress I think can be caused them si the fact that the tank is on the ground and my dog runs by the tank all the time...

 

[fidjet2]

what are your water parmareters?
Have you got enough aeration in your tank?
cory's of any sort should be in groups of 6 plus as they are shoaling fish and will become stressed if not in a large group
tank size?
anything added lately- plants,rocks ect....
do you add any chemicals to your tank?

that will all help us to try and figure out if anything is wrong

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Have you got a test kit? If so test straight away and post results on here if not then get one straight away, they are very important and can save your fish's lives and you money. Also when you do a water change can you explain what you do?

 

[the_lock_man]

A set of current water test results is essential here, to enable people to help you.

The other thing I'd like to know is how long the tank has been set up for, and how did you cycle your filter - did you put in household ammonia, or did you just put some fish in?

 

[KrystaK]

I only have an API ammonia test kit, my water readings are at aprox 0
I haven't put anything new in since the fish have been there.
Aeration should be fine, I have a bubble wall as well as the filter to add oxygen (Heck, maybe there's to much oxygen)
It's a 30 gallon tank.. (My Panda fishy seems fine, he was the only one they had at the store so he was the only one I had the option to buy, but he seems fine on his own so far)
I add a water softner to my tap water when I do water changes, I live on a well so the water is pretty hard and has a lot of calcium in it, but I`ve had three of these fish since the beginning of the summer and they`ve never had a problem with the hardness of my water or the chemicals I`ve put in it - heck, they`ve survived ick treatments and tank changes.
I also add normal water conditioner to dechlorify it.
I water change about every 8-10 days, I have a hand operated suction pump and I change about 15-20% of the water, making sure to suck as much of any of the gunk caught in the gravel as I can - I can`t stand gunky gravel.
I did a fishless cycle, or came within a few days of doing a full one before I got to excited and introduced my existing fish, but the fish I introduced then are not the ones that are sick. So as I figure it, I didn`t quite do a perfect cycle but I came close enough, I introduced the fish when the ammonia reading was low so the ammonia they produced would replace the ammonia I was using to cycle.

 

[Mowbz]

I only have an API ammonia test kit, my water readings are at aprox 0


I did a fishless cycle, or came within a few days of doing a full one before I got to excited and introduced my existing fish, but the fish I introduced then are not the ones that are sick. So as I figure it, I didn`t quite do a perfect cycle but I came close enough, I introduced the fish when the ammonia reading was low so the ammonia they produced would replace the ammonia I was using to cycle.

Here are the issues;

"Approx 0" - No good, we need exact readings for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. If your Nitrate is at 0, then would indicate a problem for me immediately. Would love to know ehere it all went!

You came "within a few days of a fishless cycle". How do you know this? You are considered cycles once your tank was happily taking 4-5ppm of Ammonia inside 12 hours and the reading is still 0ppm. You then need to have this for a week (know as the "Qualifying Week) to make sure its not a glitch.

Once you have the above, you are considered cycled. I think your tank is uncycled, and unstable in terms of water parameters.

Hope this helps.

(Will hand you back to Lock Man as imm going back to work! lol)

 

[the_lock_man]

I'm at work!!!

Krysta, how long since you finished your nearly-cycle? And as the workaholic there mentioned "approx 0" means nothing. A full set of test results is what is needed.

It does sound like a cycling issue, particularly the platy, but we've not yet got enough to give a reasoned diagnosis. Help us to help you!

 

[jcabs100]

hey i'm new to this whole fresh water fish thing i love fish i think theyre just beautiful creatures but ive been having some problems with my tank i have a 20 gallon tank long w. 3 plecos 1 emerald cory 2 female mollies 1 black mollie not sure of the gender 2 dalmation mollies 1 betta 1 sword fintail mollie male and a gold mollie also male as ive heard the black mollies are normally more aggressive yet it is so docile no problems but ive been having problems w. one dalmation the sword fintail and the gold mollie theyre bullying the fish especially the female and it has a thing for my betta my betta is not aggressive at all with the other fish it minds its own business and just keeps to its self im scared im gonna lose my betta and my other fish it pokes at my plecos but my plecos do nothing the dalmation mollie sword fin tail and the gold mollie are the problems i dont know what to do please help me what do i dont want to lose any of my fish

 

[fidjet2]

are they common plecos you are talking about?
If so they are way too big for your tank- they will grow huge.
Also, cory's like to be in groups of 6+ - prefferably 8-10+ because they are shoaling fish.
I think you have too many mollies in the tank alltogether, but i think that you have too many male aswell. It should be atleast 2 females to every male- prefferably 3+females to every male- to limit the aggression.
Also with mollies, i have been told and i have read that they like slightly brachish water.
Did you cycle your tank?- if so how?

 

[jcabs100]

bristle nose plecos and i got rid of all my mollies because they were so aggressive towards my betta thinking its suppose to be the other way around i now have 2 plecos as one i had to return unfortunately and i now have altogether 6 cory cats and no i dont have a cycled tank is this necessary if so why sorry for my ignorance im new to this aquarium stuff i got very cheap fish as i have now 14 tetras and thats it pretty much thanks again for the advice

 

[the_lock_man]

OK, Click this link to find out why a cycled tank is necessary.

How long has your tank been set up, and do you hjave a test kit to post a set of water test results?