I have a balloon bellied Molly, she's in a 10g right now with another soon to drop Molly, because I knew she'd be dropping fry soon. However two days ago, I noticed her birthing canal open up and now she has a light pink blob sticking out. It does not move and it's been there for days. I don't know if a fry got stuck, there were none dropped before this, or if it's her insides or something. I'm afraid this will kill her. I have pictures and will e mail them to anyone who thinks they can help. If it's a premature fry, does it need to be removed?
Help, Balloon Belly, Is Fry Stuck Or Are Insides Coming Out?
- Thread starter TxMum
- Start date
She is actually very boxy, but very even. What makes it look like buldges is bc her gravid spot has shifted, it is visible on her side now, just the one side, if you look closely you can see it in the pic. It is no longer near her rear fin. But say it is a tumor. What do I do? Remove her from the birth tank and put her back with the others? I'm afraid the male might mess with it and hurt her.
Curiosity101
Is now at University! :D
It does look like a prolapse. Hopefully it hasn't been caused by the pregnancy, if it has it could cause complications/death for the mother if she can't give birth as the babies are likely to die inside of her leading way to an infection.
Sadly it can't be fixed... just have to keep your fingers crossed.
If you have a birthing tank move her into it.
Sadly it can't be fixed... just have to keep your fingers crossed.
If you have a birthing tank move her into it.
She is in the birthing/baby tank right now with another soon to be BBmolly and 3 babies. Could this effect them? And she is pregnant. She should have had her babies this week. And her tell-all signs are only increasing. She stays at the very top of the tank, near the light, heat source, and filter.
So I'm pretty much just waiting for her to die? How long can the fry stay inside before dying if she can't get them out?
They'll only be to able to survive for a very few days after their due date, I'm afraid...
Have you thought of trying a salt bath? One tablespoon of aquarium or Epsom salt in 5 UK gallons (or 6 US) of water.
Apart from that I honestly don't think there's anything you can do. It's sad fact that a lot of the 'balloon' bodied fished are prone to this sort of thing; they're so far away from their natural shape.
I don't want to upset you, but you might have to think about euthanizing her if she doesn't improve in the next couple of days...
Terrible thing to say, I know, but better than letting her suffer
Have you thought of trying a salt bath? One tablespoon of aquarium or Epsom salt in 5 UK gallons (or 6 US) of water.
Apart from that I honestly don't think there's anything you can do. It's sad fact that a lot of the 'balloon' bodied fished are prone to this sort of thing; they're so far away from their natural shape.
I don't want to upset you, but you might have to think about euthanizing her if she doesn't improve in the next couple of days...
Terrible thing to say, I know, but better than letting her suffer
They'll only be to able to survive for a very few days after their due date, I'm afraid...
Have you thought of trying a salt bath? One tablespoon of aquarium or Epsom salt in 5 UK gallons (or 6 US) of water.
Apart from that I honestly don't think there's anything you can do. It's sad fact that a lot of the 'balloon' bodied fished are prone to this sort of thing; they're so far away from their natural shape.
I don't want to upset you, but you might have to think about euthanizing her if she doesn't improve in the next couple of days...
Terrible thing to say, I know, but better than letting her suffer
Can't be too common, I've kept balloon bellies for 5 years and never seen this. I do not have a 6 gallon to put her in but there is salt in the tank. Is it possible to somehow perform a cesarean on her, don't laugh lol. I'm kinda serious. I know the fry should be born this week.
And how exactly would you euthanize a fish without it suffering? I cannot bring myself to flush a living fish. I have to huge goldfish someone gave me that I HATE but can't do anything to
although I give them kudos for living in 'molly' conditions
You could try catching the fish and giving a gentle aqueeze, but I think you'd do more internal damage than good
If you do feel the need to euthanize, please don't flush it; that's a terrible way for them to go; you use clove oil mixed in warm water.
I'll outline the method here anyway, as it's a useful thing for everyone to know in case of emergencies...clove oil acts as a sedative and is used to anesthetize fish for tagging and things like that, so it's generally considered the most humane way.
Put the fish in a litre of tank water. In a small bottle, mix at least 25 or 30 drops of clove oil with a little of the water and shake until it forms an emulsion.
Then you just add it to the fishes container; the fish will become unconscious within 20 seconds and will be dead within a minute. I'd just leave it there for half an hour or so, just to make 100% sure.
Obvioulsy if the fish is bigger, you need to multiply the amounts, but 25/30 drops per litre is the lethal dose.
A horrible subject, I know it is, and in a perfect world no-one would ever have to even contemplate such a thing, but unfortunately fish do get sick and sometimes there's nothing more we can do for them except make the end as quick and painless as possible
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for your poor molly and hoping that she manages to make a full recovery...
If you do feel the need to euthanize, please don't flush it; that's a terrible way for them to go; you use clove oil mixed in warm water.
I'll outline the method here anyway, as it's a useful thing for everyone to know in case of emergencies...clove oil acts as a sedative and is used to anesthetize fish for tagging and things like that, so it's generally considered the most humane way.
Put the fish in a litre of tank water. In a small bottle, mix at least 25 or 30 drops of clove oil with a little of the water and shake until it forms an emulsion.
Then you just add it to the fishes container; the fish will become unconscious within 20 seconds and will be dead within a minute. I'd just leave it there for half an hour or so, just to make 100% sure.
Obvioulsy if the fish is bigger, you need to multiply the amounts, but 25/30 drops per litre is the lethal dose.
A horrible subject, I know it is, and in a perfect world no-one would ever have to even contemplate such a thing, but unfortunately fish do get sick and sometimes there's nothing more we can do for them except make the end as quick and painless as possible
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for your poor molly and hoping that she manages to make a full recovery...
Curiosity101
Is now at University! :D
There is some debate over clover oils effectiveness as many have suggested it stuns rather than kills. And so the fish 'wakes up' again in pain due to burnt gills. So if you were to try clove oil, I'd suggest then dropping the fish into ice cold water from the freezer (cold enough that a thin layer of ice has formed on the top).
Then place the fish in the freezer if possible to ensure it's dead.
Oh by the way... mollys aren't brackish fish. The only reason salt is ever good for them is if the water they're in is particularly soft.
Then place the fish in the freezer if possible to ensure it's dead.
Oh by the way... mollys aren't brackish fish. The only reason salt is ever good for them is if the water they're in is particularly soft.
Omg. I could never do all that to my fish. Wow.
And the tank is not brackish, there is salt but not that much. Everything I've ever been taught about my BBmollies is that they like a little salt and I've had awesome success. They are my favorite fish so it's practically all I keep, only has two die in 5 years (not including fry that were snacked on) one from another fish, one from being sick.
I've never heard of a fish waking up when a high enough dosage of clove oil is used, Curiosity. Obviously that can happen with smaller doses, as it is used as a sedative.
Some people do recommend putting the fish in the freezer afterwards (or even adding a shot of vodka
) but it really isn't neccessary. I guess it would ensure the fish is dead, and it would be unconscious from the clove oil anyway.I still think it's the most humane way I've come across.
Anyway; how is she now, TxMum; any improvement? I've been thinking about her all night
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