Me+Mollies = Death

[Elisabeth83]

I don't know if it's me or what but every single molly I have owned dies the same way. They get thinner, swim unbalanced and then die. It's only the mollies that do this. I have had swordtails living with them, bristlenose pleco, SAEs and it's only the mollies that do this.

I am really starting to wonder if their genes are bad because if it was a disease (internal parasites?) wouldn't the rest of my fish get it? I've treated in the past for internal parasites because thats what I thought it was but it didn't help.

I've had 2 lyretail mollies go this way, 2 silver mollies, 2 balloon mollies and now 2 more of my mollies seem to be heading that way.

I think it's really weird What's going on here?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Im not sure if its not entirely your fault. Some suppliers buy their fish from the sam supplier, hence, if the breeder is poor or sells bad quality stock, you buy it and u suffer for it!

How are your water params. Im pretty sure its not u because if it was, your swordies, angels and plecs would have died too.

Try and buy some from a different lfs or pet shop. Even travel if you have to.

Sorry for you losses! RIP little buddies....rIP

 

[paulthegreat]

I agree. Go to a different store and see if they have a quarintine tank and see what is in it. If it is full of Mollies go elsewhere. If you were getting them from a chain-store go to a different chain or a Mom-n-Pop store.

 

[Mollybreeder]

Mollies are usually pretty hardy fish, i once had an ammonia spike of 2.0 and all of my mollies have survived through it. I definately think it is your fish store thats giving you these poor mollies.

 

[fishguy18]

I had this problem awhile ago and it was driving me mad because i didnt know what to do!....I always buy my fish from a very reliable store so i did not consider them for the deaths.....I usually keep my water at around 76 degrees.....but i decided to change the temperature to around 82-84 degrees....after i did the increase in temp. my mollies were very happy....this also fixed the clamped fins on some of them too

This was my personal experience so becareful not too change to many things at one time....one thing can be changed back easier than 10 things

I hope you have better luck in the future

 

[Mollybreeder]

Fish guy your mollies are happy with such high temps??? Just wondering cause they recommend you keep the temp between 74-80. Maybe thats why my mollies have clamped fins sometimes cause its too cold...

 

[Mr Miagi]

Dont change too tingd at once.

You may have not done high school biology, but if u have, u should know if you have two variables, you will not know what was the deciding factor giving you the results. (Dependent variable)

In other simple words, if u cahnge the temp, and buy new mollies from a different store, you dont know why your new mollies are survivng. Just add new mollies from a diferent store, if they survive, dont go back to the original store. If the new mollies die, raise the temps and try it.

Goodluck.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Well I've bought the mollies from 2 different stores but they are only 20 mins apart so maybe they were from the same supplier

My temp is on 79-80 so it shouldn't be the temp that's killing them. I really don't get it. They come from the stores plump and healthy looking and end up dieing thin and swimming weird...yet they are still active and eat until the day they die

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hmm...just thought of something. Even though I didn't buy my balloon mollies from my lfs when I talked to the guy about Balloon mollies he said they stopped getting them in because everytime they did they would die

I got my 6 balloon mollies from a bigger pet store. It isn't a chain store but it isn't a little mom and pop type store either. Out of the 6 2 girls died within 1 1/2 weeks of buying them and another girl is now looking thinner and swimming uneven. All the balloon mollies were really small at this place. I think they are really young.

I then went out to a little mom and pop type store and bought 2 females to replace the 2 that died. These females are BI´G, Plump and all around very healthy looking. The one female gave birth last week.

I was just wondering if there is something in the tank causing this?? But then again it's just the mollies.

Also the 3 silver mollies I owned never once did the females get pregnant. I had the one pair for about 4-5 months. Then the female died so I bought another female but she never got pregnant either. Then the male died..so now I am left with 1 silver molly and after owning her for about 2 months shes going the same way the others went.

I'm just feeling afraid to add anything to that tank...thinking theres something in it that kills my fish.

 

[Elisabeth83]

my silver molly has now become bent...her back is bending downwards

I'm afraid it might be fish TB

Tuberculosis
Symptoms are Hollow belly, Knife back, Pale skin, Bending of spine. They also lose their appetite which does not help them. If suspected it is best to dispose of the fish immediately. TB can be passed on to humans but only if you have open wounds on your hands when placing them in the aquarium.

Then again these symptoms can be associated with other diseases

I don't know what to do.....

edit: My fish don't loose their appitite though

 

[livelife]

Aren't mollies brackish?

 

[Lexie3787]

Mollys are fw, and could be salt water but I never heard of them being brackish though im probably wrong.

 

[dixaisy930]

I think they can be acclimated to brackish environments, and some different types of mollies are more tolerant of brackish conditions. And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but some types of mollies have been found in brackish in the wild? But I've always kept my mollies in freshwater, and never had any problems.

Would you be willing to buy molly's from a private breeder? Or possibly going further to another lfs?

 

[Mr Miagi]

No your right. Mollies are found in some brackish water. Although alot of ppl keep mollies in freshwater because they are hardy and can adapt well to any environment. That is why some use them to cycle their tank.

Hope your newe mollies will b ok. If it is TB, what kind of treatment is there? I didnt know there was one?

Benny