Pregnant Molly

[mattcarpenter100]

Hi guys,

first of all can i just say what a great forum this is.........

now, i have what i would say was a pregnant dalmation molly.

only thing is the fatter she gets the more she looks like she'll pop.....even to the point now where she looks like her scales are standing on end!!

Is this right or is this some strange illness?!

 

[seanc]

if her scales are sticking out it could be dropsy..is she listless or off colour at all? if you can get a picture up that would help.

 

[mattcarpenter100]

listless?

whats that?

off colour i dont think so

pictures dont come out well as is trigon 190 tank and is rounded on front.

what causes dropsy?!

 

[seanc]

dropsy is usually caused by bacterial infections, internal infections or poor water quality + diet.

 

[love_fish]

I tihnk a bad diet causes dropsy, not completely sure though.

 

[mattcarpenter100]

are we kinda sure thats what this is? are we definate that shes not pregnant just swollen?

 

[seanc]

we can't be sure of it without seeing her;

what are your water parameters? (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite?). Have you added any aquarium salt at all?

 

[mattcarpenter100]

no salt. can i add it if i have platys, guppies endlers and neons?

 

[seanc]

The platys guppies & endlers would be fine with a small amount of salt (1 tablespoon per 5 US gallons) I'm not too sure about the neon though;they dont like salt but I think 1 tblspoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons would be OK. I'll let someone more knowledgeable than myself confirm/deny that though.