Swimming Vertically

[Kairi]

One of my mollies has taken to swimming vertically. I just caught her in and put her in a breeding trap so I can figure out what's going on. I've read up on swim bladder, and it doesn't seem like that- she just points up and tries to swim- and gets no where. What can I do?

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like a swim blaader problem, what do you feed your fish, water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, how many gallons is the tank, plus full stock list.

 

[Kairi]

fish are getting flake food, but dinner tonight was two peas. the stock list is in my signature (the 75 gallon tank) ammonia: 0ppm nitrites are currently spiking around 2 or 3ppm nitrates around 10 or 20 (can't remember) ph is 7.5 last time i checked. fish seems fine now that i've caught her in a breeding trap. her back fin is also very very short. i am wondering if that might contribute.

 

[WILDER]

It could be why is it short, finrot.

 

[Kairi]

a little melafix then?

 

[WILDER]

I would rather use a bacterial med like myxazin.

 

[Kairi]

even w/ a pregnant fish and pleco? she's ok today, but the fish are hanging around the bottom. (all of them)

 

[WILDER]

Swim bladder can be caused due to poor water quality, can you post latest results, i would do a water change and increase aeration.

Plus you will lose fish when cycling a tank, as they go through alot.

 

[Kairi]

the tank isn't cycling. ammonia is 0, nitrites are coming down from their little spike of adding fish (they are around .5 i think?) nitrates are about 15-20, ph is 7.5, temperature is 81°. there are already two bubble curtains and two air stones... there is a lot of airation in the tank.

by the way: the fish is doing much better. i fed her a half a pea, and let her out of the breeding tank the next morning... she was just fine.

 

[WILDER]

That good news.

 

[Seidge]

One of my mollies does this from time to time also, but it usually only last for a few hours and then back to normal.