I am really new to the fish scene. I have a 10 gallon tank with three mollies plus 5 of their fry. This is my first tank ever and first fish! Today I noticed one of my females breathing hard today. She is the one that gave birth to the babies five days ago. My other adults and the babies appear to be doing fine. I haven't noticed any changes in her eating habits. What can be wrong and can I fix it in time to save her? and are my other fish possibly in danger?
Beginner--Molly breathing hard
- Thread starter Kfiore
- Start date
How long has the tank been set up? Do you have a test kit? Test for ammonia and nitrites.
I would guess you are seeing ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
Change 50% of the water right away. Retest.
If either your ammonia or nitrite levels are over 1.0ppm, do another 50% change.
I would guess you are seeing ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
Change 50% of the water right away. Retest.
If either your ammonia or nitrite levels are over 1.0ppm, do another 50% change.
Have you tested your water? Ammonia and Nitrite must be zero, and Nitrate below twenty. How long has this tank been set up? Did you cycle the tank prior to adding fish? Is she sitting at the bottom of the tank? Or hovering near the top? Or swimming normally, but just breathing hard? Do you have aeration in the tank at all (airstones, power heads, etc.)? What type of filter are you using? Sorry for all the questions, but we'll need to know this information in order to give you any answers.
I'll have to try all that in the morning, my tank is at my office. To answer what questions I can now: I let my tank run for a week with new water and a few plants. Then I added the three mollies. My pH has been high ever since and I can't seem to get it down (using pH decreaser). I haven't tested anything else... I'll have to pick up some test kits for nitrite and ammonia tomorrow on my way to work. If it is one of the two, what do I need to get to lower them? I know that high amounts of ammonia will lower the pH so it can't be that. What does excessive nitrite do to the pH? Oh, and I do have a small air stone running constantly.
I missed some of your other questions. Tank has been set up for nearly three weeks...sounds like I rushed it. And I did notice her sitting at the bottom of the tank when I was going to lift the lid to feed them right before I left work. Then when I opened it she and the other two came straight to the top for feeding time. I waited to see how she would eat, it was normal. After she was done she was swimming normally but still breathing hard. I'm not sure what the filter is, came with the 10-gal aquarium kit.
I found my answer to the nitrite/pH question. I have already added aquarium salt (1 tablespoon to every 5 gal). Pretty sure my problem is too new of a tank, not enough bacteria, etc. I will do a small water change, add my conditioner, and aquarium salt and see if that doesn't save them all. How does that sound?
On newly set up tanks you need to do enough 50% water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite down below 1ppm. That may be daily water changes for a while. It takes 6-8 weeks to build up the bacteria.
The salt helps, it doesn't fix. Water changes are a temporary fix. Since you haven't been doing them yet, you might need to do 3 or 4 back to back to get the ammonia or nitrite levels down.
This is a long read, but it explains what you need to know. The bacteria you are trying to save are in your filter, not in your water. You MUST get the ammonia and nitrite down or all of your fish will die. In fact if the levels are high enough, your bacteria will die too.
http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/forum/index.php/topic,1304.0.html
All you need to add is water conditioner and water, the pH stuff is a bad idea. It causes wild swings in your pH with will kill your fish. Your fish will adjust to what ever your pH is with out any worries at all.
Mollies tend to do better is brackish tanks than in fresh water. If you want to salt their water (a good idea that has nothing to do with the ammonia/ nitirite issue you are facing) rather than using "aquarium salt" use the salt mix that is designed for salt water aquariums.
"Aquarium salt" is a marketing gimmick. Its nothing more than table salt with a fancy label. It makes a GREAT medication for use against ICH or an assortment of other ailments, but is not needed for daily use. With Mollies that prefer a brackish tank the salt you want for daily use is marine salt, not table salt.
You do not want to do a small water change, you want to do a lot of large water changes. Test the ammonia and nitrite, if either are over 1ppm, do a 50% change. Then retest, and repeat until the levels are under 1ppm. Each 50% water change will cut the level in half. If you do 80% water changes you can cut the levels faster. Those levels will come right back up tomorrow, so tomorrow get ready to do teh water changes again. This is how the first 6-8 weeks go.
Ammonia will cause burning and scar tissue to form on the gills. Nitrite binds to the hemoglobin where oxygen normally would. This results in a fish suffocating in a tank full of oxygenated water. Get the levels down.
Read the article I linked you to, ask questions.
The salt helps, it doesn't fix. Water changes are a temporary fix. Since you haven't been doing them yet, you might need to do 3 or 4 back to back to get the ammonia or nitrite levels down.
This is a long read, but it explains what you need to know. The bacteria you are trying to save are in your filter, not in your water. You MUST get the ammonia and nitrite down or all of your fish will die. In fact if the levels are high enough, your bacteria will die too.
http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/forum/index.php/topic,1304.0.html
All you need to add is water conditioner and water, the pH stuff is a bad idea. It causes wild swings in your pH with will kill your fish. Your fish will adjust to what ever your pH is with out any worries at all.
Mollies tend to do better is brackish tanks than in fresh water. If you want to salt their water (a good idea that has nothing to do with the ammonia/ nitirite issue you are facing) rather than using "aquarium salt" use the salt mix that is designed for salt water aquariums.
"Aquarium salt" is a marketing gimmick. Its nothing more than table salt with a fancy label. It makes a GREAT medication for use against ICH or an assortment of other ailments, but is not needed for daily use. With Mollies that prefer a brackish tank the salt you want for daily use is marine salt, not table salt.
You do not want to do a small water change, you want to do a lot of large water changes. Test the ammonia and nitrite, if either are over 1ppm, do a 50% change. Then retest, and repeat until the levels are under 1ppm. Each 50% water change will cut the level in half. If you do 80% water changes you can cut the levels faster. Those levels will come right back up tomorrow, so tomorrow get ready to do teh water changes again. This is how the first 6-8 weeks go.
Ammonia will cause burning and scar tissue to form on the gills. Nitrite binds to the hemoglobin where oxygen normally would. This results in a fish suffocating in a tank full of oxygenated water. Get the levels down.
Read the article I linked you to, ask questions.
Well I lost the female last night. I had done about a 25% water change yesterday, but I only had those testing strips and they all read normal. So, I got a good testing kit this morning and found that my ammonia was high at 1.0. I did another 25% water change this afternoon and already it has cut down to .5. My two remaining fish have also seemed to improved immediately, they are as lively as ever. I have also cut feeding down by half. I will continue to feed sparingly and do 25% water changes as often as I can. Hopefully it's enough to save the remaining fish. I have high hopes.
If the ammonia is 1pp, and you change out 25% of the water...then .75 PPM will remain.
You will do much better with 50% water changes, and you will have to do them less frequently than 25% changes.
I am glad to hear you got a good test kit. Test strips have a pretty good reputation for giving pretty poor results.
Keep asking questions, you are off to a good start.
You will do much better with 50% water changes, and you will have to do them less frequently than 25% changes.
I am glad to hear you got a good test kit. Test strips have a pretty good reputation for giving pretty poor results.
Keep asking questions, you are off to a good start.