Not very buoyant molly

[Nikki Casali]

After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.

I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.

Nikki

[Gill Passman]

"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
> After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
> too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
> mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
> battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
> figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
> whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
> damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>
> I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
> internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
> rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>
> Nikki
>
Hi Nikki,
Sounds similar to the symptoms my Mollies had - see posting "Sick Mollie" -
sadly I lost her and another one afterwards...

Out of curiousity do you add salt?

Gill

[Nikki Casali]

Gill Passman wrote:
> "Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
>>too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
>>mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
>>battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
>>figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
>>whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
>>damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>>
>>I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
>>internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
>>rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>>
>>Nikki
>>
>
> Hi Nikki,
> Sounds similar to the symptoms my Mollies had - see posting "Sick Mollie" -
> sadly I lost her and another one afterwards...

The molly isn't in any obvious apparent pain. Did your molly look anorexic?

> Out of curiousity do you add salt?

I used to add 1 gm per litre of salt before I had live plants. I think
adding salt will disturb the equilibrium I have got going there. I'm not
sure whether placing the fish in a quarantine tank would help. The only
QT I have now is a 12 litre, a bit smaller than the 330l tank she's in
now. And she's got her friends with her, or adversaries. Yes, she's
still chasing the younger mollies around!

Actually, I've been looking for a nice QT recently. Maybe one of at
least 20 litres. But I think it needs to be of acrylic so it's easily
put away in storage. I'm wondering whether Maidenhead does something
suitable. Maybe a hex tank. I'll need to pop down to check out what
they've got. Any ideas?

Nikki

[Gill Passman]

"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
> Gill Passman wrote:
> > "Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
> >>too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
> >>mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
> >>battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
> >>figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
> >>whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
> >>damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
> >>
> >>I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
> >>internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
> >>rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
> >>
> >>Nikki
> >>
> >
> > Hi Nikki,
> > Sounds similar to the symptoms my Mollies had - see posting "Sick
Mollie" -
> > sadly I lost her and another one afterwards...
>
> The molly isn't in any obvious apparent pain. Did your molly look
anorexic?
>
> > Out of curiousity do you add salt?
>
> I used to add 1 gm per litre of salt before I had live plants. I think
> adding salt will disturb the equilibrium I have got going there. I'm not
> sure whether placing the fish in a quarantine tank would help. The only
> QT I have now is a 12 litre, a bit smaller than the 330l tank she's in
> now. And she's got her friends with her, or adversaries. Yes, she's
> still chasing the younger mollies around!
>
> Actually, I've been looking for a nice QT recently. Maybe one of at
> least 20 litres. But I think it needs to be of acrylic so it's easily
> put away in storage. I'm wondering whether Maidenhead does something
> suitable. Maybe a hex tank. I'll need to pop down to check out what
> they've got. Any ideas?
>
> Nikki
>
The biggest Hex tank I found (and bought) from Maidenhead was a 30L but a
little too pretty for use as a QT tank....mine is in the Living Room....It
was a Rena Kid tank - children thought it hilarous that mummy bought a Kiddy
tank. They are available from Pets at Home as well (and probably cheaper
from there - just can't quite bring myself - probably cutting my nose to
spite my face)

I bought a 20L rectangular tank all inclusive which started off as a QT tank
but now houses my betta for around £60. I did notice this weekend that they
have a bare 20L tank at £17.99 but I don't think that it even had a lid. My
local branches won't sell anything under 3galls....There are certainly some
acrylic tanks around at Hare Hatch and probably Henley....but I haven't
looked too closely....Henley also had some nice bow tanks this weekend.

BTW which one do you use?

Gill

Gill

[Nikki Casali]

Gill Passman wrote:

> "Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Gill Passman wrote:
>>
>>>"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>
>>>>After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
>>>>too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
>>>>mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
>>>>battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
>>>>figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
>>>>whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
>>>>damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>>>>
>>>>I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
>>>>internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
>>>>rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>>>>
>>>>Nikki
>>>>
>>>
>>>Hi Nikki,
>>>Sounds similar to the symptoms my Mollies had - see posting "Sick
>
> Mollie" -
>
>>>sadly I lost her and another one afterwards...
>>
>>The molly isn't in any obvious apparent pain. Did your molly look
>
> anorexic?
>
>>>Out of curiousity do you add salt?
>>
>>I used to add 1 gm per litre of salt before I had live plants. I think
>>adding salt will disturb the equilibrium I have got going there. I'm not
>>sure whether placing the fish in a quarantine tank would help. The only
>>QT I have now is a 12 litre, a bit smaller than the 330l tank she's in
>>now. And she's got her friends with her, or adversaries. Yes, she's
>>still chasing the younger mollies around!
>>
>>Actually, I've been looking for a nice QT recently. Maybe one of at
>>least 20 litres. But I think it needs to be of acrylic so it's easily
>>put away in storage. I'm wondering whether Maidenhead does something
>>suitable. Maybe a hex tank. I'll need to pop down to check out what
>>they've got. Any ideas?
>>
>>Nikki
>>
>
> The biggest Hex tank I found (and bought) from Maidenhead was a 30L but a
> little too pretty for use as a QT tank....mine is in the Living Room....It
> was a Rena Kid tank - children thought it hilarous that mummy bought a Kiddy
> tank.

Oh, the shame! How will you ever live it down? :-)

> I bought a 20L rectangular tank all inclusive which started off as a QT tank
> but now houses my betta for around £60. I did notice this weekend that they
> have a bare 20L tank at £17.99 but I don't think that it even had a lid. My
> local branches won't sell anything under 3galls....There are certainly some
> acrylic tanks around at Hare Hatch and probably Henley....but I haven't
> looked too closely....Henley also had some nice bow tanks this weekend.
>
> BTW which one do you use?

The most convenient one is at Mill Hill. I have also visited Wembley and
St. Albans. St. Albans has just opened and is huge. Pity it's straight
off the motorway. It's suicide trying to find the entrance at 70mph!

Nikki

[Gill Passman]

"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
> Gill Passman wrote:
>
> > "Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>Gill Passman wrote:
> >>
> >>>"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> ...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
> >>>>too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of
those
> >>>>mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
> >>>>battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well
rounded
> >>>>figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
> >>>>whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
> >>>>damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
> >>>>
> >>>>I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
> >>>>internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing
but
> >>>>rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
> >>>>
> >>>>Nikki
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>Hi Nikki,
> >>>Sounds similar to the symptoms my Mollies had - see posting "Sick
> >
> > Mollie" -
> >
> >>>sadly I lost her and another one afterwards...
> >>
> >>The molly isn't in any obvious apparent pain. Did your molly look
> >
> > anorexic?
> >
> >>>Out of curiousity do you add salt?
> >>
> >>I used to add 1 gm per litre of salt before I had live plants. I think
> >>adding salt will disturb the equilibrium I have got going there. I'm not
> >>sure whether placing the fish in a quarantine tank would help. The only
> >>QT I have now is a 12 litre, a bit smaller than the 330l tank she's in
> >>now. And she's got her friends with her, or adversaries. Yes, she's
> >>still chasing the younger mollies around!
> >>
> >>Actually, I've been looking for a nice QT recently. Maybe one of at
> >>least 20 litres. But I think it needs to be of acrylic so it's easily
> >>put away in storage. I'm wondering whether Maidenhead does something
> >>suitable. Maybe a hex tank. I'll need to pop down to check out what
> >>they've got. Any ideas?
> >>
> >>Nikki
> >>
> >
> > The biggest Hex tank I found (and bought) from Maidenhead was a 30L but
a
> > little too pretty for use as a QT tank....mine is in the Living
Room....It
> > was a Rena Kid tank - children thought it hilarous that mummy bought a
Kiddy
> > tank.
>
> Oh, the shame! How will you ever live it down? :-)
>
> > I bought a 20L rectangular tank all inclusive which started off as a QT
tank
> > but now houses my betta for around £60. I did notice this weekend that
they
> > have a bare 20L tank at £17.99 but I don't think that it even had a lid.
My
> > local branches won't sell anything under 3galls....There are certainly
some
> > acrylic tanks around at Hare Hatch and probably Henley....but I haven't
> > looked too closely....Henley also had some nice bow tanks this weekend.
> >
> > BTW which one do you use?
>
> The most convenient one is at Mill Hill. I have also visited Wembley and
> St. Albans. St. Albans has just opened and is huge. Pity it's straight
> off the motorway. It's suicide trying to find the entrance at 70mph!
>
> Nikki
>
Has to be said though, I'm starting to feel a bit guilty about all these
trips to Garden Centres and coming out with no plants - noticed the state of
the front today :-(

Priority this weekend is to visit Garden Centres and attempt to ignore the
fish....

Gill

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
> After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
> too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of those
> mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and has to
> battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her well rounded
> figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she is eating
> whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder has been
> damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>
> I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
> internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing but
> rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>
> Nikki
>
I'd try quarantine and feeding anti-parasitic food. Also bring the
Q-tank up to 1 tbsp/gallon salt (0.3%) over a few days. It will kill
any external parasites, and make her much more comfortable. You've got
a good chance if she's eating.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:

> Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>> After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
>> too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of
>> those mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and
>> has to battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her
>> well rounded figure to the point that she looks underfed, although she
>> is eating whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming bladder
>> has been damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>>
>> I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
>> internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing
>> but rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>>
>> Nikki
>>
> I'd try quarantine and feeding anti-parasitic food.

OK, just purchased a 26 litre quarantine tank. I'm quite sure
anti-parasitic food isn't available in the UK. I've dosed some
anti-bacterial medication for now. I haven't spotted any anti-internal
parasite medication either. I presume it would have to go through the mouth.

Also bring the
> Q-tank up to 1 tbsp/gallon salt (0.3%) over a few days.

I've added 1/2 gm per litre or 0.05%. I need 10x more! Let me check.
That would be 3 gm per litre required?

I think I'd need a bubble stream too.

It will kill
> any external parasites, and make her much more comfortable. You've got
> a good chance if she's eating.
>

Yes, she snapped up a couple of large flakes this morning.

Nikki

[Nikki Casali]

Gill Passman wrote:

> The biggest Hex tank I found (and bought) from Maidenhead was a 30L but a
> little too pretty for use as a QT tank.

Ah, ok. Looks like I just bought the same tank. I was looking for the
biggest, smallest tank and this hex tank caught my attention. I'm not
sure about the mirrored background though! But it will be tall enough to
quarantine an adult female angelfish, if I can ever find one in the UK
to replace a lost one.

I've set up the tank and have the molly in there now.

BTW, for medicinal purposes, I measured how many litres I could into the
tank. Looks like 26 without gravel. A bit cheeky advertising it as 30
though.

Nikki

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:

> I'd try quarantine and feeding anti-parasitic food. Also bring the
> Q-tank up to 1 tbsp/gallon salt (0.3%) over a few days. It will kill
> any external parasites, and make her much more comfortable. You've got
> a good chance if she's eating.
>

I just dug out some Esha Hexamita which I used once to treat one of my
angelfish. The document inside says it treats a wide range of parasites,
including those responsible for intestinal disorders. Going to try it.

The only thing that makes me believe the problem isn't an inherent one
is that all my white mollies were bloated, with swimming bladder
problems, at the same time.

Nikki

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> Nikki Casali wrote:
>>
>>> After having got over a problem in which all of my white mollies were
>>> too buoyant, I now have the complete opposite problem with one of
>>> those mollies. This particular molly has no buoyancy whatsoever and
>>> has to battle gravity to reach the water surface. She has lost her
>>> well rounded figure to the point that she looks underfed, although
>>> she is eating whatever is given to her. It's as if the swimming
>>> bladder has been damaged during the period of her being over buoyant.
>>>
>>> I presume nothing can "fix" the problem. I've never been able to cure
>>> internal physical problems before. At the moment she can do nothing
>>> but rest on the substrate when she's worn out of swimming.
>>>
>>> Nikki
>>>
>> I'd try quarantine and feeding anti-parasitic food.
>
>
> OK, just purchased a 26 litre quarantine tank. I'm quite sure
> anti-parasitic food isn't available in the UK. I've dosed some
> anti-bacterial medication for now. I haven't spotted any anti-internal
> parasite medication either. I presume it would have to go through the
> mouth.
>
> Also bring the
>
>> Q-tank up to 1 tbsp/gallon salt (0.3%) over a few days.
>
>
> I've added 1/2 gm per litre or 0.05%. I need 10x more! Let me check.
> That would be 3 gm per litre required?
>
> I think I'd need a bubble stream too.
>
> It will kill
>
>> any external parasites, and make her much more comfortable. You've
>> got a good chance if she's eating.
>>
>
> Yes, she snapped up a couple of large flakes this morning.
>
> Nikki
>
Yes, 3 gm/l. You'll have to add it slowly. Also acclimate back to FW,
but you can't beat salt for a sick molly.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
> Gill Passman wrote:
>
> > The biggest Hex tank I found (and bought) from Maidenhead was a 30L but
a
> > little too pretty for use as a QT tank.
>
> Ah, ok. Looks like I just bought the same tank. I was looking for the
> biggest, smallest tank and this hex tank caught my attention. I'm not
> sure about the mirrored background though! But it will be tall enough to
> quarantine an adult female angelfish, if I can ever find one in the UK
> to replace a lost one.
>
> I've set up the tank and have the molly in there now.
>
> BTW, for medicinal purposes, I measured how many litres I could into the
> tank. Looks like 26 without gravel. A bit cheeky advertising it as 30
> though.
>
> Nikki
>
I quite like the mirrored background - it makes it look like you have double
the plants and fish....I Wouldn't keep a beta in there though....It did
confuse the Panda Cory's for a while but they have now learnt that playmates
are in the water not in the solid bit at the back - :-)

Interesting what you say about the capacity - I didn't check mine. I'll see
how much water I can get into the next tank (lol)

Gill

[Nikki Casali]

The sinking molly has been in the quarantine tank with 3ppt of salt for
a couple of days now. The medication I've used so far hasn't improved
her sinking condition. But she's become hyperactive and can't stop
begging for food. She looks on the skinny side, but that could be to do
with her swimming bladder not functioning properly.

I think I'll return her to the main tank in a week or so, whether she
floats or sinks.

Nikki

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
> The sinking molly has been in the quarantine tank with 3ppt of salt for
> a couple of days now. The medication I've used so far hasn't improved
> her sinking condition. But she's become hyperactive and can't stop
> begging for food. She looks on the skinny side, but that could be to do
> with her swimming bladder not functioning properly.
>
> I think I'll return her to the main tank in a week or so, whether she
> floats or sinks.
>
> Nikki
>
The increased activity and hunger is a good sign! I'd keep up with the
medicated food and supplement with algae flakes or blanched veggies.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:
> Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>> The sinking molly has been in the quarantine tank with 3ppt of salt
>> for a couple of days now. The medication I've used so far hasn't
>> improved her sinking condition. But she's become hyperactive and can't
>> stop begging for food. She looks on the skinny side, but that could be
>> to do with her swimming bladder not functioning properly.
>>
>> I think I'll return her to the main tank in a week or so, whether she
>> floats or sinks.
>>
>> Nikki
>>
> The increased activity and hunger is a good sign! I'd keep up with the
> medicated food and supplement with algae flakes or blanched veggies.
>

There is no medicated food in the UK unless it is prescribed. I tried
some Hexamita cure for parasites the first few days with no improvement.
Nothing else has been dosed apart from salt. The water hasn't even been
changed.

I gave the molly a good look over today. And what do you know! The molly
has regained the ability to control its swimming bladder. I first
thought, all that turbulence from the filter and bubble stream must be
giving the fish an apparent ability to float. So I turned off
everything, but she still floated, mid-tank, without batting a fin.
What's that, a spontaneous self repair?

Anyway, she's still on the thin side. I'll give her an extra helping of
flakes, see if that improves her weight. I'll continue with her in the
QT tank for another couple of weeks.

Nikki

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> Nikki Casali wrote:
>>
>>> The sinking molly has been in the quarantine tank with 3ppt of salt
>>> for a couple of days now. The medication I've used so far hasn't
>>> improved her sinking condition. But she's become hyperactive and
>>> can't stop begging for food. She looks on the skinny side, but that
>>> could be to do with her swimming bladder not functioning properly.
>>>
>>> I think I'll return her to the main tank in a week or so, whether she
>>> floats or sinks.
>>>
>>> Nikki
>>>
>> The increased activity and hunger is a good sign! I'd keep up with
>> the medicated food and supplement with algae flakes or blanched veggies.
>>
>
> There is no medicated food in the UK unless it is prescribed. I tried
> some Hexamita cure for parasites the first few days with no improvement.
> Nothing else has been dosed apart from salt. The water hasn't even been
> changed.

Oops. I must have misread your last post.
>
> I gave the molly a good look over today. And what do you know! The molly
> has regained the ability to control its swimming bladder. I first
> thought, all that turbulence from the filter and bubble stream must be
> giving the fish an apparent ability to float. So I turned off
> everything, but she still floated, mid-tank, without batting a fin.
> What's that, a spontaneous self repair?

Yep. The salt takes any stress off of her kidneys, strengthens her
immune system, and kills off external parasites. By feeding her alone,
you've made sure that she's eating appropriate amounts of food.
Overeating can make it hard for a fish to empty or fill the swim bladder
and she may have been getting more of her share in the community.
>
> Anyway, she's still on the thin side. I'll give her an extra helping of
> flakes, see if that improves her weight. I'll continue with her in the
> QT tank for another couple of weeks.
>
> Nikki
>
Hope the swim bladder stays fixed!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com