Mollie specific?

[Bill & Kel Turnbull]

Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)

I am not having any luck....

I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one left...

1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly left.
2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
3rd one simply abruptly left.
4th one .... well you get the picture...

I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday night...
:) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I can't
remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been in a
tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium drop
of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is pretty
good.

Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem absolutely
fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
mollies?

I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and over a
heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual (thats a
sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd one
died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died... hmmmm

We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been nothing to
frighten them...

Im ready to give up...

Please help...

[Robert Flory]

Rainwater in many areas is anything but pure. On the other hand, if my
memory serves me right, they also like hard water, which rain water
shouldn't be.

What is your pH, kH and gH?

bob
"Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in message
...
> Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
> killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)
>
> I am not having any luck....
>
> I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one left...
>
> 1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly
left.
> 2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
> 3rd one simply abruptly left.
> 4th one .... well you get the picture...
>
> I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday
night...
> :) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I can't
> remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
> bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
> snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
> I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been in
a
> tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium
drop
> of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is
pretty
> good.
>
> Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem absolutely
> fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
> harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
> mollies?
>
> I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and over
a
> heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual (thats
a
> sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd
one
> died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died...
hmmmm
>
> We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been nothing
to
> frighten them...
>
> Im ready to give up...
>
> Please help...
>
>

[Limnophile]

Mollies like warmer water, 75 to 80 degrees F. They also like quite a bit of
salt, from 1 ppt = 1 part per thousand ( 85 grams / about 1/2 cup for your
85L / 22 US gallon tank) all the way up to full strength sea water (30 ppt).
Your plants probably won't survive with much salt in the water though. I
keep my mollies at 76F, with 2 ppt of marine salt mix, and I haven't had
major problems in years. Guppies will tolerate salt up to about 4 ppt, but
many other fish don't like salt.

Limnophile

"Robert Flory" > wrote in message
...
> Rainwater in many areas is anything but pure. On the other hand, if my
> memory serves me right, they also like hard water, which rain water
> shouldn't be.
>
> What is your pH, kH and gH?
>
> bob
> "Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
> > killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)
> >
> > I am not having any luck....
> >
> > I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one
left...
> >
> > 1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly
> left.
> > 2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
> > 3rd one simply abruptly left.
> > 4th one .... well you get the picture...
> >
> > I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday
> night...
> > :) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I
can't
> > remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
> > bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
> > snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
> > I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been
in
> a
> > tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium
> drop
> > of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is
> pretty
> > good.
> >
> > Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem
absolutely
> > fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
> > harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
> > mollies?
> >
> > I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and
over
> a
> > heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual
(thats
> a
> > sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd
> one
> > died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died...
> hmmmm
> >
> > We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been
nothing
> to
> > frighten them...
> >
> > Im ready to give up...
> >
> > Please help...
> >
> >
>
>

[Dick]

On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 09:15:39 GMT, "Bill & Kel Turnbull"
> wrote:

>Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
>killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)
>
>I am not having any luck....
>
>I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one left...
>
>1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly left.
>2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
>3rd one simply abruptly left.
>4th one .... well you get the picture...
>
>I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday night...
>:) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I can't
>remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
>bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
>snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
>I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been in a
>tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium drop
>of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is pretty
>good.
>
>Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem absolutely
>fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
>harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
>mollies?
>
>I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and over a
>heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual (thats a
>sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd one
>died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died... hmmmm
>
>We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been nothing to
>frighten them...
>
>Im ready to give up...
>
>Please help...
>

I have about 30 mollies. In the last year about a dozen have died.
They just grew weak and died. In the last few weeks 4 have picked up
Ich. The first one with ich had a single white spot on the top of her
head. I moved her to quarantine tank, and for a week, the spot
stayed. Then a second molly got the spot on the top of her head. I
moved her to the Q tank, but this one really had ich as the spots
increased. So I started ich treatment. Then I found a male whose
fins had grayish large spots.

I am not suggesting your fish had ich. Nothing you say indicates ich.
But, all of my mollies looked weakened. I am of the opinion ich is
always in the tank. I haven't added anything, fish or plants to my
tanks in about a year, so I know the ich had to be in my tanks.

Weak fish are more sensitive to disease. My sick mollies were weak
looking fish. None of my healthy looking mollies have had any
problems. Most of my mollies were home grown with no special
attention. Most came from one brood (about 50) and I suspect the
weaker ones are the ones that have died.

So, long story, but from what you say I read nothing to point to a
tank problem unless it is the use of rain water. I use tap water.
Some will suggest adding salt. I don't any more. I look for fish and
plants that are compatible with my tap water.

As a precaution, I did some extra water changes and changed out my
filters. Also I am watching very closely for any sick or spotted
fish. The fish in the Q tank are responding to treatment although one
male died within hours of going to the Q tank.

Why give up on keeping fish? Why not give up on mollies. There are
lots of fish that will be happy in your tank. I have 15 species of
fish in my tanks. I am only having problem with a small number of
mollies. (By the way, just to be cautious, I checked my tank
chemistry and all the measurements were fine).

dick

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Mollie specific?
>From: Dick
>Date: 7/19/2004 4:46 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 09:15:39 GMT, "Bill & Kel Turnbull"
> wrote:
>
>>Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
>>killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)
>>
>>I am not having any luck....
>>
>>I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one left...
>>
>>1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly left.
>>2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
>>3rd one simply abruptly left.
>>4th one .... well you get the picture...
>>
>>I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday night...
>>:) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I can't
>>remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
>>bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
>>snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
>>I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been in a
>>tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium drop
>>of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is pretty
>>good.
>>
>>Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem absolutely
>>fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
>>harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
>>mollies?
>>
>>I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and over a
>>heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual (thats a
>>sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd one
>>died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died... hmmmm
>>
>>We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been nothing to
>>frighten them...
>>
>>Im ready to give up...
>>
>>Please help...
>>
>
>I have about 30 mollies. In the last year about a dozen have died.
>They just grew weak and died. In the last few weeks 4 have picked up
>Ich. The first one with ich had a single white spot on the top of her
>head. I moved her to quarantine tank, and for a week, the spot
>stayed. Then a second molly got the spot on the top of her head. I
>moved her to the Q tank, but this one really had ich as the spots
>increased. So I started ich treatment. Then I found a male whose
>fins had grayish large spots.
>
>I am not suggesting your fish had ich. Nothing you say indicates ich.
>But, all of my mollies looked weakened. I am of the opinion ich is
>always in the tank. I haven't added anything, fish or plants to my
>tanks in about a year, so I know the ich had to be in my tanks.
>
>Weak fish are more sensitive to disease. My sick mollies were weak
>looking fish. None of my healthy looking mollies have had any
>problems. Most of my mollies were home grown with no special
>attention. Most came from one brood (about 50) and I suspect the
>weaker ones are the ones that have died.
>
>So, long story, but from what you say I read nothing to point to a
>tank problem unless it is the use of rain water. I use tap water.
>Some will suggest adding salt. I don't any more. I look for fish and
>plants that are compatible with my tap water.
>
>As a precaution, I did some extra water changes and changed out my
>filters. Also I am watching very closely for any sick or spotted
>fish. The fish in the Q tank are responding to treatment although one
>male died within hours of going to the Q tank.
>
>Why give up on keeping fish? Why not give up on mollies. There are
>lots of fish that will be happy in your tank. I have 15 species of
>fish in my tanks. I am only having problem with a small number of
>mollies. (By the way, just to be cautious, I checked my tank
>chemistry and all the measurements were fine).
>
>dick
>

Dick, did you have those "weak" Mollies in pure fresh water or were they in
brackish water?

[Dick]

On 19 Jul 2004 12:24:50 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:

>
>Dick, did you have those "weak" Mollies in pure fresh water or were they in
>brackish water?

Tap water, all my fish are in tap water, no salt. The three I put
into the quarantine tank are recoverying nicely (with salt added), the
25 or so in the other 4 tanks (no salt) continue to be well.

I added salt to the Q tank as mollies like it and as part of the ich
treatment.

If I ever doubted if Ich is in most tanks I sure don't now. I haven't
added fish or plants in almost a year so I know it is in two of my
tanks. None of my other fish have been effected.

Probably the sick fish are from the 50 fry one of my mollies delivered
about 10 months ago. I gave away the healthiest and was surprised so
many have survived at all.

Not to say matching water parameters to meet the fish isn't a good
idea. I may have avoided a few problems, but over all "survival of
the fittest" is still my moto. I have more mollies than I would have
purchased. Losing a couple is not all bad as it relieves some
congestion in my tanks, besides I have more young uns growing up.

I just had some more mollies born yesterday, I hope the adults will
eat well, I just don't need more babies to survive.

dick

[Bill & Kel Turnbull]

Well that worked better! :)
Maybe I should avoid using the word killer in my subject?

I had the tank at 23 degrees C (75F) until recently when my last mollie
looked as though she had ich. So I brang the temp up to about 28C (82.5F)
and added some ich treatment. I dont use as much salt as Limnophile uses, I
use around 3-4 teaspoons in the 85L.

Sadly the last one died yesterday.

I am soon (hopefully this weekend if I can barter the guy at the LFS) for a
40Gallon tank. That will replace this one, and I will stock with more
Guppies (I love them almost as much as I loved those fat belly balloon
mollies - they seem to have great personalities) and a few others.

Once this happens I might try to preserve the setup as is in the 22G and get
a few more mollies and add more salt to see what happens.

The only new thing we thought of is the tank (stupidly) sits in its stand on
a big red sheet (about a foot of red around the tank) and the bucket I use
to refill is also bright red. I wonder if that may have been stressing them
out a bit.

Thanks everyone for your ideas.
and sorry for the length :)

"Bill & Kel Turnbull" > wrote in message
...
> Oddly no-one replied to my original post with the title I'm a mollie
> killer... (maybe it got automatically deleted) So Im trying again :)
>
> I am not having any luck....
>
> I have lost 4 mollies over the last few weeks and I'm down to one left...
>
> 1st one got stuck behind a filter, seemed to bounce back then abruptly
left.
> 2nd one sat in the top corner for a day or so the abruptly left.
> 3rd one simply abruptly left.
> 4th one .... well you get the picture...
>
> I have a 85L tank (dont know the conversion to gallons on a sunday
night...
> :) with about an inch of small gravel, two vals, two other plants I can't
> remember the name of, 3 fantail guppies, 4 little breeder fish that were
> bought for dinner for an Acara but didnt get there and a few mystery
> snails... Temp around 22-23 degree C (72F) Ph 7.4.
> I do water changes of around 20-30percent with rainwater that has been in
a
> tank for a while (warmed up to the same temp as the tank) with a medium
drop
> of aquarium salt. I've had the rainwater tested before and told it is
pretty
> good.
>
> Now the thing that made me write this is that the Guppies seem absolutely
> fine... So now I think there is something going on in the tank that is
> harmful to just the mollies... Is anyone aware of any obvious dangers to
> mollies?
>
> I spoke to my LFS lady last week when no 2 died and we went over and over
a
> heap of ideas checks to see if I'm doing anything non-commonsensual (thats
a
> sunday word) and she couldnt think of anything other than maybe the 2nd
one
> died of simple old age or death? but since the other two have died...
hmmmm
>
> We dont smoke or use any aerosols in our house and there has been nothing
to
> frighten them...
>
> Im ready to give up...
>
> Please help...
>
>

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Mollie specific?
>From: Dick
>Date: 7/20/2004 4:34 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On 19 Jul 2004 12:24:50 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:
>
>>
>>Dick, did you have those "weak" Mollies in pure fresh water or were they in
>>brackish water?
>
>Tap water, all my fish are in tap water, no salt. The three I put
>into the quarantine tank are recoverying nicely (with salt added), the
>25 or so in the other 4 tanks (no salt) continue to be well.
>
>I added salt to the Q tank as mollies like it and as part of the ich
>treatment.
>
>If I ever doubted if Ich is in most tanks I sure don't now. I haven't
>added fish or plants in almost a year so I know it is in two of my
>tanks. None of my other fish have been effected.
>
>Probably the sick fish are from the 50 fry one of my mollies delivered
>about 10 months ago. I gave away the healthiest and was surprised so
>many have survived at all.
>
>Not to say matching water parameters to meet the fish isn't a good
>idea. I may have avoided a few problems, but over all "survival of
>the fittest" is still my moto. I have more mollies than I would have
>purchased. Losing a couple is not all bad as it relieves some
>congestion in my tanks, besides I have more young uns growing up.
>
>I just had some more mollies born yesterday, I hope the adults will
>eat well, I just don't need more babies to survive.
>
>dick
>

Sounds to me like your problem with the Mollies is the lack of salt in their
tank.
You've added it to the quaranteen tank, why not to their regular tank?
If you're going to keep them, why not give them what they need?

[Dick]

On 20 Jul 2004 20:05:00 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Mollie specific?
>>From: Dick
>>Date: 7/20/2004 4:34 AM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>On 19 Jul 2004 12:24:50 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Dick, did you have those "weak" Mollies in pure fresh water or were they in
>>>brackish water?
>>
>>Tap water, all my fish are in tap water, no salt. The three I put
>>into the quarantine tank are recoverying nicely (with salt added), the
>>25 or so in the other 4 tanks (no salt) continue to be well.
>>
>>I added salt to the Q tank as mollies like it and as part of the ich
>>treatment.
>>
>>If I ever doubted if Ich is in most tanks I sure don't now. I haven't
>>added fish or plants in almost a year so I know it is in two of my
>>tanks. None of my other fish have been effected.
>>
>>Probably the sick fish are from the 50 fry one of my mollies delivered
>>about 10 months ago. I gave away the healthiest and was surprised so
>>many have survived at all.
>>
>>Not to say matching water parameters to meet the fish isn't a good
>>idea. I may have avoided a few problems, but over all "survival of
>>the fittest" is still my moto. I have more mollies than I would have
>>purchased. Losing a couple is not all bad as it relieves some
>>congestion in my tanks, besides I have more young uns growing up.
>>
>>I just had some more mollies born yesterday, I hope the adults will
>>eat well, I just don't need more babies to survive.
>>
>>dick
>>
>
>Sounds to me like your problem with the Mollies is the lack of salt in their
>tank.
>You've added it to the quaranteen tank, why not to their regular tank?
>If you're going to keep them, why not give them what they need?

I choose to not make adjustments to my water. I have about 30 healthy
Mollies that are doing fine in what I give them. I have 5 tanks and I
don't want the hassle of trying to adjust water parameters. I don't
mind adding salt to the quarantine tank. It is only 10 gallons, but
once the mollies are past their problems, I will let the Q tank revert
to its saltless condition.

dick