What wrong with my molly fish???

Question

Hi, I have a molly fish in my tank that has sat at the top in the corner for 6 days now (no, she's not dead) she's still eating and occasionally changes the corner that she sits in but remains at the top of the tank. Apart from this strange behaviour she's showing no signs of distress, all other fish in the tank are fine. I have had the tank for a year now and have a good selection of fish (all compatible). The only other thing to note is that there is a guppy fish that constantly goes back and forth from the Molly to the rest of the tank. Could my Molly fish be pregnant? or is she on her last legs, hope not.
Thanks!
Kate

Hi guys, thanks for your help, not really had anything wrong with tank before think you might be right about the guppy as soon as I approach the tank he goes up to the Molly and appears offensive. Also just noticed that one of my platty's has a small sore on him that wasn't there yesterday so will get some sea salt tomorrow as there's obviously something going on in there, have watched and there doesn't appear to be any bullying going on. Thanks for help on this my husband is away for 7 months and has left me responsible for the tank (even though I did always seem to be cleaning it anyway!)

Answer 1

You don't say so, but I would bet the guppy you mention is a male. In either case though, I would suspect that the guppy is bullying the molly and keeping it from being able to swim the rest of the tank without being harassed.

Guppies are not known in the hobby for being mean fish, but in fact they can be quite mean. Usually though, the fish they are kept with are large enough or fast enough to avoid the guppy and it's nipping.

There is nothing you can do about this except to remove the offending guppy or possibly add a few more guppies. What to add would depend on the sex and the guppies you currently have in the tank and how much room you may have for additional fish.

MM

Answer 2

Well Kate, If she is still eating then she might be pregnant. If she stops eating then she is very sick. I put 6 tbsp of sea salt in a 29 gallon tank to help diseases and sickness. Also make sure you have more than 3 mollies because they are a grouping fish. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

i have had mollies for a while so i kind of know how they go about.

I would say to put a few more mollies in the tank if the "sick" one is the only one. If that doesny work you might want to put some mela fix in. Petsmart etc..

Good luck

Answer 4

If she were pregnant you would be able to see the egg pouch and she'd be spending a lot more time down by the bottom. Sometimes fish just get territorial and that's perfectly normal. She's chosen that part of the tank to be hers, and she just wants to hang out there. It's probably working out pretty well for her being near the top so she'll be sure to get food and not have to compete for it. As long as she is still able to swim normally and isn't floating at the very very top that sounds like perfectly normal behavior.

Answer 5

It could be a fungus developing mollies nip they would not cause as much damage as that they will fin and tail nip though. I would check your Ammonia and nitrite in your tank do a water change and add something to treat for a fungus .

Answer 6

umm it's might be sick get some stresscoat and put 2 teastspoon for each 10 gallon hope your fish feel better

Answer 7

Ours did that just b4 giving birth, at which point the babies were immediately eaten by the other fish in the tank.

Answer 8

Sounds to me to a conflict of dominance. Although you say all fish are compatible, this still occurs. Maybe you should try separating them.

Answer 9

It is afraid of the deep tank and wants to stay up maybe!!!!! lol

Answer 10

its dying