My mollies have become scared!

cab3 · 07-27-2011, 08:57 PM

In the last week, my 20 gallon tank with several mollies in it have gone from being eager to see anyone in the family (rushing to the front corner of the tank when anyone went by) to now cowering in the back corner of the tank. When anyone walks by, they go absolutely nuts, swimming like mad, and kicking up tons of gravel, etc.

I'm at a loss as to what has caused this. We switched food flakes, but I couldn't imagine that made them that angry. In the past, they'd all swim up to the top of the tank when we would come to feed them. They've completely stopped that, and won't eat while anyones within sight.

Any ideas on what's happened? We're switching back to their other food flakes, as they seem to like the old ones better, and the new are terrible on my water quality.

Any suggestions will be quite welcome!

susankat · 07-27-2011, 09:21 PM

Sounds like their stressed. What is your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Numbers please not saying their fine will cut it.

How long has the tank been running?

cab3 · 07-27-2011, 09:35 PM

Ammonia was about .25ppm, nitrite was zero, nitrate was between 40-60ppm, before I did a 25% water change yesterday. The new food was terrible for the water quality, as most of it sank to the bottom rather than being eaten, resulting in the water quality.

The pH was about 6.5, but I added buffer to bring it back to neutral. I plan to get some pHup to get it to about 7.5-8.0.

Tank has been going for over a year now, with no issues. Had been having LOTS of babies in the tank, but that has slowed to nothing as well.

I'd love to test the salinity as well, since I know mollies like it a bit brackish, but don't have an easy way to do that. I was going to test again tomorrow evening after the water change has had a chance to level things out to see if I need to do it again.

Thanks!

susankat · 07-27-2011, 09:46 PM

Don't use ph up, it will just cause some ph swings which would be worse for the fish. Get some crushed coral to raise it.

07-27-2011, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
cab3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12 Location: St. Louis, MO Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	My mollies have become scared! In the last week, my 20 gallon tank with several mollies in it have gone from being eager to see anyone in the family (rushing to the front corner of the tank when anyone went by) to now cowering in the back corner of the tank. When anyone walks by, they go absolutely nuts, swimming like mad, and kicking up tons of gravel, etc. I'm at a loss as to what has caused this. We switched food flakes, but I couldn't imagine that made them that angry. In the past, they'd all swim up to the top of the tank when we would come to feed them. They've completely stopped that, and won't eat while anyones within sight. Any ideas on what's happened? We're switching back to their other food flakes, as they seem to like the old ones better, and the new are terrible on my water quality. Any suggestions will be quite welcome!

07-27-2011, 09:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,417 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: My mollies have become scared! Sounds like their stressed. What is your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Numbers please not saying their fine will cut it. How long has the tank been running? __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

07-27-2011, 09:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
cab3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12 Location: St. Louis, MO Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: My mollies have become scared! Ammonia was about .25ppm, nitrite was zero, nitrate was between 40-60ppm, before I did a 25% water change yesterday. The new food was terrible for the water quality, as most of it sank to the bottom rather than being eaten, resulting in the water quality. The pH was about 6.5, but I added buffer to bring it back to neutral. I plan to get some pHup to get it to about 7.5-8.0. Tank has been going for over a year now, with no issues. Had been having LOTS of babies in the tank, but that has slowed to nothing as well. I'd love to test the salinity as well, since I know mollies like it a bit brackish, but don't have an easy way to do that. I was going to test again tomorrow evening after the water change has had a chance to level things out to see if I need to do it again. Thanks!

07-27-2011, 09:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,417 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: My mollies have become scared! Don't use ph up, it will just cause some ph swings which would be worse for the fish. Get some crushed coral to raise it. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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