For about 24 hours now my female balloon molly has been sitting upside down on the bottom of my tank. She can swim if I try to net her, however as soon as I stop she goes back to the bottom upside down. All my tank levels are normal. Nothing has changed with feeding etc. There is 3 other balloon mollies (which are fine) as well as 2 angels, 4 platys, and a few other random community fish, as well as an algae eater. The tank is 90 gallons so there is LOTS of room. Any idea's?
Upside down balloon molly
- Thread starter cymic
- Start date
I can't get a picture tonight but I've had the molly(s) 4 weeks at least. The one I was talking about has actually passed on last night but I noticed when I went to turn the light out tonight another female is doing the same... 
I have mollies that have been in my tank over 4 months that have had no problems... so far. These are my "newer" additions. These were the last fish to be added.
I have mollies that have been in my tank over 4 months that have had no problems... so far. These are my "newer" additions. These were the last fish to be added.
Massive stress, mollies are known for this. Turn of the lights, dose with Melafix if possible. Also, put a little aquarium salt in there with her.
It's a balloon molly - i.e. deformed. It's to be expected that this sort of thing will happen.
I wouldn't recommend salt (I would NEVER recommend aquarium salt as it's pure con) without knowing a lot more about the other fish in the tank, the hardness and so on. If I did, I'd specify an actual salt level. "A little" is not, IMO, particularly helpful.
I wouldn't recommend salt (I would NEVER recommend aquarium salt as it's pure con) without knowing a lot more about the other fish in the tank, the hardness and so on. If I did, I'd specify an actual salt level. "A little" is not, IMO, particularly helpful.
I know. That's not the point. The points are (a) other fish may not respond well to salt, (b) "a little" is not a useful description for a quantity, and if it comes to it, (c) adding "aquarium salt", of unknown composition, does not brackish water make. There are only two kinds of NaCl based salt the aquarist need be interested in - marine salt and table salt. "Aquarium Salt" is just a means to separate you from your money by making you think you're buying something "special" and "safe".