Mollie Help

Question
QUESTION: Hello again Lynda.  I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm the lady who had two surviving Mollies out of a batch of 6 different PetCo fish.  Well, I did get the 55gal tank, and I set it up and let it run for three weeks, and the two Mollies are still in the little tank.  I've got Danios in the 55gal right now, and they seem to be doing well.  I've been afraid to move the Mollies into the bigger tank, just afraid that something will go wrong and they'll die too (lol.) Over the last two days, I've noticed my male mollie has been looking pretty bloated.  I figured I was feeding them too much, and slowed down with it.  I think the female is pregnant, as she's been slowly getting round around her belly area over the last few weeks.  Well today, it looks like the poor male is bloated so bad he's about to burst.  His scales look like they're sloughing off on the top of his head, and his scales all around his belly are sticking out, not smoothed down close to his body like they were.  I noticed a few tiny bubbles hanging on his underside.  He's constantly "gulping" with his mouth, like he's eating food, but when I've put food in, only the female eats....he won't touch the food.

I checked the water with the test kit, and all the levels are within normal limits/ranges.  I had bought a second, completely different kit after the last go-round, in case the first one was just inaccurate, but all seems well with the water.  The temp has maintained at 78 degrees.  When I've added water, or done water changes, I've always let the new water sit out for 24-48 hours, and warmed it up (with a space heater lol) to 74-78 degrees, just so I wouldn't disrupt too much.

Should I move the two mollies into the larger tank, and just see where it goes??  I don't want to disrupt them too much, but I just don't know what's going on with the male, and if he's sick or there is something I can do to help, I'd like to give it a try at least.

Thanks for your help, yet again Lynda.  

Holly

ANSWER: Hi Holly,
I hate to tell you this but your male molly has Dropsy.  Dropsy is very hard to cure, almost impossible.   Dropsy can be due to constipation which leads to Swim Bladder Disease, and then Dropsy.  It can also be a Bacterial infection, trouble with his internal organs, his kidneys... it is very hard to pinpoint the reason why.  Try feeding him a cooked frozen pea.  Remove the outer layer, cut it into small pieces, and see if he will eat it.  I give all my fish frozen cooked peas once a week.  This cleans out their system, and prevents Swim Bladder Disease.  There are medications for Dropsy, but I don't believe that this can be cured.  You could try them, miracles do happen, but when the scales are risen, there is little hope.  I hate to tell you this.  I know how attached you are to your fish.
If the water in your 55 gallon has no ammonia, or nitrates in it, then put in your female molly who is not sick.  Also don't forget to add one teaspoon of aquarium salt to five gallons in your tank.  In your small tank, do not add salt.  Salt is not good when a fish has dropsy.
I would also like to mention, that even though you let the water sit for 24-48 hours, you still need to add a good water conditioner.  You must always use the same water temperature when adding new water to a tank.  A four degree difference is too much.  I use tap water, hot water to bring the temperature to the same degree as the water in my tanks, and a good water conditioner, and never had a problem.  I never let my water sit, as the conditioner is very good, and I don't know how I could do this with all the aquariums I have!!  I remove 25% of the water weekly, and this is a must for all fish tanks.   If you use a good water conditioner such as Stress Coat or AquaPlus, there is no problem.  
There is medicated food that you can buy for your Molly, and a good antibiotic.  I hope you save him, but chances are he will pass.  I'm sorry.
Lynda

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QUESTION: Hi Lynda

I had feared that's what it was, after reading up on it and seeing pictures of other fish that had it.  Poor lil guy!!  I will definitely start doing the cooked frozen peas, to hopefully avoid this happening again at all costs.  I feel a little silly for being so attached to a fish, but that's how I've been with all my pets, no matter the type.  I've heard a few different water conditioners recommended, which one do you recommend??

Also, do you think the female molly will stress after being moved to the big tank, on her own??  Do they grieve like humans and other pets do (that....I can blame on working at the vet for so long lol....I've seen my own pets go through it.)

Aye yi yi....I've still got so much to learn, but I think I can do it!!  Thanks so much for your help....and we'll see how things go with the lil guy.  He's swimming towards the top right now, and the female is at his side....lol it's sad!!  She's been following him around all morning.  I will definitely get more mollies someday....they're very spirited and fun to watch.  But I'll see how it goes with the female....hopefully she lasts.

Thanks again for all your help Lynda.

ANSWER: Hi Holly,
I'm stupid with fish too, and get so attached to them.  I do believe that they should always have fish of their own kind in a tank, and not be alone.  I would certainly get her a few females, and one other male.  A male molly should have 2-3 females.  It is sad that he might pass away.  Call me nuts but I do believe that some fish do greive, and follow their partner into death.  This happens with the South American Cichlids, I am positively sure.  I have had Angel fish follow each other into death.  Some Cichlids are partners for life, and do mourn.  I have had Angel Fish, Severums, etc. that when their mate died, they would no longer eat, and just let themselves go.  I buy other females or males for them, but no, nothing I do, or did, would snap them back again.  They just die.  Some fish are so intelligent, it's like if they have the 10 commandments in their head.  I kid you not!!  Take the Bettas, they are very small, with a brain the size of a little pea, and these fish are so intelligent, it boggles the mind!   Fish do have feelings, and they are not dumb...you will see.
I think your little female will be fine, but I would get her a few friends.  It's not good for her to watch the other molly dying, it will stress her.  The best thing to do now, it to go to that little pet store you mentioned to me, and buy her a few mollies, and put them in the big tank at the same time.  
Lynda

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QUESTION: Lynda,

You made me feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better about this whole thing!!!!  My fiance knows how I am with animals (since we moved from the big cities of Michigan to where he grew up, very very rural Kansas....I've brought home quite a few animals until I could find their parents, I've called animal control when I saw an injured animal that I knew was in shock and needed to be put out of its absolute misery....etc.) but he doesn't understand lol.  His mother has seen it in me, as their neighbors raise cattle, and I've volunteered quite a few times to help with vaccinations and feeding and raising bucket calves....and she understands and appreciates it.  I know how so many people say fish are so stupid and simple minded....but there are people who say that about dogs, and I swear my two pit bulls and my lab/husky mix are some of the smartest dogs on the planet lol.  And for some reason, I don't know if it's because they were part of the first fish I got, and the last two out of that go round that have lasted this long, but I'm attached to those two mollies.  The danio's are fun to watch, but I always end up watching the mollies.  I remember helping so many dog and cat owners through rough times, helping them find another friend for their other pets....and I remember explaining to quite a few naysayers how pets grieve.  I feel bad for both of the mollies....I went out and got some frozen peas, cooked them, and mashed them on my finger....they both swam right up and ate right off my finger.  He's really really trying, but he didn't get a whole lot.

Lol.  I'm sorry, some just chalk it up to me being an emotional female.  And it usually has to do with animals.  Well, we're going to head to town here in a little while and get a few mollies so she's not alone.  I wish there was some way I could make him comfortable until the inevitable happens....lol.  That vet part of me will never die, I can see that.

Thanks again, so very much Lynda.  It's nice to know there are still people like me that exist in this world.  I'll let you know how things go with the tale of the mollies lol.

Answer
OMG...  when it comes to animals, you have met your match!!  I have had cats, and dogs, birds, turtles, and you name it all of my life.  One of my  "X's" bred goldens, and even though they were the best kept dogs you would ever see, and loved like no others, I would go nuts if one little baby died.  I left him...honest to God, I could not take it.  We had acres of land outside of the city, up North about 60 miles from Montreal.  Every single week some poor stray dog arrived at our doorstep.  Someone had just left him in the woods to die.  I would go totally bananas.  We would call the S.P.C.A. and then you know what happens to these poor animals.  Heartbreaking!  My last dogs were a Tecel, and a Golden.  The Golden died of cancer, and I had to give my Tecel to a good friend because I could not leave her alone, and the lawyer I was working for got a little peeved off when I would bring her to work with me, as she would sit, and growl, and growl at him.  lol  I've had German Shepperds, Terriors, Bulldogs, Mutts, and tons of cats!  I fed 6 feral cats this winter, poor things, I wonder how they made it in -50 weather.  I couldn't get them into the house, only one finally came in, but not for long.  He follows me to the kitchen where I can pet him for a few seconds, but that is all he lets me do.  He is a beauty, all black with blue eyes.  One of my cats has freakn' fits, she won't have anything to do with them.  I found her on a busy highway, wouldn't you know it, the car in front of me threw her out the window!  I could go on, and on, and on...When it comes to animals, I'm there, and if I'm not, they find me!  I also fed a skunk all winter.  He made his home under my veranda.  I can pet him, but he is big now, and my hubby says he goes, or he will leave- hahaha...threats!  I'm use to them now, he can use the front door!  The neighbours think I'm crazy of course, but who cares...I love animals.
When you go to the pet store, get her, another female, and a male.  The pet store owners can tell the difference.
Lynda