Expert: Lauren - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: Okay so I have 5 mollies in a 10 gallon tank. I have 2 dalmatian mollies, 2 black mollies, and 1 mix (creamsicle dalmatian mix). One of my dalmatians is a male, the rest are females.

I just brought the creamsicle and the female dalmatian home today. She was looking sickly at the pet store, but I couldn't leave her there, I felt bad for her.


She isn't showing any outward signs of illness (no fungus, no pointy scales, her fins are barely even pinched# she just looks sad, and has no energy. She has been laying under the heater all day.

She's not fat at all so I don't think she's pregnant.

What could this be?

She was at the pet store for about a month, and they don't take very good care of their fish #it's a pet food warehouse, in Canada) so I'm guessing that she's been a victim of poor water quality and poor care.

The other dalmatian molly was there for a long time too, and I can tell she's very pregnant, but she's perfectly fine.

The other mollies were from a second batch, just a few days ago.

She got a little excited when I put food in the tank, but she didn't really eat anything.

I would really appreciate the help! I'm worried about her.

ANSWER: sounds like what you said, like she has suffered poor care and nothing more, if she's showing no signs on any illness im sure she will perk up in a few days, but  woudldnt bring home ill ones in the future, if they do have anything they will pass it to ALL your fish and possibly kill them all..if you have a spare tank use that for your ill onees, keep them in there for a week by themselves (or with other ill ones) untill there fine then put them in the main tank..its also handy if any of the other fish get ill, you can seperate them without them getting picked on etc etc

good luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I moved her to another tank, and I put no rocks or any plants, since they are a breeding ground for bacteria.

She's looking worse today, when I woke up I thought she was dead, but when I went to scoop her out, she wiggled a little bit, then went limp and let the current push her and now she's just laying in the corner, but I can see her little side fins moving, and she takes a breath every once and a while.

The other fish are still fine; happy and active with a hearty appetite, but thank you for telling me to put her into another tank, I don't want my other fish getting sick.

She also didn't eat anything this morning?
Is there anything I can do to help her? Or is it too late?

Answer
its sounds as thought it may be too late..
sorry
was she like this before you moved her? and also did you use the water from the tank or fresh water when you moved her??
im sorry about the fish, good to hear about the rest doing grand though...
i think all thats made her loose her life is simple fish care..most petshops dont have a clue what their dealing with when it comes to fish...when i go i have to sex the fish for them, the ones i want to buy...like if i say a male yellow guppy etc they will be like can you show me  which is the male?..and there a reputal pet shop!..it really is sad...if only there were laws against fish abuse