Why is my Molly sitting at the bottom of the tank?

Category: pets fish and aquariums
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When a fish usually sits on the bottom for a long time, it is usually a sign of stress, exhaustion, water quality problems or in livebearers it could mean they are due to give birth.



Then, why is my molly fish laying at the bottom of the tank?

Oxygen Content. You may notice fish lying on the bottom of the tank more if the water is not aerated. This is likely to be a problem if the water is too warm or too cool. While cool water cannot absorb much oxygen, and water that is too warm will release more into the atmosphere.

Likewise, how do you know when a Molly is about to give birth? The Eyes of the Fry and Signs of Impending Birth A few days before delivery, she develops a bulge below the gills, her outline becoming fairly square in this region, while the gravid spot has enlarged its area.

In this manner, do Mollies sleep on the bottom?

It will come up for food and swim around sometimes but mostly stays on the bottom of the tank. It looks fine except it keeps its dorsal fin down.

Are Mollies bottom feeders?

3 Best Bottom Feeders Mates: They are known by algae eaters and also eat the food leftover in the tanks. But mollies can eat young shrimps if they have enough space to hide.

38 Related Question Answers Found

How do you treat a stressed fish?

One of these is the presence of any added chemicals or medications in the fish's tank. Make sure when treating a sick fish, he is properly quarantined first. Additionally, improper diet can cause stress. Make sure you know your fish's ideal diet and do your best to adhere to it.

How do you help a dying fish?

Part 2 Reviving Your Goldfish
  1. Identify symptoms of a dying goldfish.
  2. Look for symptoms in other fish.
  3. Remove the filter and treat the water.
  4. Treat the water with a heat and salt method.
  5. Feed your fish veggies and low protein foods.
  6. Excise parasites with tweezers.
  7. Use a commercial fish medication.

How do you know when a fish is about to die?

These are some of the most common signs of disease seen in pet fish:
  1. Appearing disoriented, such as swimming upside down.
  2. Leaving food uneaten.
  3. White spots on fins or body.
  4. Discolored gills.
  5. Trouble breathing such as gasping at surface of water.
  6. Bulging eyes (one or both)
  7. Mucus accumulation on the body.

Why is my fish floating but still alive?

Here's the reason behind a fish that floats upside-down, yet remains alive: The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. In some cases the fish will lay upside down or sideways on the bottom, unable to swim upwards.

How do I get more oxygen in my fish tank?


There are a variety of ways to increase aquarium oxygen, including;
  1. Get a pump and an air stone.
  2. Use a filter with a waterfall feature.
  3. Add more plants to your tank (the right ones).
  4. Decrease the number of fish in the tank.

Do fish float when they die?

Most fish are slightly denser than water, so sink immediately after death. However, like a drowned human, they become more buoyant over time as bacterial decomposition produces gases inside the body. Usually, enough gas builds up in body cavities to make the corpse float, like an inflated balloon.

Do fish sleep at the bottom of the tank?

Yes, Most fish sleep just off the bottom of the tank, floating and moving slightly in an upright position, 9-12 hrs. per day. There has to be some sleep time, for fish in your aquarium and since they don't close their eyes and lay down it's a little difficult to know when they do it.

Why do my molly fish keep dying?

If all of your water Parameters are testing zero, short of having a very highly planted tank with live plants, this indicates an uncycled tank. An uncycled tank can be the reason that your fish are dying. It's usually an issue of toxins that build up and cause the deaths of the fish.

Can fish die at the bottom of the tank?

If your fish is floating at the very top of the tank, he might be dead or he might be sick. If he is lying at the bottom of the tank in the substrate, he may also be dead. Observe your fish for any signs of life, including the movement of his gills as he breathes.

How do fishes sleep?


Fish do sleep with their eyes open, because they don't have eyelids (except for some sharks) to close! Most fish need to keep moving even when they're sleeping, so that they keep a constant flow of water moving past their gills to maintain a proper oxygen level in their bodies.

Why do my black mollies keep dying?

Very important to test water levels. If they are out of wack, fish will die. Seperate him, get a small tank. The beta wont kill fish its more than likely due to the aquarium being new and the mollies are just the first to go being the most sensitive to the ammonia (fish poop).

Do Mollies like fast flowing water?

A Mollie's True Nature
Mollies are not very aggressive, but can protect themselves, so they are suitable tank mates for almost all tropical community tank fish. Mollies, like Guppies, can be acclimated to full strength sea water.

How do Mollies sleep?

The simple answer is yes! They are sleeping, and they can sleep at any time during the day or night. Fish do sleep with their eyes open, because they don't have eyelids (except for some sharks) to close! For fish, sleep is more like a resting period similar to a daydream that humans might experience.

Why do all my fish stay in one corner?

Heat. While most quality aquarium heaters are good at disbursing heat in such a way that the water stays at a constant temperature, you may find fish hanging out on one side of the tank rather than another because they prefer the temperature.

How long is a Molly pregnancy?


As examples, the female swordtail and guppy will both give birth to anywhere from 20 to 100 live young after a gestation period of four to six weeks, and mollies will produce a brood of 20 to 60 live young after a gestation of six to 10 weeks.

What is a gravid spot?

A gravid spot is a darkly colored spot on female livebearers, situated just behind the anal fin. It grows larger during pregnancy, getting larger the closer a fish is to giving birth.