dalmation molly sick or pregnant?

[Fishianado]

Need some help, my dalmation Molly has been hiding inside a cave like formation in my tank since this morning. I thought she was dead but when I went to get her with the net she swam away...she really didn't come out to eat much and what she did she just spit back out. When she goes back to the bottom and hides she looks dead. Anyone think it's sick or ready for babies? I really do like this one and would be a shame if I lost her.

thanks all.

[Xander]

Could you put up a picture of her? I don't keep livebearers, so I can't be certain on their behaviour, but hiding isn't often a good sign. Are her gills red? Does she look like she's gasping for air?

How often are you changing your water? When was your last water change? How much are you changing out at a time?
What are your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings (though I'm not sure if you picked up a test kit yet...)?

[Fishianado]

I will put up a picture of her as soon as I get home Xander. As for water changes I haven't done one yet, didn't think it needed one as the tank was staying nice and clear but I am now noticing debris sitting on the gravel...think I might need a clean up fish in there now. And no I haven't been able to get a test kit yet, spent all my available cash already.

[Xander]

You're gonna need to get to doing water changes asap. The clarity of your water does not change in the presence of ammonia/nitrates/nitrites. You must start up a water change schedule immediately, especially while you're cycling!

Even with fully cycled tanks and crystal clear water, I will change 25-30% of my tanks' water out every Saturday, without fail. More, if any of my chemicals are testing out of whack for whatever reason.

I'm gonna take a wild guess here and say that your molly is probably going through ammonia poisoning. The cure for this is water changes to bring ammonia down and good water flow to get lots of oxygen past her gills.

Remember that, in the wild, these tropical river fish are constantly having what they live in replenished by cleaner, fresher water from upstream. They don't have to deal with living in their own wastes! You'll want a good gravel vac (this will help clean up all the food waste on the bottom we were talking about not long ago!), and some dechlorinater to treat your water with (or else leave water out for a few days to age off the chlorine).

[Fishianado]

that's her hiding....saw what looked like my tiger barb was trying to take bites at her.

[Fishianado]

...and after we got her to come out.

[Andre]

Just because the water looks clear doesn't mean it clean.
That's the one thing all newcomers to the hobby need to learn.
An analogy that you can think of is this
Put yourself in a room and then a hose that is slowly pumping smoke into the room.
It might take awhile for the smoke to become apparent but it's in the room. Over time the room will fill up with smoke and the only way to clear the room is to open a window (water change).
Water change is something you need to commit to doing a minimum of 1 time a week or more depending on how many fish you have in your tank.

[Xander]

It is possible she is being bullied into hiding; as I mentioned before, tiger barbs are nasty little buggers who will nip at any long flowing fin they can get. They're really only suitable with species that will stand up for themselves and bully them back into their place.

It is also possible that, if she's sick, they may be sensing weakness and going on the attack.

[Fishianado]

ok, thanks Xander and Andre. I have a bucket of water that's been sitting outside for a few days to clear out any nasties in so I guess it will be a water change day....think I have enough to do a 25% change. Lets see how that goes.

[gabor129]

Jonathan water changes are necessary element of this hobby! They are the greatest at preventing any disease to set in as well as cure to many!
With that said, I think most likely the tiger barb is bullying the moly into hiding!