Hi, I'm a new aquarium owner, and pretty much clueless.. I've learned alot so far though, but I think that one of my fish is dieing, and I REALLY dont want that to happen, its really stressing me out.
I got my tank about month ago, its a five gallon. I have one Dalmatian lyretail molly, no idea if its a boy or girl, one black mystery snail, and one red wag swordtail, also clueless on the gender. When I first got them, everything seemed in line, they were all acting happy and normal. They gobbled up their food normaly, and swam everywhere. but lately, my Molly has been acting EXTREMELY different, and its terrifying me. Hes been hiding sticking in one spot for long periods of time, and actually started swim completely vertical. He refuses to eat, and doesnt even come up to kiss my finger anymore. He just stays in that one spot all day. My Swortail is acting just fine, minus the fact that he isnt really eating much either. I've looked up diseases, I think he may have nitrite poisoning.
I've honestly been doing a horrible job with the water until just recently because of my Molly's behavoir, and I didnt really know. I just did like a 50% water change, added a tablespoon of salt (I read that mollys like it..), and replaced my filter. I did a nitrite test, its very high. So is my nitrate, and I really dont know what to do.. My water temp. Changes from around 76-81 because of the light, since I keep it on during the day, and off at night. I keep spinach in the tank for my snail and molly. I also havent cleaned the gravel, because I'm clueless on how to do that. I know that my pH level is perfect.. Uhm.. I dont know if I can think of anything else that might help. I just really dont want my fish to do, anyone, please, give me some advice.
I got my tank about month ago, its a five gallon. I have one Dalmatian lyretail molly, no idea if its a boy or girl, one black mystery snail, and one red wag swordtail, also clueless on the gender. When I first got them, everything seemed in line, they were all acting happy and normal. They gobbled up their food normaly, and swam everywhere. but lately, my Molly has been acting EXTREMELY different, and its terrifying me. Hes been hiding sticking in one spot for long periods of time, and actually started swim completely vertical. He refuses to eat, and doesnt even come up to kiss my finger anymore. He just stays in that one spot all day. My Swortail is acting just fine, minus the fact that he isnt really eating much either. I've looked up diseases, I think he may have nitrite poisoning.
I've honestly been doing a horrible job with the water until just recently because of my Molly's behavoir, and I didnt really know. I just did like a 50% water change, added a tablespoon of salt (I read that mollys like it..), and replaced my filter. I did a nitrite test, its very high. So is my nitrate, and I really dont know what to do.. My water temp. Changes from around 76-81 because of the light, since I keep it on during the day, and off at night. I keep spinach in the tank for my snail and molly. I also havent cleaned the gravel, because I'm clueless on how to do that. I know that my pH level is perfect.. Uhm.. I dont know if I can think of anything else that might help. I just really dont want my fish to do, anyone, please, give me some advice.