tired molly

[psychphish]

Black molly, in tank since Jan 08 when it was first set up, less active, losing weight, poor appetite. no other sick fish, his partner alive and well and bossing him around. He's been looking like this for about 2 weeks or more.
Any ideas? thanks

[Alfcea]

Is he old?

[Sounguru]

Does he have the shimies?

Try upping the temp to 82 and adding a little salt if you haven't already.

[psychphish]

Thanks for your replies.
I don't know how old he is, at least as old as my tank - less than one year.
His female partner has never had babies (unlike the platys, that I now have several generations of) The only other thing I noticed is that he'll eat a little, then hang around with his lips pursed. He seems to search the bottom of the tank for food. So he acts hungry, but then doesn't eat much.

[Gayle]

Do you think anything is going on that may have stressed him out? Like maybe when he eats up at the top he gets chased away?

[psychphish]

Thanks Gayle, I think he is getting chased away by his bigger female counterpart, but something has happened to weaken him to begin with. He used to be the boss of her. And even if food floats down from the top, he doesn't seem to go after it. Or, if he does have access to some of the flakes, he just spits them out. He is eating a little, he just has shruken in size.

[Gayle]

How is the water? It really sounds like either stress, or old age.

[psychphish]

I believe stress is the answer.
The tank was overpopulated with 'teenage' platys that I hadn't given away yet. I believe he was being chased away and was stressed. i'm hoping that's the answer.

[Gayle]

Good luck! I hope he gets better soon!