Put him out of his misery???

[CareBear3030]

I accidentally posted this in the wrong forum so I am reposting it here. Any help is appreciated!

Well I am offically loosing my first fish. My tank is about 3 weeks into cycling and my ammonia is 0, but my nitrates are peaking. I have a dalmation molly that has been hanging at the top of the tank for the past day or so and not being very active. Well now the other dalmation molly is nipping and chasing him and seems to be helping him out of his misery. I think it will be a matter of hours before he is dead. Now he is swimming sideways. Should I just go ahead and end his misery, or let nature take its course. If I end his misery then I think...well what if he would have pulled out....but yet I feel sorry for the poor thing suffering. So what do I do??

Actually another question.....the dalmation that is picking on the other is pregnant. And she is not only bothering the one that seems to be dying, but she is flying around the tank as if shes on crack. I have no other way to explain it. She is flying around in and out. Much more active than normal. Is she ready to have her babies, or is she possibly the sick one and killed the other one?

 

[jsoong]

Clarification: Do you mean Nitrites peaking or really mean nitrates?

I ask because after the ammonia went to 0, the next thing to rise is nitrites. Also, fish hanging out at top of tank sounds like nitrite posioning.

If it is nitrite, I would suggest water change to bring level down. Also, add salt to protect fish from nitrites. Actually, mollies do better with a bit of salt anyway.

I would suggest trying that before putting the fish down.

 

[Allivymar]

*nods and agrees with jsoong*

Nitrates won't have that sort of effect unless they are REALLY high; I too guess you mean nitrites.

Salt is the treatment for nitrite poisoning; the chloride ions compete with the nitrite ions at the gills and keeps the fish from suffocating.