I need help. I have been trying to figure it out by myself but fish diseases are so hard to diagnose.
My adult mollies are acting strange. Loss of appetite, they scatter and hide whenever some one enters the room (they used to swim around the glass begging for food), they stay in hiding (I observed from afar), and are extremely inactive. I can't tell if there are any physical symptoms or if I'm just imagining them because I'm trying to figure it out, so let's say none for now.
My chemistry was last checked on Wednesday (yesterday) using an
API Master
test kit and
ammonia was 0,
nitrite was 0,
nitrate was 30, and
pH was 7.5.
I did a 10%
water change on Sunday (on Sunday they had a normal appetite but were still scattering whenever I entered the room, they would come out to eat but run and hide again anytime I made movement), a 50% water change on Tuesday, a 20% water change today and I plan on doing a 20% on Saturday. The days inbetween, I check chemistry.
Tank inhabitants are 1 Peppered Cory (fine), 3 Dalmation Molly's (sick), 2 Creamcicle Molly's (sick), 1 Silver Molly (sick), 1 Apple Snail (who knows), and about 40 or so Molly Fry (fine). All the adult Molly's are females. Also in the tank is Java Moss, Java Fern, Flame Moss, and Waterlilly, in case it matters.
I thoroughly cleaned my gravel when I did the 50% WC but there wasn't much there. A few dead molly fry unfortunately but very little debris as I have a thin layer of gravel (sure that sucks for my waterlilly but helps keep the tank clean). Since Ammonia didn't kick in, I ruled that out as the cause although my water was stinking.
I though maybe constipation, but the more I look at them, the more I'm seeing things that might not be there like; Is that a white film on my Dalmation or was her white spots always dull? or Is their head supposed to be flat like that or is something wrong? With great certainty though, I can say that my Silver Molly has something black on the top of her head. It looks like a piece of dirt or something stuck to her head. She's the only one who has that but if it helps you help me then there it is.
Also, does anybody know what Molly Bright is? I have it but I don't know if it's medication or some type of vitamin or what. Does it harm the beneficial bacteria? Does it require the removal of the Carbon? Should I use it as needed or to prevent problems? I can't find any good info on it and the labeling is far from helpful.
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