My is Molly is Dying! Please Help!!

Velvet and Skin Ulcer on Dalmatian molly

I recently posted a week or so ago about some issues I have had in my tank (10 gallon). Since then I have gotten a 20 gallon tank which currently house a Dalmation molly and a red wag platty. I still still all the guppies in the 10 gallon tank (3 males). I have been able to get a hold of the water issues now with the bigger fish moved to the larger tank (previous ammonia issues). I am not sure if my molly and platty have velvet (gold,yellowish flakes). I have had both for 2-3 weeks and I think the molly always had these spots ever since. another issue the molly just got recently was a skin ulcer formed.

These are the spots I am referring to. I have been told that possibly it could just be the pigment the molly may have naturally, but I am not sure. I treated the ten gallon tank a week ago for ich and removed it with mardel's maracide, but these spots were always there. I don't really see the molly scratching on things at all, however, I do notice she breathes sometimes a little accelerated at times with her mouth open. She still eats and swims everywhere so I am not sure what to make of it. The platty has some of these little spots as well however far less and smaller. He still eats and appears fine (sorry can't get of picture of him, always moving). My molly also appears to have a skin ulcer.
This was five days ago. I thought it was healing fairly well as yesterday it appear as this.
However, this morning the ulcer appeared slightly larger and more red so I am not sure what to do. I began treating the tank with mardel's maracide two days ago and also melafix. I searched the forums and have seen contradicting info wheather these two can be used together. My impression was that melafix is an organic tonic, but I have spoken to people at the pet stores and recommended not to use the two together, so I didn't add the dose of melafix yesterday. However, it appears my molly's ulcer appears slightly worse. Today would be the second dose added of the maracide (on the 1st,3rd, and 5th day), but I have yet to do it. I am not sure wheather these two maracide and melafix can be used together and or weather I should treat the ulcer first with melafix then treat the velvet (it that's what it is). Please any help is greatly appreciated as I don't want my molly to get worse with time as I am not sure what to do. I have also read that velvet could cause skin ulcers as well, so any clarification would be helpful.
thank you

 

Good morning,

Hopefully you will receive some helpful information today. Best wishes for your fish!

Ken

 

Velvet! Please HELP!

HI everyone,
I have had issues with a 10 gallon several weeks ago that housed 3 guppies, a platy, and molly, however, I was having issues with controlling the ammonia. Since then (3 weeks ago) I moved the molly and platy to a new 20 gallon tank that has a biowheel, led light (with moonlight as well, blue led's), a large airstone. The tank also has several live plants, two swords, and a moss ball. I have been able to get the ammonia under control now in both tanks, following advice from several post I had placed before. I have used tss and prime, now in both tanks ammonia is 0-0.25, 0 nitrites, and less than 20 nitrates in the ten gallon. While in the 20 gallon has less than 5 nitrates.
Two days ago I noticed my molly was very lethargic, so I did several waters changes the following days (including today, 25% each time). I noticed the ammonia had gotten up to 0.5 (I believe I may have been overfeeding, I used prime as well as aquarium salt. I noticed she is becoming more active, but still she has moments where she will just sit in place in the middle of the tank or on the bottom. She is most of the time slightly pointed up. Her tail and head are normally not horizontal, her tail is now kept slightly lower than her head, I believe referred to as tail standing. My dalmatian molly has had these gold spots (look like little flakes, reflective as well) on her head, but she appeared to be fine until recently. I have spoken to several people at my local fish store and I was told it was possibly just the natural pigment of those scales as this type molly is normally bred from a molly that is yellow in color. However, as soon as I noticed the lethargic nature that my molly has I began to notice some of the scales on her head are slightly raised.
In the picture you can see these raised up scales behind her right eye (very hard to tell). She has also had an ulcer (by her right gill) for almost two weeks. I have been treating with melafix and it has been healing (first week of treatment ended four days ago, Sunday). When I first notice the 0.5 ammonia two days the ulcer appeared to have some cottony stuff on and I began adding the melafix again. Next day the cottony stuff was not there but the ulcer appeared to have gotten slightly larger.
I also was beginning to suspect that these gold flakes were not just scale color pigment as I did what I have seen as a light test. Where the room and tank is made dark and flashlight is used to look at the fish. I noticed when I did this she had these gold spots on other areas on her body and under these raised scales on her head it appeared to be gold in color as well. I so worried now cause if this is velvet it went several weeks untreated. Today I bought some maracide and also rid ich plus. I have heard good news about rid ich plus, however, I just noticed that it doesn't say it would specifically treat velvet. I notice both have malachite green, which from what I understand treats velvet. Today I began treating with the maracide (first dose) as I know I need to treat promptly. I just feel so mislead by the people I spoke to before and I afraid this velvet is at an advanced stage. I also turned off the lights on both tanks too, I just checked the 10 gallon tank as well and I believe my guppies may have one or two of these gold flakes too. I am just so frustrated with how things are going as the last thing I want to do is have my fish ill. Any advice to fight velvet I would greatly appreciate. So far I began the maracide today, turned off the lights, added aquarium salt, melafix as well (help with the ulcer). I am not sure whether I use a copper based treatment (coppersafe) or perhaps the rid ich plus instead. I know the copper treatments could harm the fish as well. All my fish are still eating and my molly is constantly picking at the plants and ornaments (I believe eating algae on those things) so I think there is still hope. My molly has also became quite aggressive toward the platy at feeding times. This is new and I didn't realize this till a couple of days ago. When food is around she will try to drive the platy away to eat everything herself. Again I would love to hear any advice. Thank you!

Please any help! One worry I have is how do I tell if my fish perhaps has wasting disease?




These are several s of my molly. I have been occupied with the ulcer and the perhaps velvet I haven't really been noticing any weight loss. I am not sure but she looks skinny to me. What you all think? I have been looking at possible other diseases, cause I really don't see her flashing at all, which I thought would occur with external parasites. Does think make any sense? Would wasting disease show these same symptoms. I have noticed on both the platy and molly, sometimes stringy poop. The molly poop most of the time looks green, but once in a while the poop is green with some clear areas. I am only feeding once a day in the morning (since I was having issues with the ammonia (possible feeding too much at once some food fell to the bottom of the tank). Again any help or ideas or information I would love to hear. I am just torn on what to do any ideas or opinions would help greatly.

 

Some fish don't flash. Have you treated the tank for velvet? And if so, was there any change in her behavior?

As a side note, your posts will be easier to read and therefore receive more responses if you separate into paragraphs. A lot of users have trouble reading posts without separation, myself included.

 

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/looks-like-starvation-can-it-be.115744/
(see post #21 and #24)



I have moved your thread from Freshwater Beginners to Freshwater Fish Disease section of the forum.

Best wishes for your fish!

Ken

 

Thanks for your replies!!! I am so sorry about the congestion in my first post. I am just worried about my fish. I have been battling to get my fish healthy ever since I began having fish (roughly 2-3 months ago). I have lost several guppies (three) in the very beginning since I started. Every time I feel like I solved one thing something else pops. I am just demoralized with everything.

I can put up my initial post so it easier to read.

 

Good morning,

I have merged your duplicate threads to prevent confusion among members. Please only create 1 thread per topic. I've also merged some of your other threads.

Thanks!

Ken

 

Repost

HI everyone,

I have had issues with a 10 gallon several weeks ago that housed 3 guppies, a platy, and molly, however, I was having issues with controlling the ammonia. Since then (3 weeks ago) I moved the molly and platy to a new 20 gallon tank that has a biowheel, led light (with moonlight as well, blue led's), a large airstone. The tank also has several live plants, two swords, and a moss ball. I have been able to get the ammonia under control now in both tanks, following advice from several post I had placed before. I have used tss and prime, now in both tanks ammonia is 0-0.25, 0 nitrites, and less than 20 nitrates in the ten gallon. While in the 20 gallon has less than 5 nitrates.

Two days ago I noticed my molly was very lethargic, so I did several waters changes the following days (including today, 25% each time). I noticed the ammonia had gotten up to 0.5 (I believe I may have been overfeeding, I used prime as well as aquarium salt. I noticed she is becoming more active, but still she has moments where she will just sit in place in the middle of the tank or on the bottom. She is most of the time slightly pointed up. Her tail and head are normally not horizontal, her tail is now kept slightly lower than her head, I believe referred to as tail standing.

My dalmatian molly has had these gold spots (look like little flakes, reflective as well) on her head, but she appeared to be fine until recently. I have spoken to several people at my local fish store and I was told it was possibly just the natural pigment of those scales as this type molly is normally bred from a molly that is yellow in color. However, as soon as I noticed the lethargic nature that my molly has I began to notice some of the scales on her head are slightly raised. (picture wouldn't reload, but is up above) In the picture you can see these raised up scales behind her right eye (very hard to tell). She has also had an ulcer (by her right gill) for almost two weeks. I have been treating with melafix and it has been healing (first week of treatment ended four days ago, Sunday). When I first notice the 0.5 ammonia two days the ulcer appeared to have some cottony stuff on and I began adding the melafix again. Next day the cottony stuff was not there but the ulcer appeared to have gotten slightly larger.(again picture doesn't want to reload, but up above)

I also was beginning to suspect that these gold flakes were not just scale color pigment as I did what I have seen as a light test. Where the room and tank is made dark and flashlight is used to look at the fish. I noticed when I did this she had these gold spots on other areas on her body and under these raised scales on her head it appeared to be gold in color as well. I so worried now cause if this is velvet it went several weeks untreated. Today I bought some maracide and also rid ICH plus. I have heard good news about rid ich plus, however, I just noticed that it doesn't say it would specifically treat velvet. I notice both have malachite green, which from what I understand treats velvet. Today I began treating with the maracide (first dose) as I know I need to treat promptly. I just feel so mislead by the people I spoke to before and I afraid this velvet is at an advanced stage. I also turned off the lights on both tanks too, I just checked the 10 gallon tank as well and I believe my guppies may have one or two of these gold flakes too. I am just so frustrated with how things are going as the last thing I want to do is have my fish ill. Any advice to fight velvet I would greatly appreciate. So far I began the maracide today, turned off the lights, added aquarium salt, melafix as well (help with the ulcer).

I am not sure whether I use a copper based treatment (coppersafe) or perhaps the rid ich plus instead. I know the copper treatments could harm the fish as well. All my fish are still eating and my molly is constantly picking at the plants and ornaments (I believe eating algae on those things) so I think there is still hope. My molly has also became quite aggressive toward the platy at feeding times. This is new and I didn't realize this till a couple of days ago. When food is around she will try to drive the platy away to eat everything herself. Again I would love to hear any advice. Thank you!

Thanks for your links to some valuable info! Also, will do on the posting on new threads.

I read all three of the links and I am somewhat leaning towards the velvet still. I just checked on my fish using the flasklight test again, and she has gold in almost every part of her body, even on her tail fin!

I did notice one or two gold specks on a fake plant I have. From what I understand the parasites attach to the fish then when they become quite large fall off to replicate. So I think these might be those that have fallen off.

She also does have rapid gill movement from time to time. She doesn't really open her mouth while she is doing this, but you can see the gills moving pronouncedly.

Also from the info sent to me both diseases can lead to weight loss. Also, I wonder if I am not helping the situation by possibly underfeeding. I feed once per day, roughly all the food they can eat in two minutes. I use to do two times day, but when all five fish were in the ten gallon tank and cut back to help reduce the ammonia problem I was having. Perhaps, should I go back to that since these fish are larger (molly and platy)?

From the link about the wasting disease one common trend I see is that they stop eating. My molly always wants to eat. General trend (even just now, just fed), I turn off the air stone I have in the tank (help prevent food from moving allover the place). The fish immediately come to the surface looking for food (I believe they have become accustomed to this). I really don't see any features of her skeleton (from what was shown in the link), also I just hope it doesn't come to that.

Some fish don't flash. Have you treated the tank for velvet? And if so, was there any change in her behavior?

As a side note, your posts will be easier to read and therefore receive more responses if you separate into paragraphs. A lot of users have trouble reading posts without separation, myself included.

I just started the maracide yesterday, earlier in the day. She seemed fine, she spends most of the day pecking at the plants, ornaments and rocks (substrate). I believe she does things looking for algae on these things.

I added the dose of melafix later in the day (second dose of seven day treatment), then I noticed around 6-7 ish pm that she was just kinda swimming in place or sitting on the bottom. When she does this head is slightly above her tail (she isn't horizontal). I also notice when this is occurring she is normally pooping as you can see the tail of poop hanging off of her. I am not sure if that is some indication of something or not.

I also have a extra ten gallon tank just filled with distilled water. My plan is that I am going to use this as sick tank. It has a heater and filter however, since if doesn't have any fish what so ever it doesn't have any cycle. So I have been hesitant to use it thus far.

My plan was to add an extra filter floss to each of my running tanks (10g with 3 guppies, 20 gallon with platy and molly) to have something to use to seed the sick tank, but with the issues I have been having lately. It has been a constant cycle of carbon in then carbon out, then carbon it again.

I do have some TSS still (brand new bottle). I am not sure whether I should just relocate the molly (worse condition) to the sick tank with TSS added and use something like coppersafe, which I heard is quite good for velvet? However, I am not sure whether I should just treat the entire tank (10g and 20g, I believe guppies may have as well they were in the same tank not to long ago) with coppersafe (of course romoving maracide and water change) since it is very possible the parasites are just sitting in the tank (gold specks on fake plant I see).

I am worried that perhaps what if I am wrong about the wasting disease not being the culprit. I have some parasite guard which is good to remove external parasites and internal parasites, but from what I understand is that it is not effective against velvet so I have held off on it. Parasite guard would help with the wasting disease. Maracide clearly says on the instructions NOT TO USE WITH OTHER PARASITE MEDICATIONS, so I am at a lost on my path of action.

Also has anyone used coppersafe? From my reading copper is hard to get out of a tank and is very toxic to the fish, but coppersafe claims to be a safe version that can be also removed with waterchanges. My first thought was the use of coppersafe, but I am just afraid that it may hurt my fish as well. However, I think the molly is possibly at an advanced stage that perhaps it might the only think that could help. I believe the copper can actually kill the parasite on the fish where others noncopper based treatment cannot and only kill the free swimming parasites. (after reading some I believe it can kill the parasite in free swimming stage as well)

Sorry about all these questions. I am just worried about my little molly.

Update:
My Mollie seems very lethargic again. Ever since I added the melafix yesterday she had been this way. Maybe I just over loaded the tank with chemical and she can't deal with it.

I think she is doing the live bearer shimmy. From what I understand is from lack of certain minerals in the water. I know mollies like brackish water and I'm not if aquarium will do that. Can someone please clear this up for me could I just use my aquarium or do I need some marine salt.

I plan to do a partial water change when I get home and add some aquarium salt to dilute all the chemicals I have in the tank right now before my second dose of maracide tomorrow. I don't believe I'm going to continue with the melafix at the moment until the maracide treatment. Again any ideas I would greatly appreciate.

Please Help!

Hey everyone,
I actually didn't do the water change yesterday. My thinking was to just complete the maracide treatment so today will be the second dose of three doses (given every other day). My molly is more active today. She is pecking at things again and swimming around. I checked her for gold spots using a flashlight. I believe there are less on her. I am using her tail fin as a reference as it had a bunch of these yellow/gold dots on it, but now it appears to be less.

I fed all my fish and she is eating. I am glad she loves food cause as soon I turn off the air stone she swims to the top waiting for food. After eating she went again to pecking at the things in the tank.

Her gills still rapidly move which frightens me.

After feeding I checked on the tank an hour later, and I just didn't she her anywhere. I eventually turned on the lights to the tank and still couldn't find her. Until I looked near the bottom of the filter that is in the tank and there she was. She was stuck to the bottom of the filter (bottom half of her bottom body). I got so scared I thought she was gone. I turned off the filter and she swam away, and I placed some fake plants around the filter to prevent that again.

I guess she just couldn't swim away from it (not strong enough). But now she is still swimming around pecking at the plants and things in the tank.

PLEASE HELP!! ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS. MAYBE EVEN COMMENTS WHETHER I AM DOING WHAT I CAN TO MAYBE I AM DOING SOMETHING INCORRECTLY. JUST ANY INPUT WOULD HELP ME. THANKS.

I am sorry about posting a new thread about my fish (previous is velvet and ulcer on molly). But my little molly has gotten to the point that I don't know what to do.

I have been treating the tank for velvet (maracide, today is 5th and last day of treatment) and adding melafix everyone other day (molly has an ulcer). I think the velvet is slowly going away, but my molly is getting super thin.

She has been eating all this time so I thought she would pull through, but today she actually looked disinterested in the food.

I fear she may have some internal parasite, but maracide clearly states not to do any other parasite medications while doing this one. Her poo at times looks green little bits with in a clear string. I began soaking her food in parasite guard yesterday and she was still eating in the morning. Later on in the day I bought kanaplex, Metronidazole, garlic guard, and focus. Last night I gave her a food that was soaked in Metronidazole, garlic guard, and focus and she ate. But almost all day yesterday besides the morning she was just floating slightly tilted near the surface of the water.

This morning I checked on her and she looks THIN! I think you can see the shape of the spine especially in her tail. She is also swimming very oddly. she is like waddling like a penguin (I am sorry it doesn't make sense) maybe cause looks top heavy.

I made food soaked in kanaplex, Metronidazole, garlic guard, and focus. I added the kanaplex which I have heard is great. But she ate a small amount and then would just spit the food out. She is also swimming very lethargic worse than before!

I was always banking on the fact that she always wanted to eat like a pig that she would pull through, but now after this morning I am heartbroken. I don't know what to do and I am afraid I may lose her. :-[
:'(

PLEASE HELP EVERYONE! I FEAR THE WORSE FOR HER NOW!

Videos of My sick molly yesterday morning and last night.

Video of molly yesterday morning after feeding. She was looking active and I thought things were going to up from there.

Video of Molly Last night

Video of molly last night. I think you can see the gold spots (velvet I think). You can also the the raised scales and indenctions aournd her head. You can also see the weird swimming and tilted nature she has now. She was basically do this the rest of the day.

Again Please Help! :'( :'(

 

i'd take her out and put her in a different tank. she might infect your other fish

 

i'd take her out and put her in a different tank. she might infect your other fish

Yeah you right. What could be wrong with her? I have came to the conclusion of velvet with/or hole in the head and internal parasites. Could these things be it?

Just an update.

I did a large water change (50%) and ran my carbon for several hours to remove the maracide. I don't think maracide was helping. I spoke to several people at the largest fish distributor and fish supplier in my area and strongly recommended Seachem's paraguard for the velvet since my tank is planted and it will also help preventing any secondary infections. Also to keep doing the food soaked in food and recommended spirulina flakes mixed with my regular flakes in the med food mix.

I began paraguard yesterday, and I attempted to feed my fish the previous med food mix (without kanaplex) and she ATE!! I guess she didn't like the kanaplex.

I have been feeding her a mix of the focus, metronidazole, and garlic guard to a flake mix of cobalt spirulina flakes and apI community fish flakes. She is actually eating this.

She has been slightly more active, I hope she can recover.

 

Merged threads.
It's easier for everyone if all the info is in one place.

I'm sorry, I really don't know what is wrong with your fish.

I would like to clarify some things though.
It sounds like you are mixing meds but not completing the treatment as indicated on the instructions.
(maracide, melafix kanaplex, Metronidazole and gathering from your other thread about the guppy lifeguard)

This is a pretty big assault on the fish, throwing meds at something that you are not sure of.

It's very hard to watch a sick fish and not know exactly how to treat.

 

Merged threads.
It's easier for everyone if all the info is in one place.

I'm sorry, I really don't know what is wrong with your fish.

I would like to clarify some things though.
It sounds like you are mixing meds but not completing the treatment as indicated on the instructions.
(maracide, melafix kanaplex, Metronidazole and gathering from your other thread about the guppy lifeguard)

This is a pretty big assault on the fish, throwing meds at something that you are not sure of.

It's very hard to watch a sick fish and not know exactly how to treat.

Lucy,
I thank you for merging my threads, and again I apologize for posting multiple threads. I am new to fish and I am still trying to adjust to how to keep them as I have always had dogs (RIP Banjo, and Luna). I am a huge animal lover and at the sign of any distress I always worry.

I understand your worry about me just bombarding my fish with medicine. I can assured you I have not been mixing meds. Apart from I have added melafix with treating with maracide. People at my pet store tell me it is all natural and is fine to add during treatment with maracide. However, speaking to other people and they don't recommend to mix anything at all even melafix. I see there is conflict with that so I just stopped doing it since I am not sure.

I got the platy and molly at the same time about a month in a half to two months ago, and placed in a ten gallon with three guppies originally. My molly I noticed had these gold spots on her head since then. I was a little concerned about it, but everyone was doing fine. I began to have ammonia spikes in ich broke out within a couple days of adding my two fish. I treated with maracide (first time) for the recommended time (fives days) and got rid of the ich.

Maracide is suppose to treat velvet as well and after treatment the gold spots on my molly's head were still there. I asked people at my pet store and they told me it could be possible its just her natural pigment as Dalmatian mollys are made from breeding a molly that is yellow in color.

I removed the ich, but I was still having ammonia spikes and like two days after the completed maracide treatment my guppies got real sick. Tail clamp, fin rot, and swim bladder. Since it was a lot of things I got lifeguard which says it is a broad spectrum treatment. I follow and completed the treatment and my guppies got better.

However I was still having ammonia issues so I got a new 20 gallon tank and I rehoused my platy and molly and used TSS to help with cycling both tanks. But my molly developed an ulcer at a certain spot were some gold spots have appeared on her left side of her face. I was treating with melafix to help it. At this time both tanks I had the ammonia under control (finally). The ulcer was about cured (almost completely healed), but I had a small ammonia spike and it just opened back up. I was still worried about the gold spots and did the flash light test and noticed the molly also had some of these spots all over her body and the platy did as well. I began with maracide (second time) and was doing the treatment but I also noticed that my molly scales looked like they were kinda being scratched off (some lifted a little on her head), and she was getting thin. I noticed maracide really wasn't helping them, and like you said I am not sure what's going on so I stopped the treatment a day earlier than recommended. Also I remembered that these spots (on head) were there even with first round of maracide in the ten gallon. I bought coppersafe and copper test kit (have not used at all), as I am frightened at the idea that the med could do more harm than good.

I spoke to several people at the pets stores and I eventually went to the largest fish store and fish supplier in my region. I showed them my videos of the molly I posted and told them my story basically. I was strongly recommended the Seachem Paraguard, which I was told is a broad spectrum treatment of parasites, fungus, and baterial infections, since we are not really sure what's going on externally with them, and would also help with the ulcer. For the weight loss, (along with thick clear stingy poo) I was recommended the focus, Metronidazole, and garlic guard combo for any possible internal bacterial or parasitic infections. I was told you soak your food in the Metronidazole (antiparasitic and antibacterial), focus (helps bind to food), and guarlic guard (mask the smell of the meds so fish will eat). I also found this thread in the forums as well.

I got the kanaplex as well (antibacterial) which can be used in food soak, but my fish wouldn't eat it (used once in food), I rather have her eat than not eat so I am no longer using it.

This were I am currently, I have noticed she is a little more active she hasn't been sitting on the bottom like I showed in the video since. Her poo looks a little more normal (thin colored sting), but at times still looks clear in some parts.

Please if any of this sounds incorrect please let know. Any info or help I will greatly appreciate. Anything to help my fish get better.

 

Mollies are such wonderful fish, especially since the easiest way to treat them against parasites and bacteria infections is to change the specific gravity of the tank. Get some ocean salt, a hydrometer(refractometer better), up your specific gravity to 1.010 over the next couple days.

WARNING This will crash your nitrogen cycle. Water changes will be required as ammonia buildup dictates.

Changes of more than 0.002 a week will kill off the beneficial bacteria and you will have to restart your cycle. It also kills off most other bacteria and parasites, but your fish will be fine with it. Using Methylene blue baths will help healing and clear up the infection that persists. It is also good for ammonia poisoning, if you let the ammonia build up too much. Draw aquarium water into a small container or bag, then double dose the Methylene blue, 30 min bath, twice a day. It will stain the fish blue wherever there are gaps in the slime coat(injuries). This will also show you the extent of his infection.

DO NOT ever do this with a regular freshwater fish. This will only work with hardy brackish water fish, like the molly. If you do it with any freshwater fish, you WILL kill it. This is a radical treatment option since it kills off your beneficial bacteria. After you recycle your tank, you can lower your Specific gravity 0.002 a week, but I would not drop it below 1.002-4. Like I said, Mollies are brackish water and will be healthier and happier in low brackish water 1.002-10.

BTW, your Platy is fine in low brackish water as well.

 

If you want to use Kanamycin, it can easily be absorbed through the water. I use it this way on my fish that only eat live food. However, since you're already using broad spectrum meds, I wouldn't suggest adding kanamycin to the mix.

 

Mollies are such wonderful fish, especially since the easiest way to treat them against parasites and bacteria infections is to change the specific gravity of the tank. Get some ocean salt, a hydrometer(refractometer better), up your specific gravity to 1.010 over the next couple days.

WARNING This will crash your nitrogen cycle. Water changes will be required as ammonia buildup dictates.

Changes of more than 0.002 a week will kill off the beneficial bacteria and you will have to restart your cycle. It also kills off most other bacteria and parasites, but your fish will be fine with it. Using Methylene blue baths will help healing and clear up the infection that persists. It is also good for ammonia poisoning, if you let the ammonia build up too much. Draw aquarium water into a small container or bag, then double dose the Methylene blue, 30 min bath, twice a day. It will stain the fish blue wherever there are gaps in the slime coat(injuries). This will also show you the extent of his infection.

DO NOT ever do this with a regular freshwater fish. This will only work with hardy brackish water fish, like the molly. If you do it with any freshwater fish, you WILL kill it. This is a radical treatment option since it kills off your beneficial bacteria. After you recycle your tank, you can lower your Specific gravity 0.002 a week, but I would not drop it below 1.002-4. Like I said, Mollies are brackish water and will be healthier and happier in low brackish water 1.002-10.

BTW, your Platy is fine in low brackish water as well.

THANKS for the info!!!

I agree with you, mollies are wonderful fish, unfortunately my girl is sick. I knew mollies liked slightly salted water, but I never knew how to do it. I looked on the internet and asked several people at my LFS, and even asked on the forums, but I could never find any specifics about it or info at all. I never knew about the cycle crashing by uping the salt levels or the methylene blue dips could be conducted.

I hate to ask so many questions, but I rather ask and be kinda of a nuisance instead of risking my fish. How would I make sure I don't go over 1.010? I guess what kind of procedure would I do to slowly increase the specific gravity. I mean just add directly to tank? then measure specific gravity each time? or dissolving first, measure specific gravity water with dissolved salt then add to tank?
I have a hydrometer already (no marine salt) as I knew they liked slightly higher salt levels, but I don't want to experiment with my fish if I don't know what to do.
Also so the specific gravity would just be lowered by dilution (water changes)?

Would this cause damage to my plants? I have two swords and a moss ball. I could move them its no problem, but I was just wondering.

you seem to know mollies pretty well. I ask you do you have the slightest clue what's wrong with my fish?

Again thanks

 

Never add salt directly into a tank, contact with the salt will burn the fish. I don't know if you pre-treat and age your water, but it is best to dissolve a couple tablespoons of the salt into these buckets and raise it with water changes. If you pull out 50% of your water and make your buckets at about 1.010 for the first day, around 1.015 the second day, should get you close. Refill the tank over the course of the day, to slowly bring up the salinity. Yes, you lower your saline by dilution, with water changes. The swords will probably may melt under the salt, but they will also help you with the ammonia once your crash your nitrogen cycle.
If you go over a little or under a little it is no big deal, in fact hydrometers are fairly inaccurate(make sure to knock air bubbles off needle) so you are likely going to be over or under anyway.
Do a search on Neale Monk's brackish faq, if you want to learn about keeping brackish tanks. It is a good foundation. I don't mind questions at all, that is what these forums are about after all.

 

If you want to use Kanamycin, it can easily be absorbed through the water. I use it this way on my fish that only eat live food. However, since you're already using broad spectrum meds, I wouldn't suggest adding kanamycin to the mix.

Thanks for the reply Junebug.

I understand that kanamycin is used for the really serious bacterial infections like dropsy for example. I notice the scales on the back of my fish appear to be slightly lifted. I have read that dropsy shows symptoms of scales spiking out and according to photos (poor guys) I have seen on the internet it looks like it is often accompanied by swelling of the stomach. This type of infection has gotten me a little nervous since my molly has slightly raised scales but on her back around her head, and also she is thin (too thin). I just wanted to ask if my molly sounds like it could be developing something like dropsy or perhaps the raised scales could be from something else? I am not sure what else could produce slightly raised scales.

 

WARNING This will crash your nitrogen cycle. Water changes will be required as ammonia buildup dictates.

Changes of more than 0.002 a week will kill off the beneficial bacteria and you will have to restart your cycle.

I've never heard of this before. Could you provide a link so everyone can read up on the subject?

I understand that kanamycin is used for the really serious bacterial infections like dropsy for example. I notice the scales on the back of my fish appear to be slightly lifted. I have read that dropsy shows symptoms of scales spiking out and according to photos (poor guys) I have seen on the internet it looks like it is often accompanied by swelling of the stomach. This type of infection has gotten me a little nervous since my molly has slightly raised scales but on her back around her head, and also she is thin (too thin). I just wanted to ask if my molly sounds like it could be developing something like dropsy or perhaps the raised scales could be from something else? I am not sure what else could produce slightly raised scales.

Dropsy isn't a disease. It's a symptom, probably of all the other things your fish is going through. Usually when a fish's organs start to fail, the belly will swell and the scales will lift. This is accompanied by awkward swimming, often with the "head" struggling to stay level. It comes up and drops down, hence the name dropsy.

It's very important not to overstress your fish with medication. If you're already using an antibacterial medication, or General Cure, I would not add anything else.

 

To be honest June, I don't recall where I came across that factoid. I did my first brackish water tank over 20 years ago, and my memory ain't so good. I tried to find a nice reference for you on the internet, but all I located were others mentioning it, like if you follow the links that are given for advice you will find the Moderator from the forum giving conversion math and also mentioning converting the bacteria. The gist of it, is that the bacteria needs time to convert to the salt environment. This is in keeping with many common diseases have two different species for freshwater and Saltwater.
I do know from experience that a mini-cycle will generally follow rapid changes, which I now buffer with heavy planting.

 

I've never heard of this before. Could you provide a link so everyone can read up on the subject?




Dropsy isn't a disease. It's a symptom, probably of all the other things your fish is going through. Usually when a fish's organs start to fail, the belly will swell and the scales will lift. This is accompanied by awkward swimming, often with the "head" struggling to stay level. It comes up and drops down, hence the name dropsy.

It's very important not to overstress your fish with medication. If you're already using an antibacterial medication, or General Cure, I would not add anything else.

Thanks Junebug,
I understand not to over do it with the meds as it tends to cause more harm than help. My fish does some ackward swimming, she is normally diagonal when swimming. I am just frightened about the disease. I have several videos that I have posted, where you can see this weird swimming. You can also slightly see these slightly raised scales on her back, but it looks like there are accompanied with some small indentions. Could you take a look at the videos please and give me your opinion please? These videos were taken a couple days ago. She is now a little more active and still eating.

 

If I am not sure if she looks curved slightly or if it appears that way since she is thin (sunken belly I think)

 

I own a dalmatian molly myself and he is a very lively creature, I hope she will be okay! She looks thin compared to mine.

 

I own a dalmatian molly myself and he is a very lively creature, I hope she will be okay! She looks thin compared to mine.

Thank you for your support! I hope she will too!

 

No problem, I love fish (and my hamsters... And birds... And cats... Lol) and I would do anything to save them, but throwing random medications in there will only make things worse.

 

No problem, I love fish (and my hamsters... And birds... And cats... Lol) and I would do anything to save them, but throwing random medications in there will only make things worse.

I am a huge animal lover myself. (basically anything other than human lol). I know that feeling I just want to make her feel better and have spent a lot since starting, but in my eyes it doesn't matter since we are talking about lifes here. I understand about the random medications. I just don't know what she has or how to help her. I think its velvet as she has some questionable area that look like a gold dusting especially on her head. My platy appears to also have some of these gold flakes on his back. But my molly appears to have indentations around her mouth on the sides and on the top of the head (with slightly raised scales) and back, so maybe hole in the head. But then she has been getting thinner and her poo looked a little weird clear at times, so maybe an internal parasite. Also this ulcer that doesn't want to heal (it was almost closed at one point then just opened back up with an ammonia spike I underwent, so annoying).
I just don't know what to do. It is hard to just watch her just deteriorating. I just don't know what exactly she could have

 

She might have more than one thing, especially with high ammonia levels and what not in your tank.

 

She might have more than one thing, especially with high ammonia levels and what not in your tank.

I actually just checked my water. I have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate (I have two swords, and a moss ball). temp at 80-82C, I have an airstone. I just checked on her and I believe she is doing the shimmy. I feel like when I do a water change (I have been adding aquarium salt) she seems more active for a couple of days, but then she starts to get sluggish again. She was somewhat active today, but now she looks like what she does in second video. Idk??? I feel she goes up and down. I just am not entirely sure anymore.

 

I feel like she is doing this.

post number 6

 

That temp is probably too high for a molly, unless you're using heat instead of meds to treat? Don't use both. Mollies don't like high temps and high temp + med = too much stress.

 

I just checked my SG with my hydrometer and it is around 1.002-1.003, but as mentioned before in an earlier post the hydrometer can be inaccurate.

 

Your temperature will increase the SG reading as well, figure an ~.001 per 10 degrees over 70.

 

I thank you all for for trying to help me. I am just so demoralized right now. I checked on my guppies and are fighting, next thing you know an infection going to break out as well. It has just been up and down since I got any fish.

Perhaps I am not fit to take care of fish or just have really bad luck. I just don't know what to do anymore.

 

Hey everyone,
I must thank everyone for trying to help me, but I don't think my poor girl going to make it longer. She is just swimming with her side fins, yesterday her tail seems flimsy as if she can't control it. Today she wasn't really moving and now her back looks like its beginning to curve when looking down on her. I am so sad as I have tried with all my might to try to get her better, but I am so sad I may have to put her down. :''(

I have seen the method about the clove oil and vodka, I however don't have any of these. I wish I didn't have to do this but I don't want her struggling anymore. Is there any other way of letting her go peacefully?

 

I just don't know,
She still eats, but it looks like she can't move her tail. I have her in a breeder net right now so I could feed her easily and she was close to the surface, but I notice she really can't turn while swimming. In the middle of her back to her tail fin looks like a twig. I don't know if she could make a recovery or could live with a deformity or not. Her poo looks more normal now, like a the color of her food. Also I believe some of the gold spots are disappearing especially on her head. She seems to be improving in those aspects, but her back and tail I am not so sure. She is extremely thin especially from the middle of her back down and it just appears she can't control her tail. Does it sound like she could make a recovery?

 

Wish I could help Jose.
I'm sorry I have no idea what is wrong.

Just wanted you to know someone is at least listening.

 

Lucy,
I thank you so much for listening! I mean it. I'm afraid my little girl is struggling too much. She can only swim to her right. I can tell she doesn't know what to do, as she tries to correct herself but can't. :-(

 

My little girl is in fishy heaven now.:-( I still don't know what was wrong with her. I can only come up with possibly TB