Nicholaa
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I am using API 5 in one test strips for the following information. I don't really care for these test strips that much and I plan on buying a different kit when I next hit the pet store.
Tank size: 29 gallons
pH: between 8 - 8.5
ammonia: test strip doesn't have this
nitrite: 0 - 0.5
nitrate: 50ish range (high this weekend when tested because I did not do a water change due to the fish being in a dying state - wasn't sure if disturbing her further would be worthwhile. Wanted to post here and see what else can be done if anything -- I'm guessing no though.)
kH: 180-240ish
gH: 0
tank temp: 80
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
She was laying on the bottom of the rocks all morning yesterday and seemed to have the inability to swim due to her lower abdominal fins "not working" ? Her two side fins and back fin (Okay, I don't know all the actual fin titles) - are moving in the "normal way", but it's almost like she's paralyzed in her lower abdominal fins (the fins used in genderizing and I'm sure swimming). She *wants* to swim. She struggles with her side fins and back fin, but her entire lower body just won't wiggle and allow her to fully surface. This morning it looked like she was trying to go to the surface to feed, but she couldn't hold her body up and she sank back down to the ground. (I was thinking swim bladder disease, but that's like the complete opposite).
I put her in a breeder net mid-afternoon so she wouldn't be "bothered" by the other fish and so there was less water for her to swim up through to eat and she doesn't seem to want to swim now at all and she's starting to lean over on her side. She hasn't touched the food I put in. I know breeder nets can be stressful to fish, but I thought maybe in this case it would have been better for her.
7 am this morning: She's laying competely on her side in the breeding net, still breathing, flipping her one fin that is facing upwards. Food still wasn't touched. It's just a matter of time I think. I felt like I should have euthanized her this morning, but wanted to give this website a chance to help me out - if possible. I don't think she can swim at all anymore and may be further "paralyzed"
I have begun to think it is a possible parasitic infection. I do remember at times the fish in the tank would have clear colored feces instead of the dark colored feces and I didn't think much about it until now when I am looking back on what could possibly have caused it. I have tried to look over the diseases chart and those charts have so many similiar symptoms that I think it's quite impossible for a somewhat amateur as myself to diagnose the fish.
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Normally, 20-25% once a week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Standard carbon filter appropriately sized for the tank (that's all I know from here at work. When I set up the tank, I had the actual filter in and I also had a filter from one of the 10-gallon tanks to help with the cycling to avoid "new tank syndrome."
Tank inhabitants:
2 Cory Cats (seemingly healthy), 3 "baby" Mollies (2 around 4 months, 1 about 5-6) that appear to be healthy and happy and little piggies at feeding time, swimming all around, 1 dying adult female Molly. I *had* 5 other adults, all dead of what appears to be the same problem.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
I added the babies in about a week and a half ago, not even considering the tank problems, but I do not believe they are the cause, since the problems existed before I added them. I was very dumb in adding them, but again, I wasn't thinking - that, "Hey, the adults are all dying here, there might be some outbreak to worry about." -- The Cories never appear to be sick. They just act like normal Cories do.
Exposure to chemicals:
The adult Mollies that have all died (and the last one dying) were treated for Ich a month or so ago (Malachite green medication was used) - I have thought that I might have over medicated them and maybe lowered their immune system. I never put anything else in the tank to combat their possible weakened state. The white spots were fully gone and I had continued with water changes as recommended
What to Do Now?
What do I do with the last remaining fish (3 babies and 2 cories)? I have a 10 gallon tank that has 10 much smaller babies, 2 other cories and a pleco. Do I move those 5 remaining fish into that gallon, clean out the entire 29-gallon and start from scratch and re-cycle it before putting in new fish? Would they be infected with whatever killed the other adult Mollies? I don't want to infect my 10-gallon tank, but I don't want to be left with a 29-gallon with 2 cories that hide and 3 little babies, so now I am totally torn. My 29-gallon tank was a Christmas present to myself and it cost over $400 to get all the parts/pieces/stand, etc. I'd hate to have it just sitting there, but now I call it the "death tank". The 29-gallon was a combination of 2 10-gallon Molly tanks that they all used to live in. Here I thought I was being a great fish Mommy and giving them a lot more room to live. I cycled the new 29-gallon using all the medium from the 2 10-gallon tanks (rocks, decorations, filter and ~20 gallons of their water. I only added in the rest of the 9 gallons as new water) - so I don't think it could have possibly been "new tank syndrome".
If she is alive when I get home, I thought about picking up some antibiotics from the pet store and putting her into a hospital/quarantine tank, but I really think she's too far gone and to be quite honest, I don't think she'll be alive when I get home. If she is, do you think there is still a chance? She has gotten a lot thinner too... forgot to mention that. So, I don't think she's been eating.
Thanks for any possible advice, information, etc.
I am using API 5 in one test strips for the following information. I don't really care for these test strips that much and I plan on buying a different kit when I next hit the pet store.
Tank size: 29 gallons
pH: between 8 - 8.5
ammonia: test strip doesn't have this
nitrite: 0 - 0.5
nitrate: 50ish range (high this weekend when tested because I did not do a water change due to the fish being in a dying state - wasn't sure if disturbing her further would be worthwhile. Wanted to post here and see what else can be done if anything -- I'm guessing no though.)
kH: 180-240ish
gH: 0
tank temp: 80
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
She was laying on the bottom of the rocks all morning yesterday and seemed to have the inability to swim due to her lower abdominal fins "not working" ? Her two side fins and back fin (Okay, I don't know all the actual fin titles) - are moving in the "normal way", but it's almost like she's paralyzed in her lower abdominal fins (the fins used in genderizing and I'm sure swimming). She *wants* to swim. She struggles with her side fins and back fin, but her entire lower body just won't wiggle and allow her to fully surface. This morning it looked like she was trying to go to the surface to feed, but she couldn't hold her body up and she sank back down to the ground. (I was thinking swim bladder disease, but that's like the complete opposite).
I put her in a breeder net mid-afternoon so she wouldn't be "bothered" by the other fish and so there was less water for her to swim up through to eat and she doesn't seem to want to swim now at all and she's starting to lean over on her side. She hasn't touched the food I put in. I know breeder nets can be stressful to fish, but I thought maybe in this case it would have been better for her.
7 am this morning: She's laying competely on her side in the breeding net, still breathing, flipping her one fin that is facing upwards. Food still wasn't touched. It's just a matter of time I think. I felt like I should have euthanized her this morning, but wanted to give this website a chance to help me out - if possible. I don't think she can swim at all anymore and may be further "paralyzed"
I have begun to think it is a possible parasitic infection. I do remember at times the fish in the tank would have clear colored feces instead of the dark colored feces and I didn't think much about it until now when I am looking back on what could possibly have caused it. I have tried to look over the diseases chart and those charts have so many similiar symptoms that I think it's quite impossible for a somewhat amateur as myself to diagnose the fish.
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
Normally, 20-25% once a week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Standard carbon filter appropriately sized for the tank (that's all I know from here at work. When I set up the tank, I had the actual filter in and I also had a filter from one of the 10-gallon tanks to help with the cycling to avoid "new tank syndrome."
Tank inhabitants:
2 Cory Cats (seemingly healthy), 3 "baby" Mollies (2 around 4 months, 1 about 5-6) that appear to be healthy and happy and little piggies at feeding time, swimming all around, 1 dying adult female Molly. I *had* 5 other adults, all dead of what appears to be the same problem.
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
I added the babies in about a week and a half ago, not even considering the tank problems, but I do not believe they are the cause, since the problems existed before I added them. I was very dumb in adding them, but again, I wasn't thinking - that, "Hey, the adults are all dying here, there might be some outbreak to worry about." -- The Cories never appear to be sick. They just act like normal Cories do.
Exposure to chemicals:
The adult Mollies that have all died (and the last one dying) were treated for Ich a month or so ago (Malachite green medication was used) - I have thought that I might have over medicated them and maybe lowered their immune system. I never put anything else in the tank to combat their possible weakened state. The white spots were fully gone and I had continued with water changes as recommended
What to Do Now?
What do I do with the last remaining fish (3 babies and 2 cories)? I have a 10 gallon tank that has 10 much smaller babies, 2 other cories and a pleco. Do I move those 5 remaining fish into that gallon, clean out the entire 29-gallon and start from scratch and re-cycle it before putting in new fish? Would they be infected with whatever killed the other adult Mollies? I don't want to infect my 10-gallon tank, but I don't want to be left with a 29-gallon with 2 cories that hide and 3 little babies, so now I am totally torn. My 29-gallon tank was a Christmas present to myself and it cost over $400 to get all the parts/pieces/stand, etc. I'd hate to have it just sitting there, but now I call it the "death tank". The 29-gallon was a combination of 2 10-gallon Molly tanks that they all used to live in. Here I thought I was being a great fish Mommy and giving them a lot more room to live. I cycled the new 29-gallon using all the medium from the 2 10-gallon tanks (rocks, decorations, filter and ~20 gallons of their water. I only added in the rest of the 9 gallons as new water) - so I don't think it could have possibly been "new tank syndrome".
If she is alive when I get home, I thought about picking up some antibiotics from the pet store and putting her into a hospital/quarantine tank, but I really think she's too far gone and to be quite honest, I don't think she'll be alive when I get home. If she is, do you think there is still a chance? She has gotten a lot thinner too... forgot to mention that. So, I don't think she's been eating.
Thanks for any possible advice, information, etc.
