Any idea what's wrong with this mollie?

[jay2jay99]

She's been like this for a while, it doesn't seem to bother her and she eats fine but both her eyes are clouded over and her fin looks all thin and limp, like there's no structure. Let me know what you think. I'm using an anti internal bacteria at the moment to see if it helps.

 

[Annastasia]

Are the eyes bugging out at all? I can't really tell from the picture. I don't think it is an internal parasite though. Unless, does she have whitish poo?

What are your water params?
What other fish?
How long has she been like this?
What size tank?
Anything you've done differently?

If you could answer the questions, it'd be very helpful.

 

[jay2jay99]

I'm not sure on the parameters, have to get a test kit. She's in with mollies, platies, sword tails, figure 8 puffers, catfish, a red tail shark, Australian lobster, clown loach, and harlequin rasboras. She's been like this for a good couple of weeks, when I first noticed it, I didn't think it was much cos the eyes weren't bulging so I thought I'd keep an eye on her, she hasn't got any worse or any better. She's in a 180 litre tank. Hope this helps.

 

[Annastasia]

If I'm converting correctly...that's about 50 gallons. And you are pretty much over-stocked. So that could be causing bad water quality. I'd get a test kit, or get that water tested as soon as possible. Bad water quality can cause these kinds of problems.

By the way, Puffers aren't community fish. They shouldn't be in with other fish, otherwise they will start nipping and getting aggressive. It may not have happened yet, but you don't want to wake up one day and find all your fishes' fins shredded. Also, the Clown Loaches and the Red-tail Catfish will get way too big for your tank. I'm not sure how Lobsters are in communities, so you may want to ask in that section.

 

[jay2jay99]

Cheers, I've had people say about my lobster before, he's quite tame with the fish in there, they seem to have an understanding that as long as they don't bother him at breakfast and dinner then they'll get along. The clown loaches and pictus catfish even snuggle up underneath him at times and he doesn't seem to mind. I'll look into getting a test kit and find the cause, but looking at the mollie do you know what it could be?
Many thanks

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You need to test the water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates when you get your test kits- avoid the strip test ones as these are not very accurate.
Cloudy eye is primarily by water quality issues and internal bacteria, but since your tank is overstocked and you have not tested your water i would put it down to water quality issues- meds will only cause further stress if the source of the problem is not dealt with.
Water changes with dechlorinator will lower all harmful stats although avoid taking out more than 60% a day.

 

[paulthegreat]

It looks to me like the fish is covered with a slime. Could that be the case?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It looks to me like the fish is covered with a slime. Could that be the case?

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The slime is a symtom, most likely by water quality issues as these often irretate the fish's skin and this leads to the fish creating excess slime in an effort to protect itself.

 

[sylvia]

How long has this tank been set up for?

Stop the anti-bacterial treatment. Do a 50% water change instead. Keep this up for a week or two or until you can test your water - your parameters should be 0 ammonia and 0 nitrIte with readings under 40ppm (prefferably under 20ppm) for nitrAte. If not, do more water changes. ALWAYS use DE-CHLORINATED water for these changes.

Puffers aren't community fish but, moreover, I do believe figure 8s are brackish.

Clown loaches need a minnimum of 90 gallons and should be kept in a group of 3 minnimum. They get to 12".

Pictus cats will eat small tankmates - such as platies or rasboras.

As your fish are probably still quite young, I'd expect they aren't yet fully grown so a lot of the future problems you will have, have not yet made themselves apparent.

Research each of the fish you have (and don't add anything new) to learn more about each of their requirements. I'd begin by looking in the forum's own fish index but google.com is always there for any species not yet covered there.

I'd also suggest you read through the links in my signature as it doesn't sound like you are familiar with cycling or the importance of bacteria in aquariums (hence why you don't have test kits). That should clear a lot of stuff up for you.

 

[jay2jay99]

Many thanks everyone, i have alot to get on with, I get straight on with that, many, many thanks.

 

[SRC]

I think I'd take that fish out of my tank if I were you..and keep her in a hospital tank until you get her sorted out.

 

[tonilee7]

I had a molly the with the same condition. I went and saw my local pet shop and they gave me an anti-biotic specially for mollies and guppy's it made her betta right away. By the way is that molly a male or has it got it's fin flat up against it's stomach?