Balloon Molly Tail Ailment

[CageUK]

Two of our 3 Balloon Mollies are having problems at the moment.

The male in particular looks like he has fin rot. I thought he'd been nipped first of all but then he had problems swimming. I sectioned him to a hospital tank along with a female who had similar but not as severe swimming problems. The remaining female looks fine.

I added marine salt to the hospital tank and shortly aftwards I found him 3 times, upside down by the filter and I thought he was a goner but as I moved him he swam away. I then noticed a red patch on his tail (not his fin) and the fact that his fins had got worse. I have dosed them both with Melafix and I have to say that he has perked up a little and is now swimming, albeit at the surface and with a list to one side. There is plenty of aeration in the tank.

This is a photo of him showing the angry looking tail.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I don't think I can do anymore than I'm doing but would like to know exactly what I'm fighting against!

As an aside, our Bosmani Rainbow keeled over and died within an hour or so with no warning. I couldn't put him in isolation as the mollies were there in salt. Bizarre!

Cheers

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The finrot infection has led to septicemia (the red bloody colouring in the tail), you will need an anti internal bacterial med to treat the septicemia like "anti internal bacteria" by Interpet .

 

[CageUK]

Ok brill Tokis-Phoenix I do happen to have that in my arsenal.

Would there be a problem with dosing it alongside Melafix or should I waterchange this out first of all (although I suspect the stress would do him no good)?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok brill Tokis-Phoenix I do happen to have that in my arsenal.

Would there be a problem with dosing it alongside Melafix or should I waterchange this out first of all (although I suspect the stress would do him no good)?

Its absolutely fine to use it with melafix, i've used the two meds together with no problem in the past, just make sure your tank has lots of oxygen in the water during the treatment .

 

[WILDER]

Once septicemia advanced very hard to cure as it blood posioning.
You need antibiotics and treat in a hosptal tank, as the bacteria from the fish can enter the tank and infect the other fish.

 

[CageUK]

Thanks. The little guy is still hanging on, although he is upside down now. I don't think I can save him but I'm just hoping the female will be ok. Her fin rot has advanced a bit and she is moping in the corner but she doesn't seem to be having swimming problems at the mo.

To make it all worse three cardinal tetras in my other tank have developed white spot and whilst setting up my second hospital tank I dropped and broke it due to slippery hands

I'm treating them in the main tank now...it's gonna be one of those days!

 

[WILDER]

Never rains but pours.
Sadly the guy not going to make it if he's upside down.
Good luck.