Balloon Molly With A Red Face!

[jungleistmassiv]

Hi everyone

Came home from work today and found one half of my balloon molly's face is blotchy red. The top of her head had always had a small red patch, but its spread!!

Yesterday I put her into my new tank, that has been set up for a while now and i've slowly been adding the fish from my old small tank into my new larger one.

Anyone know what could be the matter with her?

Thanks in advance

Rich

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like it could be septicemia, remove her from the tank and start treating fast as once it progresses hard ot cure.
The reason why you have to remove them is that the bacteria from the fish can enter the tank.
Look under septicemia.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[jungleistmassiv]

ok mate thanks for that, i'll get the small tank set back up again and see what i can do!!

Cheers

Rich

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[jungleistmassiv]

hi all

well i've tried to take some pics, they really didnt come out that well, but the two that are reasonable show the problem bits. One of her fins has gone red now, its not like a red growth on the fin, but actually the fin itself. You can also see the problem areas on top of her head and round her eye.

What treatment would be best for her? I've set up my old tank again using water from the big tank, so i'll move her over once its at the right temperature and the gravel has settled properly!

Thanks
Rich

may i also add that she has no loss of appetite and swims around quite happily!!

rich

 

[WILDER]

She looks bad and bloated in the pic, dropsy goes hand in hand with septicemia.
If in the states maracyn one and two.
Uk anti internal bacteria med.

 

[jungleistmassiv]

ok thanks for the reply, i have set up the tank and have bought some of the anti internal bacteria from my local pet shop.

Just waiting for the tank to settle then i'll move her in! Will probably be in the morning.

Thanks again

rich

 

[WILDER]

Ok, good luck, but it dosn't look to promising i'm afraid.
Add some salt for the swelling, one tablespoon to 5gal.

 

[jungleistmassiv]

hi there

Well i put her in late last night, with the anti internal bacteria and some aquarium salt. Today she has been really active in the tank, whereas she normally stays in one place. Could it be that she is on her own and doens't like it?

I have also noticed this evening that the sides of her tummy are quite dark. Could she be pregnant? She did give birth about 2 months ago.

Rich

 

[WILDER]

Not sure to be honest if she having babies, but a darker colour can be a sign of a bacterial infection.

 

[jungleistmassiv]

ok thanks for the quick reply!!

I'll keep an eye on her over the next couple of days and let you know how i get on

Thanks again

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[black angel]

She is a balloon molly so is naturally looking like that.

Check for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
How are you doing water changes and how often and how munch?
Septiceamia is what it looks like to me as well

 

[jungleistmassiv]

hi black angel, i have done checks of the water, and all the levels are all as they should be. The hardness was a little high, but as i live in a hard water area there isn't really a lot i can do about it i don't think!!

I normally change about 1/4 of the water every 2 weeks. I am a little worried about her sudden burst of activity tho, she swims round and round the 'hospital tank' at top speed all day! She is still feeding ok though.

Thanks

Rich

 

[black angel]

You need to up your water changes and clean the gravel with a syphon. In the main tank do 40% every couple of days for a week using a gravel cleaner and then twice a week for a month. After that then once a week at 40% should be enough to keep the bacteria in check.
Make sure you wash your sponges out in old tank water and do it when the flow starts to go down.
I take it the hospital tank has just got clean fresh water? Keep it that way for a week or two and she should if the septiceamia isnt too far advanced come round from it