I Think I Have A Sick Fish - First One

[PaulQ]

I just noticed that my black mollie has white spots all over the top of his head and some near his tail. They are like speckles.

Here is a VERY POOR picture but I hope you get the idea...

What do I do? (this is my first fish illness)



(26 gallon tank, hovers around 79 degrees, 7 mixed plants, only been running for about 3 weeks so it's not completely cycled; mates include 1 Black skirt tetra, 4 zebra danios, 1 angel, 2 plecos; currently doing almost daily 25% water changes, current ammonia is 0-0.25)

I did get one opinion on this outside this forum but I was hoping I could get a second... or third....

 

[SlyPolak]

I'm no expert in mollies but I know that black mollies are known to have "spots" on the trhat look just like ich but the next few days just diappear ( atleast my aunts do )
Full water stats, tank size, and temp. would help a bit

 

[PaulQ]

Full water stats, tank size, and temp. would help a bit

(26 gallon tank, hovers around 79 degrees, 7 mixed plants, only been running for about 3 weeks so it's not completely cycled; mates include 1 Black skirt tetra, 4 zebra danios, 1 angel, 2 plecos; currently doing almost daily 25% water changes, current ammonia is 0-0.25)

 

[SlyPolak]

You dont have nitrite/nitrate tests?...... Well, does it look like salt sprinkled over the body or just a few spots and some white on the mouth/eyes, clamped fins...... Like I said that's what my aunts mollies look all the time and they've been doing it for 2 years...... could be culminaris maybe.... google Ich and Culminaris and see if any of the symptoms sound right..

And I don't think the angel will be happy in that tank for very long (too small), you should also keep atleast 3/4 angels together... Same thing with the tetrs you should have atleast 6 of them

 

[PaulQ]

You dont have nitrite/nitrate tests?

I will this evening. I have to do a big water change then wait a few hours. That's just the only test I did this morning in my panic... I'm not sure what my logic was.

...... Well, does it look like salt sprinkled over the body or just a few spots and some white on the mouth/eyes, clamped fins...... Like I said that's what my aunts mollies look all the time and they've been doing it for 2 years...... could be culminaris maybe.... google Ich and Culminaris and see if any of the symptoms sound right..

I would say it's more like salt sprinkled over the front of his body. He didn't have this yesterday.

And I don't think the angel will be happy in that tank for very long (too small), you should also keep atleast 3/4 angels together... Same thing with the tetrs you should have atleast 6 of them

I have pretty much been hearing that. It's a baby angel, about the size of a quarter. Plenty of room now but I think I will be upgrading the tank if I do well with this one over the summer. As for the tetras, I had 2... then 3... they were constantly fighting... couldn't support 6 so returned all but one.

 

[SlyPolak]

If it looks like salt it may possibly be Ich...like I said google Ich and you will see MANY pics and info to narrow you worries... I understand its a small angel and will take a while to grow but you should still keep more than 1.. I have 4 and they deem very hppy with each other.

I honestly think you should'nt have only 1 of ANY fish besides bettas and kinds that will bother eachother... they need atleast 1 buddy to "play" with