Molly Help

[Terry0982]

My white mollies scales have turned a dark grey and the surrounding of its eyes have turned black.

I've run a complete water test and everything seems to be fine.

What's wrong with my molly?

 

[Terry0982]

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[babybell911]

Maybe he's just getting his markings most fish sold at LFS are juveniles so maybe he's just growing up. Is he eating and looking healthy in himself? Hopefully someone will be able to give you some better advice soon.

 

[Terry0982]

Not looking healthy at all now unfortunatley. In the past few hours it seems to be struggling to do anything at all.

 

[WILDER]

Does the grey area look slimey like mucas, any signs of flicking and rubbing on objects, or laboured breathing, grey marks like this can be parasites to bacterial infections.
The black around the eye could of been ammonia burns that are now healing, are they marks on black spots.

 

[Terry0982]

Does the grey area look slimey like mucas, any signs of flicking and rubbing on objects, or laboured breathing, grey marks like this can be parasites to bacterial infections.
The black around the eye could of been ammonia burns that are now healing, are they marks on black spots.

Hi Wilder, Thanks for your reply.

The grey area doesn't look slimey, it just looks like all scales have darkened especially in the head area.

He did have a spell where he would swim around at pace slapping against the glass and gravel.

The blackness surrounding his eyes aren't spots, they seem to lighten and darken during the day

If you can help with this I would be very grateful.

Thank you

 

[WILDER]

Darkening in colour is a sign of a bacterial infection, if there is no flicking and rubbing on objects, or gasping at the top of the tank, for now i would go in with a bacterial med.

 

[Terry0982]

Darkening in colour is a sign of a bacterial infection, if there is no flicking and rubbing on objects, or gasping at the top of the tank, for now i would go in with a bacterial med.

Many thanks Wilder,

I will have to purchase this tomorrow as there are no places open at this time.

Any suggestions on what medication to use and will it be ok to add the medication to the aquarium with my other mollies? I don't have a seperate tank for this.

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Don't know your location for a med, yes add to the main tank if you can't issolate the fish, extra aeration, and remove black carbon.
Anti internal bacteria by interpet.
Waterlife myxazin.
if in the states maracyn one and two.

 

[Terry0982]

Don't know your location for a med, yes add to the main tank if you can't issolate the fish, extra aeration, and remove black carbon.
Anti internal bacteria by interpet.
Waterlife myxazin.
if in the states maracyn one and two.

I'm in the uk. Will try and get these tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck, just pic a parasite med up as well, one that treat alot, just in case.

Do you have any scaless fish, as mollies should be kept in brackish water.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=137887

 

[Terry0982]

No scaless fish just mollies and guppies.

I don't intend to keep any other type of fish so I'll pick up some aquarium salt tomorrow along with the medication.

Thanks for all your advise.

 

[Terry0982]

Unfortunatley I was too late in applying the medication and the molly didn't make it.

R.I.P 04/07/2006

 

[nmonks]

Sorry about your loss, Terry0982!

But please do keep your mollies in salty water. 5g per litre will do the job nicely, and you can still add all the guppies, platies, and swordtails you want. They don't mind the salt. Nor do a variety of other fish, from glassfish and gobies through to halfbeaks and some cichlids. It's basically (most) catfish and virtually all tetras and barbs that don't like it. Most hard-water tolerant plants are find with a little salt. There's a nice list in the brackish water section of this Forum.

I do wish aquarium stores would tell people mollies need salt. I know some people manage without the salt, but as you've seen, this isn't always the case. Adding salt does no harm to the mollies, so it's an excellent "belt and braces" approach if you want happy, healthy mollies.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Terry0982]

Thanks Neale,

After receiving Wilder's advice to buy medication and remove the carbon filter before adding it to the aquarium, I've realised that my filter does not contain this carbon filter only a sponge.

Do I need the carbon filter and if so what do i go for? I've searched for carbon filters to fit my aquarclear 2 pump but have had no luck. Are there carbon filters out there that are compatible with any filter?

Thanks
Terry