Molly Issues

[fry_lover]

Suffering losses (about one per day for last 7 days) in my 36x12x18 Molly Brackish set-up. Been running for a few months, havent added any fish in that time, readings are always 0.0 Ammonia and 0.0 Nitrite, Nitrate varies between about 30-50.

All the mollies except for the ones born in the tank, came from freshwater and i got them used to brackish very gradually (approx 1gram per litre salt increases per week). Now running (and has been for 8-9 weeks) at approx 7grams per litre of salt. Temp approx 78-79F, water changes being 30% every 7-10 days.

Diet - never use live food, so they have spirulina flakes, tetra min, algae tablets, frozen veg, frozen brine shrimp and occasionally frozen blood worm (about once a fortnight).

pH approx 7.8 to 8.0 and water is Hard (as tested a while back, GH and KH, cant remember exact figures)

Symptoms - "the skinny's" NOTHING else, no flicking, no skin issues, Actually only other thing i have noticed is the odd fish seeming to rest at the bottom too much. "skinnys" being losing weight rapidly even though the fish is eating

Questions

1. my previous issues with the "skinnys" in livebearers is that its most likely an internal parasite, which can be very hard to treat. BUT i havent seen any stringly poo or similar.

2. The fish are not acting like they used to, they are not chasing each other and the males arent harassing the females at all now. So i am partly wondering, HAS THE SALT / BRACKISH actually been detrimental to them? Which i would find incredibly sad and ironic as i really wanted these mollies to thrive and after lots of research i decided brackish was the way forward.

PS - re salt levels i did have one of those "things" to test the gravity until i smashed it a few weeks ago. I cant remember the level now, but after doing a few calclulations it was consistent with approx 7grams per litre of salt. And whenever i do water changes i try to put in that exact level of salt (7grams per litre)

Water changes done with treatment for chlorine and chloramine (Seachem Prime) which i use on all my tanks and have done for ages. No other probs in any other tanks (x4)

The water doesnt evaporate anywhere, water levels stay the same

The salt i use is so called "proper" marine salt from a reputable LFS (as i was advised to do for a brackish set up)

 

[WILDER]

Being skinny can be tb, internal parasites, to flukes, can knock flukes off the list if there no flicking and rubbing.
Check the anus of the fish to see if it's enlarged or red and inflamed.
Have you seen any red worm things prutruding from the anus.
Do any fish or fish before that have died, show any signs of a bent spine.

 

[fry_lover]

no to red worms and the anus issue

potentially a YES to bent spine, i notice that some of the bigger ones who go skinny look a bit deformed, almost like the bottom half of their body (mid body to end of tail) seems to "droop" a bit, almost like a bent spine in a way?

what does this tell us potentially mate?

definitly no flicking or rubbing

 

[WILDER]

Looking like tb to me, sorry, will get you some info to see if you notice more in the information.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[fry_lover]

Yes, i was reading about it just now and also have checked your link, very informative, obviously it could be TB, although i am slightly comforted by the fact my fish are not shwoing any other symptoms apart from losing weight, that one fish witha potnetially "bent spine" i am not even sure the spine is bent,

looks like there is no cure? I will remove fish that look skinny or sick immediately and destroy humanely.

Seems to be contradicting evidence about the risk too humans as well?

Can i rule out the salt levels (7g/litre) being an issue? i mean they are mollies after all, i guess its fine, actually i was hoping it would keep the buggers HEALTHY!!!!

Any point in using meds at this stage?

Am gonna do a 50% water change now (treated), thorough clean tank but not filter (save as much bacteria as possible) and remove fish that dont look 100%

If its TB, can you catch it in time with maintenance or is the whole tank likely doomed?

Thanks for swift and helpful response Wilder

 

[WILDER]

You can save them if you caught it early, but usually you need an antibioltic like minocycline or tetracycline.
Here's some info.
You have to be exposed to tb long time, and it rare.
Make sure you have no cuts and wounds on your hands and arms, if you do wear protection like latex gloves.
http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...fer_FishTB.html

Look under piscine tb.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[fry_lover]

thanks for the links, very interesting, that story with the woman's finger is shocking though!!!

just had a thought, i was immunised for TB at school, would this protect me (in theory) do you think? Bit beyond the scope of this forum though!!!

 

[WILDER]

I never had the tb jab must of been in contact with it sometime when little, as my prick marks stayed.
I wouldn't worry to much very rare that a human can catch it.
The way you catch it is through cuts and wounds, then you would have to be exposed to it along time.

 

[WILDER]

Have you read this before.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=137887

 

[fry_lover]

yes i have, i remember now, my gravity was 1.005

thanks