Molly Problem

[johnnyjtaylor]

A few weeks ago I noticed my female silver molly had popeye and clamped fins so I immediately treated the tank with melafix. The next day half of one side of her body from behind the gills to the back of the dorsal fin went very dark in colour and a red patch appeared on each side on her gill covers. I treated the tank with melafix again,mainly for the other fish as I expected to find her dead after work but instead found her a bit more lively.The next day the dark patch lightened and over the course of the next few days dissapeared along with the popeye.I kept up the melafix for a week and then done my usual 33% water change at which point the molly seemed to have made a full recovery except for the red patches wich I put down to some kind of scarring from the illness. Over the next couple of weeks the patches darkened and the molly continued to behave normally then yesterday I noticed the patches looked redder again and on closer inspection I realised that they have suddenly become holes through the gill covers and the redness is actually the gills beneath. She is still acting normally and eating well and the water stats are fine ph 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate around 20-30.

any help appreciated thanks johnny.

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

id be interested to know what people say cos ive got the same problem with one of mine. i can see her gills more and more. she is still active and its very odd as the wound is very neat. Please help us!!!!!!

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like gill flukes is the fish rubbing its gills on things in the tank, get a magifying glass to see if you can see a parasite behind them.

http/article.dphnet.com/cat-02/flukes1.shtml

 

[johnnyjtaylor]

Thanks for replying Wilder, she doesnt seem to rub against anything and I cant see anything in her gills. Im including a photo to show you what I mean..

 

[WILDER]

Bless her thats bad, is she laboured breathing as if not i would use a bacterial med on that bless her.
In the pic I can see a few little golden patches have they always been there as velvet can destroy the gills.

 

[johnnyjtaylor]

the gold spots are markings shes always had. Ill have to get some better meds for her tomorrow. She still seems happy and is eating and picking at algea etc. melafix for tonight and tomorrow Ill try to quarantine her.

 

[WILDER]

She really needs an antibiotic but there only available through a vet.
Got to stop the infection, and she will always need to be kept in perfect water quality that's if she makes it.
Keep an eye on the other fish for sign of rubbing there gills on things.
Bless her try myxazin or anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

Do you have plenty of aeration in the tank.
Look under gill rot.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Check this one out too.
Proliferative Gill Disease

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

my molly looks the same. shes showing none of the usual signs of distress and is dashing around the tank as normal and eating. the tank is being treated anyway with melafix and pimafis for a little bit of nipped fins. will this help. water is spot on.

 

[WILDER]

This is the problem it hard as it could be a parasite with a bacterial infection on top.
Just carry on with the meds, and keep an eye on the other fish for flicking and rubbing.