Molly Update

[tttnjfttt]

Normally, you treat with antibiotics for 5 days. I highly doubt this is parasites.

even if you can't test your water quality, there are ways to know how likely your water is to be bad. A newly set up tank that has not gone through a fishless cycle or been treated with biospira will go through a cycling process, where ammonia then nitrites build up. If this is your tank, do DAILY water changes to try to minimize the ammonia and nitrites.

For your hospital tank, odds are hte water quality will be better in there. Use a dechlorinator such as prime that also helps with the ammonia since you don't have a cycled filter to add. Make sure to aclimate the fish to the new environment.

Tetracycline is a good med. The only catch with this is it can affect your bio filter so go ahead and treat him in the hospital tank. You are right about most chain LPS, they basically will destroy the fish. I would try to treat with tetracycline.

My current bet on what has happened is the fish was injured when he was caught at the store. Since then, a secondary infection has set in.

EDIT: oops, missed half of the post and didn't respond to everything.

 

[CBTF]

alright thanks. i have done water changes, and did not do a fishless cycle. however it's been about 3.5 weeks since the tank was established and 50% of the tanks water (10 gallon tank) came from a well established 4 year old 40g tank. i have also done a few water changes and used old rocks from established tanks. so i think everythings well. nobdody is stressed any longer.

anyhow.. treating for 5 days is fine, however im concerned if my hospital tank is gonna be good enough. It's a small plastic thing, probably about 3 gallons. It has no heater and is not established, i'd have to fill it up with tap water and treat the water with something for chlorine. would the stress from this water be enough to kill my molly while he's being medicated?? also, im concerned about the temperature. my temperatures are always up and down, as my windows aren't very good and the thermostat is changed by family members. that being said, 3 gallons isnt much either.

will he be ok in this tank while being medicated..?

i can pick up the medicine later tmrw, in the evening. that will be a long time he's been ill hopefully he can hang in.

edit: i checked out the meds you recommended. will any medication that says it treats infections work? things like this, for example? (i know that my lfs has this exact one for sure) http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...D=1137743507962

edit: saw your edited answer to my other questions

 

[tttnjfttt]

I"d be hesitant to put a molly in a 3 gal without a heater. How warm do you keep your house? if you keep it below 72, i'd say treat the whole tank because it will be too cold for your fish

As for the med, i'd go tetracycline. Septcemia is a sign of internal infection, not a disease in its self. Bacteria are classified as either gram negative or gram positive. I know tetracycline works against gram positive and some gram negative. Sulfa (which is what is in your link) antibiotics are used mainly for gram negative.