Mouldy Black Molly!

[Gypsy5]

Hi all. I have a problem with my male Black Molly and I wondered if anyone could advise please?

I have had him for 3/4 weeks and bought him with a female and a baby black molly. They were all together in a 3ft tank with other community fish and I believe the female is now pregnant. The stats on that tank are ph 7.4, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 20. A few days ago I noticed what could only be described as mould near his tail. I had noticed that the female and baby seemed to be fussing around his back end and wonder whether it could just be "bruising" of sorts.

I moved the male into a tank on his own on Tuesday and started treating with Protozin which says it is for fungus, whitespot, velvet, Costiasis etc. I put some in the tank on Tuesday, some more yesterday, will be doing again tonight and then am supposed to put in on Sunday (as stated in the instructions). There appears to be no worsening or getting better of said "mould" and it doesn't seem to be distressing him. He is eating well but seems a little out of sorts because of the isolation. I would have left him in the other tank and treated him but I have shrimp in there so have to be careful with medication.

Any ideas what it could be, anyone?

Thanks for your time.

 

[WILDER]

Never medicate a fish tank till you know what you are medicating for.
What colour is the mold on the fish.
Is it possible to load a pic up of the sick fish.

 

[Gypsy5]

When I started to medicate I was "sure" it was fungus but nothing seems to have happened with it so now am doubting. Appreciate what you're saying though. The "mould" is greyish.

Don't know how much help these will be

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Bacterial to parasite.
Any fish flicking and rubbing.
Does the mould look fluffy in appearance, can't make it out to well on the pic.

 

[Gypsy5]

Fish behaving normally, no flicking or rubbing. Doesn't look fluffy, more like a silky sheen that is slightly raised (if that makes sense!!)

 

[WILDER]

Remove the parasite med with a water change and run some black carbon for two days.
I would try a bacterial med.

 

[Night_Market]

Just saw this while searching for something else, hope it helps...

"Bob,
<Mark>
I still need some help for my female molly. She isn't doing well. Her spine seems to be in an s-shape.
can't seem to put her head down to swim.

The body fungus is still there, but it seems to be diminishing.

<... and does appear to be a true fungus... most such diseases of fishes are actually bacterial>
I have been giving her Fungus Eliminator from Jungle Labs for 2 weeks now. My question is what can I do to help her? Initially, it seemed that the Fungus Eliminator was helping, but the last three days she is getting worse. What could cause this? Should I treating her with an antibiotic?
<Mmmm, you do have some salt in the water? I would continue with the FE product>
I have Maracyn, but have not used it. The only medication I've giving her is the Fungus Eliminator. I have been running the tank with no carbon filter and have noticed the nitrites spike up to 3. When I find that, I give the tank a 50% water change. Should I start to use a carbon filter?
<Not until you want the medication gone>
Should I try a different medication, such a Maroxy and Maracyn?
<I would not... these will not do you any more good than the present treatment>
I read somewhere that a bent spine like this could be a sign of TB, could she have this?
<Very unlikely>
Also, is it transmissible to humans?
<This is a VERY unlikely possibility... but strictly speaking... yes, Mycobacteria are transmissible twixt humans and fishes>
My kids put their hands in the tank all the time. I included picture this time to help in your diagnosis. Should I just put the fish down?
<I would NOT... but continue to treat as you have done... perhaps add a bit more salt. A teaspoon more per day... for five days.>
I'm just so frustrated that she was so sick, I gave her medicine and a new tank, she got much better, but not just has no energy, sits there with her tail down and her spine bent. It seems like she can't even straighten it to swim anywhere. I also have seen her shake a bit.
<Not unusual>
Please help on any suggestions for medicines to use, any dietary changes (currently just using flake food with some dried blood worms), any concerns for TB and sign to look for, what caused a bent spine like in the picture attached, and can she get better. My kids are attached to the fish and I'd like to save her. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Mark Stack
<Please don't worry re: disease transmission to your children... add the salt, and stay the course. The fish will cure or no... you are doing all that I know of to effect a cure. Bob Fenner>

 

[WILDER]

Bent spine fish tb to internal parasites.
Not much to be done when the spine bends usually they tell you to destroy the fish sorry.
Get you some info on fish tb.
Also check her anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.

Tetracycline but they say once spine bends forget it.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[WILDER]

Look into internal parasites as well.
Another tb link for you.
http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...fer_FishTB.html

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What other fish are you keeping with this molly in the tank? Black mollys are prone to developing things like body fungus due to lack of salt in their water as they are relatively brackish fish. Some mollys can live in freshwater, but if they start to develop things like fungus on a regular basis then this is a sure sign that they need to be a saltier tank.

 

[Gypsy5]

The fish that are in with the mollies are cory catfish, neon tetra, guppies, honey gourami, white cloud mountain minnow, sturisoma, silver sharks and shrimp.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The fish that are in with the mollies are cory catfish, neon tetra, guppies, honey gourami, white cloud mountain minnow, sturisoma, silver sharks and shrimp.

How many gallons is the tank these fish are in and what are the exact numbers of the fish in the tank?

 

[Gypsy5]

The main tank is 22.5 UK gallons/26.75 US gallons. In there was 2 adult black mollies and a baby, 6 cory catfish, 10 neon tetra, 9 guppies, 2 honey gourami, 5 white cloud mountain minnow, 2 sturisoma, 2 silver sharks and 4 shrimp. I know that we are overstocked but we had a problem with our other tank and so had to move some fish over but was advised that it would be ok for a week or so. I have put an internal filter in the tank to compliment the undergravel one in there and do water checks every day. All the fish are small, even the sharks which will be moving to a 6ft tank soon, and everyone seems happy. The 9 guppies are going into a tank on their own next week but I have temporarily moved the female molly and two heavily pregnant guppies into a smaller tank ready for giving birth.