My Sick Balloon Mollie

[becky53916]

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Tank size: 1 gallon
pH: 7.6
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 80-ish F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): She's a beautiful white and orange balloon mollie that I have had for several months. From the time I got her, there was a small lump on her left fin. I thought it was just a small birth defect. Since then it has consumed her fin. Sometimes the end is frayed like fin rot, sometimes a small hole grows into it. It now looks like lumps of cottage cheese on her fin but it is all the regular color of her body. She seems to have shiney silver spots on different parts of her body. As she gets ready to have babies, the silver fades nicely and she looks well colored all over. She seems content. She doesn't rest on the bottom or bang into anything or flash on the decor.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: After treating her for a week with small doses of mela fix during the day ( a few drops spaced hours apart) and using Jungle fungus clear tank buddies (I just slivered off a piece since one disk treats 10 gal and she is in a 1 gal) I changed about 50% of the water. That was Saturday. Checking the water with the Tetra Easy Strips just now, all levels of all 5 tests are running high.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Mela Fix, Fungus Clear by Jungle, 1/8 t. aquarium salt.

Tank inhabitants: 1 female sword tail that she has bonded with in a really cute way. They get very distressed if they are separated.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Nothing new. Two days ago she had a litter of about 3 dozen fry that I removed an put into a breeding net in another tank.

Exposure to chemicals: Just what was mentioned prior. There may be a very tiny amount of Stress Coat. Minimal.

Digital photo (include if possible): The file was too big. Email me at becky-thompson@sbcglobal.net and I will send the 10 second video and the one picture of her fin.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Does her lump seem fluffy or solid?
What color?

 

[becky53916]

Does her lump seem fluffy or solid? Geeze, it's kinda hard to tell. They appear to be solid. I mean I would say I was 80% sure they are solid.
What color? They blend in with her natural color. She almost looks like a pale orange and white with the orange being most predominant on her upper back side. Her belly is the most white part. Could I accurately use the term "gradiant color"?

 

[*Fishkies*]

Sorry...what color is the lump?

Do you see the lumps anywhere else on her body?

Cauliflower Diesease

Tumours...unknown causes

Take a look at those two links. See if anything looks familiar.

 

[becky53916]

Sorry...what color is the lump? The lumps are the same color as her body. Well, atleast her other fin is the same color. Orange. Occasionally her body gets a silvery sheen in patches but it disappears before she is about to give birth. Her fin will get some, not much, of the same shine.

Do you see the lumps anywhere else on her body? Nope, just her left fin. If you email me at becky-thompson@sbcglobal.net, I can get you the 10 second video or the picture of her. It's very difficult to get a decent picture of her to show the details.

Cauliflower Diesease

Tumours...unknown causes

 

[*Fishkies*]

PM Sent!

 

[becky53916]

Sorry...what color is the lump? The lumps are the same color as her body. Well, atleast her other fin is the same color. Orange. Occasionally her body gets a silvery sheen in patches but it disappears before she is about to give birth. Her fin will get some, not much, of the same shine.

Do you see the lumps anywhere else on her body? Nope, just her left fin. If you email me at becky-thompson@sbcglobal.net, I can get you the 10 second video or the picture of her. It's very difficult to get a decent picture of her to show the details.

Cauliflower Diesease

Tumours...unknown causes

I checked out both cauli and tumor. I'd lean more towards cauliflower. It started on the peak of her fin near her body, not on the end as one of the fish had. If I read it correctly, there isn't much to do about it. I sent two pictures to the site to see if it would be able to be diagnosed. (Fingers crossed) She is such a sweet fish with a lovely personality! I'd really like to see her healthy.

 

[*Fishkies*]

How often do you perform water changes in the tank?
Looks to be like Gas Bubble disease.

I am uploading one of the pictures onto here. In case anyone else can identify what this is right aways.

View attachment 45982

This is a picture of becky53916's molly that she is having problems with.

 

[becky53916]

How often do you perform water changes in the tank?
Looks to be like Gas Bubble disease.

I am uploading one of the pictures onto here. In case anyone else can identify what this is right aways.

View attachment 45982

This is a picture of becky53916's molly that she is having problems with.

Thanks for posting her picture. I just couldn't get it done properly. She had lived in a 20 gallon with assorted guppies and a male mollie plus her swordtail buddy. I did small frequent water changes to keep from a nitrite/nitrate issue. She's the only one out of the lot that has this. I haven't even had an ick break out. Yeah!! There is an occassional outbreak of flashing on the rocks. Then I treat them and change 20% or so of the water 2 days after treatment. Like I said, since she has been in the 1 gallon tank, I change the water weekly, about a pint or so out. I have to add water during the week because of evaporation issues.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Do you have any type of filter running in that tank? If not i'd consider doing about 20% water changes twice a week.

When you say you treat them. What do you treat with?

 

[becky53916]

Do you have any type of filter running in that tank? If not i'd consider doing about 20% water changes twice a week.

When you say you treat them. What do you treat with?

Yes, the 20 gallon tank has a large Whisper filter on it. I bought the one that was for larger tanks rather than the one that was for that size. The one gallon has a 1-3 gallon filter system. Neither one is fancy just water in and through the carbon pack and filter bag.

I have been treating her with MelaFix, Jungle fungus disks or parasite disks.

I'm off to bed. I have to get up in a few hours for work. Keep the little kiddies happy at summer school, that's my job! Can't be sleepy or they will clean your clock!

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well sounds like you have been trying everything right. However i'd try doing a water change, and treating with a bacterial medication to see how that works. Be sure to remove the carbon from the filter as this could be stopping the medications from actually treat her!!!

I'd also try putting the swordtail in a different tank as that is 1 to many fish to have in a 1 gallon tank.

Best of LucK!!