Not Sure What To Do

[edensilk]

I discovered (last week) that one of my black mollys has cottony white spots all over its body including it's eyes. It hadn't moved to any of the other fish in my tank (that I have seen).

I went to the pet store and talked to one of the clerks, the reccomended ick treatment, but that didn't do a thing. It didn't look like ick either , it is white cottony spots a somewhat bigger than a grain of salt but they extend out from the body about 1-2 milimeters.

I am moving my mollys into a seperate tank for the time being, just in case.

I am wondering if anyone knows what this might be, or how I treat the fish.

thanks for the help!

 

[WILDER]

You are correct it's not ick it columnaris, what are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

http/www.nippyfish.net/flexibacter.html

Sorry thought you said a few spots so they are all over the body, does it form into a saddle shape along the back going down the sides, also it could be velvet, is the fish laboured breathing and flicking and rubbing against objects, than again they can do that with columnaris.

 

[edensilk]

Thank you for you rapid reply.

I am not sure on the stats, I have sent someone out for new testers, I only had "trial" ones, that I used a while ago.

sorry, it is alot of spots all over the body, and on the eyes, but not what you described. I tried to get a picture, but the lighting isnt good. Other than the spots themselves the fish looks to be ok. I havn't noticed any changes in behaviour or breathing. I have noticed 1 spot on the eye of my pregnant molly when I went to look a minute ago. This was not there earlier today!

Sorry thought you said a few spots so they are all over the body, does it form into a saddle shape along the back going down the sides, also it could be velvet, is the fish laboured breathing and flicking and rubbing against objects, than again they can do that with columnaris.
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[WILDER]

Spots on the body do they have a red tinge or circling of red around them.

 

[edensilk]

no they don't. all I can see is white.

 

[WILDER]

The spot on he eye does sound like a parasite, just read this to see if it rings a bell, though not the author of this information.
Ich (a.k.a. White Spot)



Symptoms:

Fish infected with Ich will have pure white, salt-like spots approximately 1 millimeter in size on their body and fins. Fins are most often affected first. If their gills become infected, the fish will show increased gill movements. These white spots, or cysts, may join together to form irregular white patches. If left untreated, the spots will slowly advance to cover the whole body and fins (6-24 hours). Fish with Ich may rub or scrape on rocks or gravel in an attempt to relieve irritation. Redness and blood streaks will appear on both the body and fins as the condition worsens. Its fins will deteriorate as the parasites burrow into the flesh destroying it. Fishes that are infected do not show early sickliness, and may even continue feeding lightly.




Does the fish have any trialing mucas on them, also check the gills to see if there is any excess mucas on them, do they look red and inflamed as well.

 

[edensilk]

oops

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like you could have a parasite plus a bacterial infection on top.

Sorry can't make much out of that pic.

 

[edensilk]

sorry that picture was huge!

 

[WILDER]

Are you sure there not patches rather than spots.

 

[edensilk]

they are raised white bumps, kinda "fluffy" it looks almost like small pinfeathers on a bird.... or like the end os a small piece of frayed string.

 

[WILDER]

I think i would try a bacterial med, is there any scaless fish in the tank, as i would add some salt.

Just to make sure check the bumps to see if the fluffy bits are not worms of some type.

 

[edensilk]

there are 3 plecos, 4 angels and 6 coreys and the 5 mollys in the 33 gallon tank. I can move the mollys to the maternity tankthat is set up for a pregnant molly.
I don't see any worms... an none of the other fish are affected, just the mollys.
Salt? how much should I put in... I have table salt and sea salt...

 

[WILDER]

Right yes move them over there, if there is no fry in there you will need a bacterial med, salt one tablespoon to every 5gals, good luck.

 

[edensilk]

thank you so much. I will move the mollys to the new tank, there are no fry (yet!) and I have allready added the salt.