I am new to having sick fish. I have had tanks for years. Nothing ever got sick. Now, in the last 2 months, I have had what seems like everything possible. Please help. I am trying to learn, but there is so much. I have 3 mollies in a 10 gallon being treated with pima fix and mela fix. The spots and fin rot are gone, but I am still having problems. The grey one is shimmying sometimes. Her only symptom. Her fins are even back up. The white one I has a dark white streak in her top fin. I can't decide if it is something or not. Otherwise she is in good shape. The spotted one looks all better except she won't unclamp her fins. I can't figure it out. Also in my 29 gallon I have 1 pleco, 1 cory, 1 white mollie, 3 danio (glo fish), 6 mollie fry (in breeder net). Something is pooping solid white. It looks normal except for color. I can't catch them, but I keep finding it in there. Is that bad? Should I be worried? 10 gal. is 82degrees nitrate is around 0-5 nitrite 0 water around 65 soft alkalinity around 120 ph 7.2 running aqua tech 5/10 with just bio. & have bendable bubble bar for more air. have small gravel in bottom & plastic plants & cave. I have been treating for 10 days now. my 29 gal. 8o degrees nitrate 0 nitrite 0 soft water aroiund 65 alkalinity around 120 ph around 7.2 running whisper 30/60 filter with carbon and the bio inserts. Also have ario2 w/led on the other end for more air. I have marble on bottom with plastic & real plants with fake long tenticle anemones w/ rocks. Please help me figure this out. I have lost enough fish. Also this molly hides most of the time. Could it be becouse she is the only mollie in there now? Any help or info would be greatly apreciated.
Sick Mollies
- Thread starter ICEEGRL
- Start date
xostrawberryox
Fish Crazy
Do you test for ammonia too or not?
dwarfgourami
Fish Connoisseur
It sounds like you're having a run of bad luck. I had lots of problems with mollies when I kept them. They would probably be happier in slightly brackish water, but you can't really manage that with the other fish you've got- plecos apparently don't mind, but cories don't like salt; and the hospital tank is too small to keep mollies in longterm.
Starting with the fish in the hospital tank, hard to tell whether the white in the fin is part of natural colouring or more finrot without seeing it. Could you post a picture? Clamping the fins could be because they are still under the weather or because they feel stressed. How big are these mollies? If they're big sailfins, it could be a problem with space. I would just keep them in there for a bit longer, do rather more frequent water changes than usual (once the pimafix treatment is over), and try to tempt them with some interesting food - like a few veggies to flush through the system. If things go really bad, you might want to try a treatment for internal bacteria- though that is what pimafix is supposed to treat.
As for the big tank, solid white poo is probably not as bad as stringy white poo. Could it be indigestion? What are you feeding them. Mollies and plecs both benefit from quite a high vegetable content in their diet, anything like peas, cucumber, spinach. The single molly probably is stressed out without mates- I've known livebearers to go very funny like that. Hopefully, that will be a temporary problem. The fry won't be able to stay in the net for very long, for fear of restricting their growth. Once the invalids are cured, they would be better off in the 10 gallon.
What is your pleco? If he is a common or sailfin, even if not full size, the amount of waste they produce could be adding to the problem by making the other fish more susceptible to disease. If he is one of these species, he will need rehoming eventually- a fully grown specimen needs a massive tank.
Starting with the fish in the hospital tank, hard to tell whether the white in the fin is part of natural colouring or more finrot without seeing it. Could you post a picture? Clamping the fins could be because they are still under the weather or because they feel stressed. How big are these mollies? If they're big sailfins, it could be a problem with space. I would just keep them in there for a bit longer, do rather more frequent water changes than usual (once the pimafix treatment is over), and try to tempt them with some interesting food - like a few veggies to flush through the system. If things go really bad, you might want to try a treatment for internal bacteria- though that is what pimafix is supposed to treat.
As for the big tank, solid white poo is probably not as bad as stringy white poo. Could it be indigestion? What are you feeding them. Mollies and plecs both benefit from quite a high vegetable content in their diet, anything like peas, cucumber, spinach. The single molly probably is stressed out without mates- I've known livebearers to go very funny like that. Hopefully, that will be a temporary problem. The fry won't be able to stay in the net for very long, for fear of restricting their growth. Once the invalids are cured, they would be better off in the 10 gallon.
What is your pleco? If he is a common or sailfin, even if not full size, the amount of waste they produce could be adding to the problem by making the other fish more susceptible to disease. If he is one of these species, he will need rehoming eventually- a fully grown specimen needs a massive tank.
I am doing all I know to do, and it doesn't seem to be right. I have lost a lot of mollies. It is really sad.
I have some salt in the 29. The cory doesn't seem to mind too much. I don't know what the pleco is. I can't find any pics that look like it. I don't have a digital camera yet. I wish I did. I have a 1 gal. for the fry if it will ever finish cycle. My fish won't eat peas I tried that. They eat flakes and mosquito larvae
I have some salt in the 29. The cory doesn't seem to mind too much. I don't know what the pleco is. I can't find any pics that look like it. I don't have a digital camera yet. I wish I did. I have a 1 gal. for the fry if it will ever finish cycle. My fish won't eat peas I tried that. They eat flakes and mosquito larvae
Kiwigirl
Fish Fanatic
May I suggest you get a liquid master test kit they tend to be far more accurate than the test strips.
I use API myself and think most people do as well.
I use API myself and think most people do as well.
How do I do the foods to get them to eat it?
Good I hope to order in the next few days. There isn't anything local. I have to drive a long way just to reach an outlet to get bad fish and few supplies.
My pleco looks like a common , but colors are backward. it is dark brown with yellow spots. They look kind of hazy though. I am trying to figure out what it is. I hope it isnt one that gets too big. I am kind of attached.
do all corys not like salt? I have 1T. per 5 gal. What will it do to them? No one told me that could be a problem. I have had him for a long time. I just started with mollies a few months ago. I had guppies until my 3 year old decided to feed them. I was unable to save them. I had to start all over. Cory was the only survivor. I cried for days.
Good I hope to order in the next few days. There isn't anything local. I have to drive a long way just to reach an outlet to get bad fish and few supplies.
My pleco looks like a common , but colors are backward. it is dark brown with yellow spots. They look kind of hazy though. I am trying to figure out what it is. I hope it isnt one that gets too big. I am kind of attached.
do all corys not like salt? I have 1T. per 5 gal. What will it do to them? No one told me that could be a problem. I have had him for a long time. I just started with mollies a few months ago. I had guppies until my 3 year old decided to feed them. I was unable to save them. I had to start all over. Cory was the only survivor. I cried for days.
xJake
Fish Crazy
How long has the tank been up and running and did you fishless cycle?
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141944
If you didn't then your tank may still be cycling or the fish are very damaged from the cycling process and are getting sick. I would suggest adding some filter media from your 29-gallon as it may contain some bacteria to help out your 10-gallon. Also do a 50% water change but be sure to use warm tap water to try to match the temp of your tank. Mollies don't need to be kept at such a high temp (82F) lower the temp to about 77-79F as it will decrease their metabolism and they will have more oxygen in the water.
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141944If you didn't then your tank may still be cycling or the fish are very damaged from the cycling process and are getting sick. I would suggest adding some filter media from your 29-gallon as it may contain some bacteria to help out your 10-gallon. Also do a 50% water change but be sure to use warm tap water to try to match the temp of your tank. Mollies don't need to be kept at such a high temp (82F) lower the temp to about 77-79F as it will decrease their metabolism and they will have more oxygen in the water.
I was forced to cycle with the cory. He was the only survivor. The tank has been up and running for about 5 months now. At first I was cleaning too much. I was told mollies liked it extremely clean so I did. Everyday! That made my tank where it couldn't finish cycle. I stopped and it finally finished about 3 wks. ago. It is level now. The temp is 80 in it. The 10 g is 82 because I was told to raise temp while medicating. I think the white one and the grey one are better. no more symptoms. Is it safe to put them in main tank? The spotted one looks fine and acts normal, but her fins are still clamped. I cant figure her out. I moved the fry to the small tank today. The water finally tested good. They seem to be happier.
This started when my 3 yr. old decided to feed the fish. (7.6oz of food) I was forced to clean everything and start over. The cory actually survived so I had to cycle with him in there. It was my only tank at the time. I got mollies instead of guppies this time. I can't seem to make them live though. They get sick so easy. They were infected by a marble. I thought it was just her color. I was wrong!!! Since then I have discovered the wonderful world of testing, medicating, water changes.... I have a lot to learn. I bought the 10g and 1g after someone finally told me I needed them. Now I am on the computer every day looking for info and trying to figure out what I am doing. There is sooo much! I stay confused, I am trying. I love my fish. Any and all info is greatly appreciated.
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