Sick Molly

[Primble]

Hi

Am new on here so hoping you guys can help with our Dalmation Molly.

Last week we got a Safron Molly and a silver Molly and a day or two later the Safron Molly got ich which we are in the process of treating with Waterlife Protozin. This appears to be clearing up nicely

However this morning the dalmation molly seemed to have a problem with one of it's pectoral fins. normally it is clear but it looks a bit cloudy and we are hoping it is just ich but it is affecting her swimming. It appears to be ok when going forwards but sometimes when hovering at the top of the tank she gets unbalanced and goes vertical, sometimes making her go all the way over.

She doesn't seem that bothered by it until her babies try to eat it but we have removed them into a breeding net.

We gave her a salt bath this morning and done a water change.

Its a 48l tank with 3 Mollys, 7 Platies, 2 Plec and some babies that will be rehomed soon. (just waiting for them to get a bit bigger)

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks overstocked.
What are your water readings in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Does she look bloated?

I would isolate her if she struggling to swim, and lower the water level so it helps her balance herself more.
Fish can have balance problems when they have fin damage.

Any white, pink, red edging to fins.
Any red streaking in the fins.
Any holes in the fins.
Are the fins look like there falling apart.
Any excess mucas or slime on the fins.

Whitespot can cause fin damage, and also bad water quality.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Definitely overstocked. You do realise how big plecs get?!
Wilder will help you out, but im afraid you're gonna have to get rid of some of your fish!

 

[Primble]

Your tanks overstocked.
What are your water readings in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Does she look bloated?

I would isolate her if she struggling to swim, and lower the water level so it helps her balance herself more.
Fish can have balance problems when they have fin damage.

Any white, pink, red edging to fins.
Any red streaking in the fins.
Any holes in the fins.
Are the fins look like there falling apart.
Any excess mucas or slime on the fins.

Whitespot can cause fin damage, and also bad water quality.

Thanks for replying so quickly.

She doesn't look bloated.
Shes isn't struggling to swim as such just occasionally unbalanced which is unusual for her.
There isn't any pinky redness at all. She is using the fin, just keeps it close to her when the babies were looking at it.We can't see any damage but as she is useing it, it is hard to see. the only difference is cloudyness where as the others are clear.

We have the API masterkit and the readings were

PH: 7.8
nitrite: 0
Amonia: 0
Nitrate: 0

which is how they normally are

weekly 20% water changes

there are live plants in the tank and airstones which are on during the day (not at the moment to help her)

Definitely overstocked. You do realise how big plecs get?!
Wilder will help you out, but im afraid you're gonna have to get rid of some of your fish!

Hi

we are aware how big they get and are planning to get a bigger tank by the time they get bigger

 

[the biffster]

ih how long as the
tank been set up

 

[Primble]

ih how long as the
tank been set up

Hi it has been set up 3 months without any hitches. this is the first lot of illness we had. everything was ok until we added the Safron and Silver Molly

 

[WILDER]

What's your tap nitrate reading?

The whitespot med should help with the fin as it has antiseptic in the indgredients.
If there no improvement get back to the board.
Just make sure she not getting exhausted, as that not a good sign.

 

[Primble]

What's your tap nitrate reading?

The whitespot med should help with the fin as it has antiseptic in the indgredients.
If there no improvement get back to the board.
Just make sure she not getting exhausted, as that not a good sign.

Tap Nitrate reading is also 0

we treat the water before adding it with iterpet bioactive tapsafe (the test was straight from the tap though)just thought that extra info may be of use.

What's your tap nitrate reading?

The whitespot med should help with the fin as it has antiseptic in the indgredients.
If there no improvement get back to the board.
Just make sure she not getting exhausted, as that not a good sign.

Tap Nitrate reading is also 0

we treat the water before adding it with iterpet bioactive tapsafe (the test was straight from the tap though)just thought that extra info may be of use.

you guys mention the tank is overstocked is this just dues to the Plecs? or is there too many adults? the plecs are only 6cm at the moment and we know we need to get a bigger tank as they get older.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
It's rare to have a nitrate reading of 0 unless your tap nitrate reading 0, you have live plants.


I would advise rehoming the plecs.
Ask the lfs if they will take the fry off your hands.
Gravel vac twice a week as plecs are massive waste producers.

 

[the biffster]

ih how long as the
tank been set up

Hi it has been set up 3 months without any hitches. this is the first lot of illness we had. everything was ok until we added the Safron and Silver Molly

what temp you running at

 

[Primble]

ih how long as the
tank been set up

Hi it has been set up 3 months without any hitches. this is the first lot of illness we had. everything was ok until we added the Safron and Silver Molly

what temp you running at

The temp is usually 24/25 but have increased it today for the ich.
we do normally gravel once a week but will do it twice from now.

thanks for the help