Need help with Molly...is she sick?

Hello, I'm a newbie at keeping fish. I've got some fish health questions I hope you can help with...I checked out the forums and couldn't find the info I needed...I hope I'm not asking some already answered questions.

I've got a new tank set up, and am (unfortunately) cycling with fish (would have done fishless if I knew about it earlier!). We had three balloon mollies (golden/orange & white). One died within a couple of days of purchase. She wasn't strong enough to swim away from the filter intake, and got stuck against it within the first hour or so. I suspect she was injured (or sick) when she was netted at the lfs, but because our tank is still new we couldn't rule out stress due to the new tank.

Anyway we have two mollies left, both female, one bigger than the other. They are both lively, very interested in food (I only feed one small amount per day right now) and come up to the glass whenever I come near. The bigger one does chase the smaller one towards the end of a feed, but they are generally gentle the rest of the time, and both are getting their fair share of food.

I have recently noticed the bigger molly has odd colouring on her back. It's really hard to tell because she's very pale in colour to begin with, but her skin looks whitish and matte from mouth to tail along her back. She's also got some white stripes on her fins. I don't remember if that is just her colouration (at least on the fins)...can't compare to the other molly since she's a much brighter orange and always has been. I'm also seeing what might be a hint of this white stuff along the base of the top fin on the smaller molly too (thought I might just be "looking for it" now.)

Does anyone know...is this colouration a fungus? It's not fuzzy/furry at all. It's not spotty like ich. No other symptoms are present. Both fish are swimming at all levels and eating well.

If it is an illness, should I be treating now, or will it negatively impact my tank cycling? And what should I treat with? How do I get an accurate diagnosis?

A little more info... My tank is 10g and is at the beginning of week three: 78F, pH 7.8-8.2, ammonia 0.25 and dropping (had reached a peak of 1.0), nitrite 2.0 (started climbing 5 days ago), nitrates at 5+, Hardness 150+, Alkalinity 120. I'm doing water changes regularly (using AquaPlus), and have added "cycle" to the water (don't know if it has helped at all). I've also tried adjusting the pH very slightly (as per the lfs recommendations), but it isn't stable and ends up rising again. I think we'll just leave it alone, because it will likely continue to be a losing battle. I've chosen not to add salt for the mollies, but will do so if that's what is needed to cure this skin thing.

Thanks for your help!
Michelle

I am doing frequent water changes, as needed. Did a 30% change last night, and the smaller molly was looking like she was suffering from the nitrites. The water change brought the nitrites down to 0.5. Fishy is doing way better this morning. I'll do another change today if levels warrant...I'm hoping that 2.0 was my nitrite spike, and the levels continue to drop.

I tried to get a pic...the fish won't sit still! LOL! I actually did get a couple of okay shots, but not detailed enough to show the skin. Plus, I need a pic from above, and as soon as my camera goes into position, fishy takes off!

Another way I could describe the colouration is that it almost looks like hard water deposits...chalky, matte, whitish. I certainly am seeing the deposits on the filter and heater, but I doubt that's what is on her skin. I think I'll go to the lfs and take a look at the other mollies, and talk to the staff...maybe they have some info.

chrisinha said:

it's hard to say what it is without a picture, but try to get some Melafix. It's natural, helpful, and wont hurt them at all!! Also, Pimafix helps with fungus infections and is natural medicine as well. Just follow the instructions, but since you're cycling the tank and need a lot of water change, make sure to add back the medicine after each water change.

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Thanks! I'll see if the lfs has either of those (or something similar).

chrisinha said:

i love balloon mollies!! arent they adorable?? good luck!!

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They are adorable! I've become very attached to them too.

chrisinha said:

no problem.
Melafix and Pimafix are unique medicines, IMO I dont think there's anything similar.

i forgot to mention maybe you should test your tap water (if that's what you've been using) for ammonia/ nitrItes and nitRates. Where I live my tap water readings are 1.0 ppm for ammonia!!!! If your tap water does have one of these, dont forget to use a conditioner before adding it to the tank! keep us updated!

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Our tap water has 0.25ppm ammonia. If I recall correctly, I got a zero reading on nitrites and nitrates. Makes me glad I drink bottled water!

Update

This afternoon I noticed fluffy spots around molly's mouth...so the diagnosis appears to be mouth fungus aka "saddle back disease". Apparently the whitish area on the back is a common symptom for livebearers.

I am now treating with Melafix & Pimafix as per the manufacturer's recommendation. I downloaded a couple of "Tropical Fish First Aid" Charts (PDF format) from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Seems to have a good list of symptoms and suggestions for treatment (their products of course). The charts can be found here, under "Special Features":
http://www.aquariumpharm.com/sitemap.html

So time will tell if the fish can survive both the fungus and cycling a new tank!

Another Update

Well, I tried the Melafix & Pimafix. Within a couple of days, the smaller molly (who I thought was healthy) ended up with an ulcer on her right gill. I continued with daily 25% water changes and daily doses of Melafix & Pimafix, but the ulcer kept getting worse. I also noticed my nitrates, which had been increasing, dropped back down to zero (had gotten as high as 5.0+) and my nitrites were continually hovering at around 0.5. I started just using Pimafix for the last three days. The little molly stopped eating a day ago, and died this morning with another ulcer on the left gill.:sad I can't help but wonder whether the Melafix had something to do with interrupting the cylcing of my tank (new tank)...and the fish succumbed to nitrite poisoning? Or the Melafix was distressing/damaging the fish?

We now have one molly remaining. The fungus seems to have gotten a bit better, and she's still swimming well and is always looking for food. I'm crossing my fingers that she survives the completion of the cycle!