I have a 29 gallon tank with many misc. community fish... Just two of my adult female mollies have cottony looking fungus on their tails and one of them has it spread now throughout her whole body since I last treated the tank it got worse... I treated the tank now many times throughout the last few months with jungle fungus clear. It has not permanently healed either female mollies and I am wondering if that means they are not healable? I seen online on the forum about feeding the fish pepso food...? Also it was mentioned to soak their food in garlic sauce. I tried that idea, but I havent tried the pepso food yet. I dont know if thats only good for parasite related illnesses, and Im not totally sure if this is a fungus issue. Im pretty convinced it is. Especially since one of the female mollies left eye is cloudy and puffed out. I was wondering if someone could please let me know what they think.... I do not want to have to get rid of the mollies but Im scared that they pose a threat to the other fish in the tank...
I need help getting rid of fungus....
- Thread starter jwxray70
- Start date
We need to know what your water chemistry readings are: pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Actual numbers with a test tube kit, please, not strips.
Also your water change routine: how much and how often.
Stock: how many fish and what kinds.
Fungus is usually a secondary infection brought on by another disease or an indication of bad water quality. If you are having trouble getting rid of it, then I would suspect your water isn't being changed as often or as much as it should be and/or your tank is horribly overstocked.
We won't know unless we get some numbers, however
Roan
Also your water change routine: how much and how often.
Stock: how many fish and what kinds.
Fungus is usually a secondary infection brought on by another disease or an indication of bad water quality. If you are having trouble getting rid of it, then I would suspect your water isn't being changed as often or as much as it should be and/or your tank is horribly overstocked.
We won't know unless we get some numbers, however
Roan
Hey Roan Art
Hey thanx for the reply... I checked my amonia, nitrite, and ph the other day, everythings reading perfect. The ph was possibly a little tiny bit under 7.0, but its pretty much perfect. I always have a hard time really seeing what color it is haha. Ive never heard of a nitrate test, should I buy one? Also I was thinking about getting a salt tester, do I need one of those? Cause I was told that its good to put aquarium salt in every water change, just enough for the amount of water I put in. So I put in one tablespoon every water change, sometimes I skip it just incase I dont wanna put too much in.
I thought that maybe the reason why the two fish have the fungus, and no other fish, is because it had something to do with the fish. Is that possible? Because the two fish that are sick are from a franchise store where they dont take care of them all that well all the time(not mentioning any names). The other store I go to takes really good care of the fish and I never ever have problems with his fish, only a few of them have died ever and its because they were hong-kong devil plecos and I guess they just didnt like my water or something, even though I kept checking my ph and it was ok so I dont know why they died.
Well, my fish are:
2 flame tetra, 1 guppy, 2 serpae tetra, 1 rummy nosed tetra, 2 harlequin rasbora, 2 xray fish( I think these are in the rasbora family?, they look like scissortails kinda), 3 scissortail rasboras, 3 glo-lite tetras, 2 neon tetras, 1 pleco, 1 lemon tetra, 1 white cloud, 2 head and tail lights, 3 adult female mollies, 2 cory cats, 2 glass catfish, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 penguin tetra
I know that probably sounds like a ton of fish, but most of them are still very small since I bought them at young ages... I was told also that the rule of thumb is 1 inch per gallon thats safe, is that true? And the guy at the fish store said too that you dont count the tails and fins, so the small fish could count as only one inch total for both of them, etc. So I thought that the fish I have are a fine amount for the 29 gallons... But where I have a problem maybe, is I have a lot of baby mollies... But the 2 mothers showed signs of fungus since I got them, and I dont know if I bought them that way and didnt notice or if it did manifest itself in my tank... But anyway, I have up to 20 tiny newborn fry, and up to 10 older ones that are big enough to be with the big fish, but still pretty small. I have the tiny ones in a net breeder. I have 2 medium sized ornaments in the tank, a little castle, and a treasure chest, and 1 large plant, and a few tiny ones. Also I have 2 bunches of breeding grass at the top of the tank floating to keep the newborns alive. I have to mention though too, I did recently have another ilness in the tank I believe. I lost a few fish to what seemed to be some sort of gill parasite probably. A few months ago, a few fish had inflamed gills and they died and one of them even had fungus looking stuff coming out. A friend of mine that used to own a fish store looked at one and just said it was some sort of gill parasite. I treated the tank with Aqauri-sol which wiped out a bunch of babies, and a couple of my small fish. So I stopped using it and after the different form of fungus showed itself on the 2 new female mollies I tried jungle fungus clear since I assumed it would be less hard on the fish and I was right cause none have died since that other time... Well, sorry that this is so long but I wanted to make sure I explained enough this time... THanks so much for your help...
Hey thanx for the reply... I checked my amonia, nitrite, and ph the other day, everythings reading perfect. The ph was possibly a little tiny bit under 7.0, but its pretty much perfect. I always have a hard time really seeing what color it is haha. Ive never heard of a nitrate test, should I buy one? Also I was thinking about getting a salt tester, do I need one of those? Cause I was told that its good to put aquarium salt in every water change, just enough for the amount of water I put in. So I put in one tablespoon every water change, sometimes I skip it just incase I dont wanna put too much in.
I thought that maybe the reason why the two fish have the fungus, and no other fish, is because it had something to do with the fish. Is that possible? Because the two fish that are sick are from a franchise store where they dont take care of them all that well all the time(not mentioning any names). The other store I go to takes really good care of the fish and I never ever have problems with his fish, only a few of them have died ever and its because they were hong-kong devil plecos and I guess they just didnt like my water or something, even though I kept checking my ph and it was ok so I dont know why they died.
Well, my fish are:
2 flame tetra, 1 guppy, 2 serpae tetra, 1 rummy nosed tetra, 2 harlequin rasbora, 2 xray fish( I think these are in the rasbora family?, they look like scissortails kinda), 3 scissortail rasboras, 3 glo-lite tetras, 2 neon tetras, 1 pleco, 1 lemon tetra, 1 white cloud, 2 head and tail lights, 3 adult female mollies, 2 cory cats, 2 glass catfish, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 penguin tetra
I know that probably sounds like a ton of fish, but most of them are still very small since I bought them at young ages... I was told also that the rule of thumb is 1 inch per gallon thats safe, is that true? And the guy at the fish store said too that you dont count the tails and fins, so the small fish could count as only one inch total for both of them, etc. So I thought that the fish I have are a fine amount for the 29 gallons... But where I have a problem maybe, is I have a lot of baby mollies... But the 2 mothers showed signs of fungus since I got them, and I dont know if I bought them that way and didnt notice or if it did manifest itself in my tank... But anyway, I have up to 20 tiny newborn fry, and up to 10 older ones that are big enough to be with the big fish, but still pretty small. I have the tiny ones in a net breeder. I have 2 medium sized ornaments in the tank, a little castle, and a treasure chest, and 1 large plant, and a few tiny ones. Also I have 2 bunches of breeding grass at the top of the tank floating to keep the newborns alive. I have to mention though too, I did recently have another ilness in the tank I believe. I lost a few fish to what seemed to be some sort of gill parasite probably. A few months ago, a few fish had inflamed gills and they died and one of them even had fungus looking stuff coming out. A friend of mine that used to own a fish store looked at one and just said it was some sort of gill parasite. I treated the tank with Aqauri-sol which wiped out a bunch of babies, and a couple of my small fish. So I stopped using it and after the different form of fungus showed itself on the 2 new female mollies I tried jungle fungus clear since I assumed it would be less hard on the fish and I was right cause none have died since that other time... Well, sorry that this is so long but I wanted to make sure I explained enough this time... THanks so much for your help...
I don't know about the fungus.. but it looks like most of your fish are schooling fish that like to be in groups of 6 or more (tetras and cories) to remain happy and healthy.
Again, we need numbers. Not "everything is perfect".jwxray70 said:
Numbers please.
Yes, you need a nitrates test.
I can't say this loud enough: STOP PUTTING SALT IN YOUR TANK.
Okay? You don't have SW fish and even if you did, that's the wrong kind of salt. Long term salt use will stress, shorten the lifespan and kill your fish.
Salt can only be removed from your tank via water changes.
pH doesn't have a lot to do with it. The other water parameter numbers that I asked for, do.
Yes, it IS a lot of fish and it is far too many for a 29 gallon tank.
No, it is not true. It is total bunk. How many fish you can put in a particular tank depends on the type of fish, not just how big it can get. You've populated -- OVER populated -- your tank with mostly schooling fish and schooling fish need to be in groups of six or more. Right now you have close to 24 schooling fish over 12 different genus and specie. Sounds like a lot of unhappy fish.
Again, we cannot advise you without NUMBERS on your water parameters. We also need to know your water change routine: how often and how much.
The only advice I can give you right now is to STOP adding salt and to START doing waterchanges to remove the salt you already have in there.
Roan
SORRY I forgot....
I am so sorry, I forgot to mention the cleaning cycle and all... I realized it afterwards... I was told to do 25% water changes once a month, but I usually always do more than that because I dont like when the water and tank starts to look dirty... So when I clean it probably once every 3 weeks, sometimes more, I clean everything at once. I use the gravel vacuum and I suck out all the dirt under the gravel... I change the filters, I have a 30-60 gallon tank filter, the dual sided one from whisper. I change both filters and I put the amonia white diamond brand rocks in one side thats supposed to help with amonia? I clean the glass and sometimes the plants depending on how dirty they look. I dont treat the water I put back in either, I was told I dont have to since I dont have city tap water. I have well-water so I just fill up the bottle I use and let it sit while I clean the rest of the tank. Then I fill the tank up after I clean everything. I have one air pump thats for a 30 gallon, it came with the tank, but do you think I need more air too? I figured maybe that could be another reason they got sick if they dont have enough oxygen.
I will stop putting in salt, I didnt know that was bad... I was told by a few people to do it so thats why I started, but I didnt always do it since I had my first tank for a little over a year now. I first tank, which is a 20 gallon, never has any problems, maybe its cause theres less fish in it, I dont know... My first tank has a bala shark, columbian shark, angel fish, a little albino buenos aires, poka-dot botia, pleco, and a chinese algae eater. I plan to get a 55 gallon once I move so that the bigger fish can have their own tank because they are getting big... But those fish seem to always do fine, I never have any problems. Only once I had ick when I first got the tank but I treated it and the tanks been perfect since then.
As for the readings, Im not sure If I understand what you want to know, Im sorry... The ph is usually always the color next to 7.0, is that the right ph? Sometimes its lighter, but thats because my water comes out reallllllllllllllly low, it comes out at 5.0. So when I do water changes I have to keep checking it until I have it right again...
The nitrite is always 0ppm, or blue colored. I dont think its ever been anything else but that in both of my tanks, so Ive never had a problem with that. Same as the amonia, its always clear. So thats why Im not sure if thats what you want to know, cause I dont really know a number, they just test out fine, or I mean, the right color. Do I need different test kits or something? I have all aquarium pharmaceuticals brand.
I will pick up the nitrate tester as soon as I can... Are there any other testers to buy?
Oh in case you were wondering too, the front tank(20 gallon) gets cleaned at the same time as my second tank(29 gallon), and I have 2 filters in that one. One 20-30 gallon and one 10 gallon filter. Ive always wanted to over filter my water, is that a good idea? So I bought an extra filter for the 20 gallon and I bought a huge one for the 29 gallon. I thought that helps the water stay more clean? The guy at the fish store said it was a good idea. I think hes honest too cause I dont even buy my supplies from him, I get them at walmart. What water temp should I stay at too? Someone told me to stay around 80. I keep my second tank(29 gallon) at 80... I think the heaters broke too so it never gos down under that even though I tried to get it to recently, I tried to get it to 78 but it always stays 80... I have 2 thermometers too. The front tank(20 gallon) is usualluy 78-80. Someone told me too a good way to heal fish is to "cook" it out of them. She owned a fish store. She said to turn it up to 84-85 when they look sick and she said that always healed her fish, I dont know... So I did that once and I guess it helped but then they got sick again.
I hope I entered all the information you need now... Please let me know if I didnt, Im sorry. How long have all of you had fish and do you own fish stores or something? How did you learn so much? Just experience? Thats how I learned, although I guess its an unfair way to the fish... But I havent lost that many, not as many as other people say that I know... I thought my fish were happy and healthy, I guess I was wrong, sorry....The guy at the fish store told me I could have only 2 of a kind too if I wanted, he said even 1 was ok with some schooling fish. So I only bought 2 or 3 so that I could have different kinds. When I get a bigger tank I will put the schooling fish in one tank with more of their kind to make them happier... Thanks so much for the help and time!!!!!!!!!
I am so sorry, I forgot to mention the cleaning cycle and all... I realized it afterwards... I was told to do 25% water changes once a month, but I usually always do more than that because I dont like when the water and tank starts to look dirty... So when I clean it probably once every 3 weeks, sometimes more, I clean everything at once. I use the gravel vacuum and I suck out all the dirt under the gravel... I change the filters, I have a 30-60 gallon tank filter, the dual sided one from whisper. I change both filters and I put the amonia white diamond brand rocks in one side thats supposed to help with amonia? I clean the glass and sometimes the plants depending on how dirty they look. I dont treat the water I put back in either, I was told I dont have to since I dont have city tap water. I have well-water so I just fill up the bottle I use and let it sit while I clean the rest of the tank. Then I fill the tank up after I clean everything. I have one air pump thats for a 30 gallon, it came with the tank, but do you think I need more air too? I figured maybe that could be another reason they got sick if they dont have enough oxygen.
I will stop putting in salt, I didnt know that was bad... I was told by a few people to do it so thats why I started, but I didnt always do it since I had my first tank for a little over a year now. I first tank, which is a 20 gallon, never has any problems, maybe its cause theres less fish in it, I dont know... My first tank has a bala shark, columbian shark, angel fish, a little albino buenos aires, poka-dot botia, pleco, and a chinese algae eater. I plan to get a 55 gallon once I move so that the bigger fish can have their own tank because they are getting big... But those fish seem to always do fine, I never have any problems. Only once I had ick when I first got the tank but I treated it and the tanks been perfect since then.
As for the readings, Im not sure If I understand what you want to know, Im sorry... The ph is usually always the color next to 7.0, is that the right ph? Sometimes its lighter, but thats because my water comes out reallllllllllllllly low, it comes out at 5.0. So when I do water changes I have to keep checking it until I have it right again...
The nitrite is always 0ppm, or blue colored. I dont think its ever been anything else but that in both of my tanks, so Ive never had a problem with that. Same as the amonia, its always clear. So thats why Im not sure if thats what you want to know, cause I dont really know a number, they just test out fine, or I mean, the right color. Do I need different test kits or something? I have all aquarium pharmaceuticals brand.
I will pick up the nitrate tester as soon as I can... Are there any other testers to buy?
Oh in case you were wondering too, the front tank(20 gallon) gets cleaned at the same time as my second tank(29 gallon), and I have 2 filters in that one. One 20-30 gallon and one 10 gallon filter. Ive always wanted to over filter my water, is that a good idea? So I bought an extra filter for the 20 gallon and I bought a huge one for the 29 gallon. I thought that helps the water stay more clean? The guy at the fish store said it was a good idea. I think hes honest too cause I dont even buy my supplies from him, I get them at walmart. What water temp should I stay at too? Someone told me to stay around 80. I keep my second tank(29 gallon) at 80... I think the heaters broke too so it never gos down under that even though I tried to get it to recently, I tried to get it to 78 but it always stays 80... I have 2 thermometers too. The front tank(20 gallon) is usualluy 78-80. Someone told me too a good way to heal fish is to "cook" it out of them. She owned a fish store. She said to turn it up to 84-85 when they look sick and she said that always healed her fish, I dont know... So I did that once and I guess it helped but then they got sick again.
I hope I entered all the information you need now... Please let me know if I didnt, Im sorry. How long have all of you had fish and do you own fish stores or something? How did you learn so much? Just experience? Thats how I learned, although I guess its an unfair way to the fish... But I havent lost that many, not as many as other people say that I know... I thought my fish were happy and healthy, I guess I was wrong, sorry....The guy at the fish store told me I could have only 2 of a kind too if I wanted, he said even 1 was ok with some schooling fish. So I only bought 2 or 3 so that I could have different kinds. When I get a bigger tank I will put the schooling fish in one tank with more of their kind to make them happier... Thanks so much for the help and time!!!!!!!!!
Update
Ok I changed 5 more gallons in the 29 gallon tank. Should I do the same for the 20 gallon even though I just cleaned them both the other day? I didnt want to take out too much water, but I figured since you said I needed to urgently for the 29 gallon, I wanted to do it right away. I heard that the bacteria is in the water and on everything, so its possible to change the water too much right? So I dont wanna overly change it..... Thanks for everyones help!!!!!!!!!!
Ok I changed 5 more gallons in the 29 gallon tank. Should I do the same for the 20 gallon even though I just cleaned them both the other day? I didnt want to take out too much water, but I figured since you said I needed to urgently for the 29 gallon, I wanted to do it right away. I heard that the bacteria is in the water and on everything, so its possible to change the water too much right? So I dont wanna overly change it..... Thanks for everyones help!!!!!!!!!!
Bad advice. 50% water change EVERY WEEK!
Good
The filter pads hold a lot of good bacteria. Try replacing one every 2 weeks, and rinse weekly when changing water. Remember to rinse in OLD water.
Why are you using white diamond? This is not needed if your tank is cycled.
Have you tested your water right from the tap? Waht are those numbers?
It dosn't matter how small they are now, balas need to be kept in groups pf 6 or more and need 70+ gallons, columbian sharks grow to 10+ inches, ect.
PH
NITRITE
NITRATE
AMMONIA
Please post your numbers, inthe tank and straight from the tap, in this format
Again size dosn't matter, this is about BIOLOAD, or the waste produced by fish and food.
Temp should be 78f or there about
Forgot to Mention This...
The tank thats having the problem was given to me. Instead of waiting to cycle the water, I figured I would keep her stones and as much bacteria as possible so that it would be ready and good faster.... But then after I stocked it a few weeks later, I learned more and more she wasnt cleaning the tank that well at all... Well I was pretty sure of it when I took the tank too cause it was dirty with chunks of stuff under the gravel. But I figured since I did so good with my first tank, I could turn that tank around and I could clean it up and in time it would be just as clean. Well thats not what happened, I still find the brownish chunks of stuff coming out of the gravel sometimes, and that doesnt happen in my other tank that has no problems. Is that the harmful fungus? I figured maybe its growing under the gravel from when she had it and she didnt clean the tank good... Maybe I need to finally take all the fish out and strip it down and start over? Cause my other tank has no problems...The fish always do fine... Never sick... But this tank, still a couple of the fish a showing signs of fungus...
The tank thats having the problem was given to me. Instead of waiting to cycle the water, I figured I would keep her stones and as much bacteria as possible so that it would be ready and good faster.... But then after I stocked it a few weeks later, I learned more and more she wasnt cleaning the tank that well at all... Well I was pretty sure of it when I took the tank too cause it was dirty with chunks of stuff under the gravel. But I figured since I did so good with my first tank, I could turn that tank around and I could clean it up and in time it would be just as clean. Well thats not what happened, I still find the brownish chunks of stuff coming out of the gravel sometimes, and that doesnt happen in my other tank that has no problems. Is that the harmful fungus? I figured maybe its growing under the gravel from when she had it and she didnt clean the tank good... Maybe I need to finally take all the fish out and strip it down and start over? Cause my other tank has no problems...The fish always do fine... Never sick... But this tank, still a couple of the fish a showing signs of fungus...