Help ID illness - black molly

Does fungus normally cause the scales to "pop" out like that? I don't have an issue treating with the meds, I just want to be sure I'm treating with the appropriate med so I don't cause further problems.

I'll see about picking up something on my way home from work today. Hopefully she'll still be around when I get home.

Also - how long do meds last as far as shelf-life goes? If I store them in the fridge will they be viable longer?
 
No it doesn't. It doesn't look anything like body fungus, which presents as long grey threads.
 
Thanks Karl. The body fungus I have seen in the past was very "fuzzy" looking if that makes sense, and this looks nothing like that, so I was not sure if this is a different type that I had perhaps not seen before. I'll keep using the salt and see what happens.
 
Pimafix and Melafix can be use to treat a wide range of maladies so whether you agree with me or not on what that malady actually is, you can still use Pimafix and Melafix. They're not like many chemically based medications that target specifically one disease. Whatever is on that Molly, I can say that she is prone to secondary infection, such as body fungus, that Pimafix and Melafix can prevent.
 
Well as of this afternoon she still looks the same. Still acting normally. I am headed to the LFS shortly to see about the pimafix/melafix. Hopefully it will be OK for her. I've got 2 TBL salt per 5 gal in there right now. Not sure if I should increase it or not? ATM she looks comfortable as far as the salt goes, but I don't want to overdo it.

I'll see what the directions on the meds say and go from there.
 
Well I don't have a microscope, so that option is not really viable.

I did go back to the LFS tonight to see what they thought. I sent them pictures, and then went in to talk to the owner for a bit.

I had one concern about something he mentioned - he was worried that I did not cycle the water in the hospital tank. Putting a cycled filter on it (according to him) was not enough to cycle the tank. I needed to cycle the water too. This sounds weird to me, since the majority of the bacteria live in the filter (so I thought anyhow), not in the water column. If it lived in the water, I'd have to re-cycle the tank every time I did a w/c.

Anyhow, after that bizarre comment, he thought that the issue might be an internal parasite, and sold me two things - one med for the water in the hospital tank (PraziPro), and one vitamin suppliment (Seachem Nourish) to feed all of the fish (in hopes that it will keep the other's immune systems up so they don't get whatever this is). I'm soaking the food in it and then feeding the soaked food (with a bit of garlic). He said that may work better than an antibiotic since it will help build their immune system. I'm not sure if it will work or not but I guess we'll see what happens.

He said definitely do not use pima fix or mela fix. He hates them and says they are more destructive than they are helpful. I have never used them, so I don't have an opinion, but he doesn't sell them, so they weren't an option.

He did say that marcyn and maracyn 2 may be helpful but he wants to try this first and go from there.

So.... I did a 90% w/c, added the aquarium salt back in (5 tbs this time), and added the med to the water, and turned up the heat.

I have my fingers crossed. I hope she makes it. I just spent $30 on meds for a $2 fish....
 
I hope so, too! I just read your thread. I've got sick guppies, and I just learned how tough it is when they get sick - even if they are "just fish". Once you take them into your care, they squirm their little ways into your heart.

Honestly, I don't know much about fish disease as I'm a rookie, but I thought I'd send you some good vibes anyhow.

Best of luck for your molly, rainbow!
 
RC, I did some more checking with Dr. Google and ran across an interesting site called "wetwebmedia.com". It sounds like a talk radio show would look if it was all conducted by email. :) People send in questions about fish ailments or situations and the operators give advice. Sort of a Dear Abby for fishkeepers.

Anyway, they got a question about a molly pineconed in the same way yours is --a patch on one side, not around the midsection like it would if it were dropsy.

Their suggestion was to put iodine on it. Net the fish out and daub/Qtip/swab straight iodine onto the piney area. Sounded goofy at first but the more I think about it...might be something to consider if the course you're currently on doesn't solve the problem.

Unfortunately they did not say what they thought the problem was, just "I suspect this needs a topical address." And this at least puts the treatment right on the source of the problem rather than dosing the whole volume of the tank.

It's a very long page (this exchange is maybe 1/4 the way down from the top) and I didn't read through to see if the questioner ever came back to say if this worked or not. At any rate this is at least a condition that other people have been through with mollies so you are not alone here.
 
I agree with KarlTH and the V that this looks more like a parasitic or bacterial problem. The salt may help it this is parasitic, not any help if it's Sporozoa.

Watch her carefully and note any changes in the appearance of the area, and any behavioral changes. Post when you can with updates. More photos could be helpful.

Your lfs guy is not as knowledgeable as you would wish, the bacteria are not significantly in the water column.

They are in the filter, as you stated, and on the substrate, decor, plants, even the glass walls of the tank. Your putting a cycled filter in the tank was just right, the HT is cycled.

I would do tests daily, however, and do water changes as needed to keep the parameters at ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and you won't have to worry about nitrate for a while in that tank, but 20ppm of nitrate is a good reading.

I hope your Molly is feeling better soon. A good appetite is a good sign.
 
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