Help ID illness - black molly

[rainbowcharmer]

After I finish stocking my tank, I doubt I will go back. I've already got fish ordered for the tank, and I haven't been able to find them elsewhere. I may check the boards here just in case, but so far I have not seen anyone selling Julii cories, bolivian rams or red spot gold severums... all of which I am planning to put in this tank and which I can get at a low cost through this LFS.

 

[SubRosa]

Very bad idea in this case even in q/t. Marine salt has heavy mineral contents which can even further stress/weaken the fish with damaged/infected skin. Besides marine salt will def increase pH and depending on q'ty of salt, it can be detrimental at times for some fish.
Even when using marine salt on healthy mollies, I would do so gradually although some survived improper acclimation (no acclimation).

I have used mollies to cycle s/w tank and to obtain their frys/juvies living in s/w (as foods) to keep certain s/w fish alive.

Good idea. I don't know how many Mollies you've acclimated from FW to SW but as someone who has done literally hundreds if not thousands I can tell you that common Black Mollies have a longterm survival rate of about 70% when taken from FW and placed in SW with no acclimation whatsoever. Drip them for an hour and survival goes well over 90%. I'm talking about surviving at least a month.The fact that the fish is a bit stressed to begin with throws a bit of uncertainty into things but it's still a surer cure than any med.

 

[Cerianthus]

Good idea. I don't know how many Mollies you've acclimated from FW to SW but as someone who has done literally hundreds if not thousands I can tell you that common Black Mollies have a longterm survival rate of about 70% when taken from FW and placed in SW with no acclimation whatsoever. Drip them for an hour and survival goes well over 90%. I'm talking about surviving at least a month.The fact that the fish is a bit stressed to begin with throws a bit of uncertainty into things but it's still a surer cure than any med.

Firstable, sorry to hear what happened with all the efforts given.

As far as marine salt, not a problem with healthy molly but not with sick one with certain symptoms (Osmosis/Diffusion Gradient). Like i said, some survived no acclimation but 70% is not acceptable to me when 100% can be achieved thru extra efforts. I kept them in s/w lot more than a month in order to have them reproduce to keep certain s/w fish alive.
Cycling the s/w tank in late 70's/early 80's using mollies took just about 2 months and was the cheapest/only way to do it (on hobby level) until I realized very shortly that I can use the sand and water from near by ocean.

Well, used UV to sterilize the natural s/w before and after use along with counter/co current air driven wood diffuser protein skimmer by Sanders, if memory serves.
Although I have not kept mollies in my f/w display tanks for two decade or more, I have kept S/F mollies in s/w ( on and off depending on types of s/w fish/inverts kept/bred) until not too long ago with proper acclimation given to ensure higher/highest chances of survival.