Molly is Tail Walking - Solutions?

[lanoit]

I have a silver Molly who has recently taken to swimming vertical. All of the other fish seem to be fine.

Other than a 1/3 water change and a stress treatment, any suggestions for treatment? I've checked my water, and all toxins are in the safe zone (though the nitrates were higher than zero, hence the water change). I've heard that tail walking is a symptom of Pleistiphora but I don't know how to treat it. Anybody think a fungus tablet will help?

 

[pl*co]

Sounds like a swim bladder problem. Nitrates are not a bad thing, depending on just how much above zero you are talking and the type of fish. Some are more sensitive than others.

What are your other readings that you indicate are in the safe zone? What other fish do you have? What size is the tank and how long has it been set up? The answers will help zero in on the problem.

 

[lanoit]

Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates all read zero now and he's still doing it. I noticed that his feces are long, white and stringy too. Internal parasite?

Its a 50 gallon tank with neons, a silver dollar, two scum suckers, a couple of zebra tetras. No where near the tank's capacity. The tank is fully cycled, though. This Molly has been very healthy until just a couple of days ago.

 

[oztun]

If you see scales protruding out at 90 degrees and redening around vent area (Hard to see on black mollies) it could be dropsy, otherwise could be bacteria, parasites, or nematodes. Best med IME is Praziquantel, it can treat all these except dropsy which I think can't be cured. Other option is euthinazia, I stick them in the freezer when treatment doesn't work.

 

[oztun]

Sorry skiming post too fast as usual I just registered the feces part and I didn't mean parasites I meant worms. Anyway as previous poster said tail walking is most likely a swim bladder infection and this should be treated with Sulfa 4 or TMP Sulfa. Whichever your LFS has. I'm not 100% sure which one as these symptoms don't normally occur together as far as I know.