Poor little Molly

T

talofaholbrook

AC Members
May 27, 2009
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I inherited a balloon molly that, the previous owner said, had a tumor on and around one of it's eyes an lips. I took a picture of it and gave it to the petco guy. He said it was a fungus and gave me some salt water to dip the molly in. He also sold me Melafix.
Question 1: How often should I do salt water dips? Or should I do it?
Question 2: It's a 10 gallon tank and it smells really funny after I treat it (following directions on the back) and one of my Neons died (I don't know from stress or from the Melafix, this neon was healthy and perky before and died all of a sudden) Is the smell normal? Could my Neon have died from the Melafix?
Question 3: How do I know when to stop treating for the fungus that the molly has?
Question 4: Should I put the molly in a separate tank?
Question 5: Should I do the Melafix treatments along with the salt water dips?
Thanks in advance!
 
if you could post that same photo you gave to the Petco guy, we could help determine if it is fungus or tumor, or if it may be something else.

i would not do the salt dips, or any medicating, until you are certain as to what you are dealing with.

if it is in fact a tumor, i don't think there is much you can do but give the lil fish a comfortable life, provided it can still swim, eat, etc as a normal fish would.

Melafix has melacula (spelling?) oil in it, and that is what is giving your tank the smell.

For the most part, getting sound advice from an employee at a large store, like Petco, is hit or miss. mostly it is miss. there are some stores that have exceptional employees with much correct knowledge, but most of them are not experienced with all things fish related and are just out to make a sale.

your molly should have been in a seperate tank when you first brought it home. all new fish should be quarentined for a minimum of 4 weeks unless you are ABSOLUTELY certain that the fish is healthy and parasite free.

since you have already put the molly in with your other fish, and have medicated your main tank, i don't see any point in now moving the molly to another tank.

post the photo, i'm sure a number of us will reply. stop medicating, do water changes daily (about 50% per day i would say) to remove the meds, run carbon in your filter to help remove the Melafix from the tank, don't do salt dips, feed as you normally would.
 
I have used Melafix with great sucess for minor issues like fin tears and it works pretty well. Other AC people may rightfully disagree. Even though the label says it can be used for fungal issues, I would question it. BFM is absolutely correct- Melaleuca is commonly known as "Tea Tree Oil" I believe. Great minor antibacterial, but I'm not sure about its antifungal properties. If what you're smelling smells a little like disinfectant or acne cream, the Melafix is probably the source.
 
Pics of the Molly

Here are pictures of the Molly. You can see how much it's covering his eye and how far it sticks out.

DSCN0502.JPG DSCN0501.JPG DSCN0487.JPG
 
i would say pop eye, and an extreme case at that. from what i have read, pop eye is a secondary symptom of something else going on within the fish.

did the previous owner say how long this fish has been like this?

there are medications out there specifically for pop eye, and are designed for other ailments as well. i don't specifically know the name of these meds, but others here do. i thankfully have never had to deal with this ailment (knock on wood).
 
Aww! Poor fishy! You'll get him all taken care of though! I'd remove him from that tank, just in case it could spread to the other fishes? I'd put him in a QT or something by himself for the meantime, and for treatment. May save you from more neon deaths.
 
depending on how long the molly has been in the main tank, the other fish are probably already exposed.
 
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