Possible Fish TB-HELP I'm FREAKING OUT!!!

Emaleth

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Jun 4, 2006
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Okay, I think one of my mollies has tb. He has a little bit of a crooked fin. I have been watching him, and just discovered a small ulcer? or open wound on the back of his fin. He is a dalmation molly, and the ulcer is on one of the white spots, making it difficult to see. He's been hanging back today, but interested in eating. I went ahead and moved him into my qt with another sick guppy who has fin rot. His swimming seems a little labored? Not sure if this is the word, he doesn't swim around alot, just kind of stays in one area. I've done some research on the web, and most say tb is incurable, but is contagious. I am obviously new to fish keeping, and I must say this disease scares me to death. I have seen pictures of owners with horrible skin infections from fish tb. I just did a partial water change in my community tank just a few hours ago, which of course he was in. And just thinking about having my hands and arms in the tank is making my skin tingle!!!! I also have 2 small children and I am afraid they will contact it too!!! What should I do????????? I feel like completely giving up! The last thing I want is a horrible skin afflicting disease that could be extremely difficult to treat in humans. But I also want my other fish to have nice healthy lives!!! I feel so defeated...
 
Wow! That sounds very scary! I wouldn't worry too much yet. Take a picture and send it to my email: mgplivebaerers@yahoo.com and I'll take a look. He may just be deformed or have ich.
 
Here are a couple of pics, not so good, I will try again while you are checking these out...


fish tb

The ulcer? is on his tail, almost midway near the top, it's difficult to see...

thanks for helping! I really appreciate it!
 
Looks okay to me but keep him seperated from other fish and see if the ulcer grows. You should be proud you handled the situation well but next time if you touch the water use clean latex or rubber gloves then wash your hands imiediately and disinfect the gloves.
 
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I don't know if it has tb but something is definately wrong I would call petsmart.
 
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Try and see if you can get a better picture of the ulceration. Usually ulcers are pinkish in color. A white discoloration may be something else entirely, or it could be decayed flesh over or ringing an ulcer.

Rainbowfish are notorious for carrying and displaying TB, so I do know how the thought of getting something can make you feel.

Just wear gloves while working in the tank and try not to worry too much. It's really not as common as you think.

Roan
 
Roan & fishbreeder, thanks so much for your replies. I tried today to get better pics, but they looked pretty much the same as the others. Tomorrow I will try again. She is hanging in there still in the qt. I am dosing my other guppy with melafix. Do you think it's okay that she is also in with it and getting treated the same? Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated! :sick:
 
Ya I hear you on the freaking out part. Been doing that the last few days too, because it quite possible I have some fish with TB. I've had 4 fish die and they looked starved to death, but they were eating. One was a female guppy that just had fry, 2 were 5 week old guppy fry and the last was a female guppy I had recently gotten from Petsmart (She didn't have the same symptoms and the other 3 though). It could be gill sickness from Amonia in the water also though. I'm impatiently waiting for my new test kit to get here in the mail so I can check the water params. (Should be here todday or tomorrow) Hopefully I'll know something soon.
 
Emaleth said:
Roan & fishbreeder, thanks so much for your replies. I tried today to get better pics, but they looked pretty much the same as the others. Tomorrow I will try again. She is hanging in there still in the qt. I am dosing my other guppy with melafix. Do you think it's okay that she is also in with it and getting treated the same? Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated! :sick:
The Melafix is very mild, but effective. It is fine for your Mollie until you get a better grasp of what you're dealing with.
Take care,
Mary.
 
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