Molly Loosing Scales

[SlateSpider]

My Black Molly is losing scales on a place near her 'shoulder' I guess you could call it (behind her left gill). There are only a few missing, but it is definitely noticeable. There is also a fungus-like look to it, even though I have been treating the fungus for a while now. If there is any possible way to help my baby, please let me know.

 

[Thyra]

First of all have you tested your water? Poor water conditions and crowding is the precipitating cause of most diseases in fish. Under the circumstances you may need to do partial water changes daily, but until you test the water, you really don't know where you are at. Clear water does not necessarily mean good water.

 

[Hanna87]

I agree with Thyra, you should really test your water. That's probably why your having so many problems with your fish, that and over stocking. Upgrade your tank if you can.

 

[KcMopar]

All of these secondary infections your fish are getting is in direct relation to bad water conditions.

 

[Hanna87]

It's a little harder then just filling your tank full of water and putting fish in and expecting them to live. Take your water in to where ever you get your fish and have it tested if you can't buy a test kit.

 

[SlateSpider]

Well, I just went to the City Zoo Pet Center, not too far away, and brought my water in to be tested. Everything is fine, except for Ammonia. The lady who helped me gave me some advice on how to lower the ammonia levels, and about general fish care. I also learned that Black Mollies all have some sort of thing that they get, which is white fuzz that grows all over their bodies. It is pretty hard to stop, but won't kill them.

I also was thinking about getting a snail to clean the tank a bit. Since my tank is already pretty full, would you suggest that I wait a while until I don't have as many fish until I add anything else to the tank? The lady who helped me said that I shouldn't put any more fish or anything until the ammonia levels go down, and to come back in about a week to get the water tested again. When the levels do go down, should I get the snail, or would it cause any stress to the rest of the fish in the tank?

 

[Thyra]

You don't say what your ammonia level is, but how do you plan on getting it down? I have had mollies for several years and never heard of the "white fuzz" thing. I don't think I would put anything else in your tank until you get it cycled - meaning the ammonia level 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate about 10 - 20. Your tank is not cycled until you reach these numbers.

 

[Hanna87]

I wouldnt put a snail in at all. I don't know much about them, but what I've heard is that they multiply like crazy. I'm sure someone else could give you better information about them as I'm sure it all depends on what kind you get. That's the reason I stay away from them though.
If you want to add more to your tank upgrade to a bigger tank. If you keep adding more to the tank you have now you'll most likly continue to have problems. The more fish, the more waste, causing your parameters (ammonia) to rise.

 

[OrangeCones]

brought my water in to be tested. Everything is fine, except for Ammonia.

What are the actual readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? There is no reading on the charts that say 'fine.' I would take another sample in and a pad of paper, and write down the exact numbers. Are they using 'dip strips' or a liquid test kit that had test tubes?

The lady who helped me gave me some advice on how to lower the ammonia levels

What advice did she give you to lower ammonia levels?

I also learned that Black Mollies all have some sort of thing that they get, which is white fuzz that grows all over their bodies. It is pretty hard to stop, but won't kill them.

Is this what you learned from the pet store lady? Please get the name of this 'white fuzz' so we can all learn.

I've bred mollies since the 70s (in fresh, brackish, and saltwater) as pets and feeders for meat eating fish, and have never heard of them (or any other fish) that all get a white fuzz that grows on their bodies, hard to stop, but doesn't kill.

 

[OrangeCones]

I don't know much about them, but what I've heard is that they multiply like crazy.

They will only 'multiply like crazy' if you are overfeeding your tank. They will take in whatever they find to eat and use that to reproduce. If there is not a lot of 'extra' food for them to find, their numbers stay stable.

But I agree 100% about not adding anything else here.

 

[KcMopar]

SlateSpider, any amount of ammonia is VERY BAD!!! Its like a human trying to breath the gas coming out of the tailpipe of a car, it would kill them or make them very sick. How many fish do you have left in your tank now and what size is it???

 

[SlateSpider]

I have a 10 gallon with all of the fish in the signature except for betta (he is in a bowl).

Yes, the lady used the liquid test tube things, but she didn't say any numbers.

She told me to take out 1/4 the water once a week (refill of course), put in this 'Stress Zyme' stuff, and clean out gravel once a month.

You know, the problem is that the people who work at petco are just people looking for a job, and they are not very experienced, since it is a (pretty much) nationwide company. City Zoo has people that are professionals. For example, if you were trying to decide which product is right for your problem, the people at Petco would just pick up the item, and read on the back what the differences are. I can do that myself! The people at City Zoo actually have experience with the items and fish. Petco also has all their fish tanks on one big filtration system, so if one fish gets infected, all of them do. City zoo has all the fish in total separate tanks!

 

[Thyra]

I am sorry, but the professional lady should have told you the readings and explained how bad the ammonia was and vacuuming your tank once a month definitely isn't enough with the stocking of your tank.

 

[KcMopar]

Usually, in my experience an over stocked tank needs one weekly water change and an excellent vacuum job of at least 50-75% or two a week of about 25-40% with an excellent vacuum job with both water changes.

 

[SlateSpider]

I probably wasn't clear on how many fish were in my tank. She probably just didn't know!