CaptainMako
Aquarium Advice Freak
Hey everybody, I just noticed a problem with my mollies a few minutes ago while feeding them.
I have a 29 gallon freshwater aquarium with six dalmatian mollies. I need to do a PWC soon.
Usually they all rush to the designated feeding area when I approach the tank, but this time one of them missed it altogether. I looked at him, and noticed one of his eyes was almost larger than the other, a little puffy. he does have some gunk around his eye, maybe fungus. I checked the rest, and only one other one had the same problem, at least that I saw. That fish was much worse, the eye was very puffy but there was no fungus.
What is this? I don't know where it came from, other than the usual possible contaminants like dust or something.
Worried, because I don't want permanently blind fish, plus I was going to get some more on Friday.
I have API aquarium salt and API pimafix (fungal treatment) at my disposal. They are also due for a PWC.
Please help!
-Shaun
EDIT:
Noticed an old similar thread with a link to a pop-eye article, one paragraph caught my eye.
"If this disease is not detected soon after it is caught the fish can lose one or both of its eyes and its eye sight. Any impact the eye might be subjected to generally as a result of fighting, can cause this. If its one eye chances are it's injury, if its both then it is possibly a bacterial infection. Bad water quality is a common reason enough to be the cause. High nitrAtes/nitrItes, ammonia, metal or plastic poisoning can be the reason too. Unsuitable salinity can also be the cause. "
My problem is probably because of my inconsistent PWC's. If that's the case, I've learned my lesson about not slacking on them. Also, I have about a tablespoon of that API aquarium salt in the tank because I see everywhere that brackish water is good for mollies. I'm not using the right salt I don't think, the salt I have is probably just for treating problems like this. I will stop using it and leave the mollies freshwater.
I have a 29 gallon freshwater aquarium with six dalmatian mollies. I need to do a PWC soon.
Usually they all rush to the designated feeding area when I approach the tank, but this time one of them missed it altogether. I looked at him, and noticed one of his eyes was almost larger than the other, a little puffy. he does have some gunk around his eye, maybe fungus. I checked the rest, and only one other one had the same problem, at least that I saw. That fish was much worse, the eye was very puffy but there was no fungus.
What is this? I don't know where it came from, other than the usual possible contaminants like dust or something.
Worried, because I don't want permanently blind fish, plus I was going to get some more on Friday.
I have API aquarium salt and API pimafix (fungal treatment) at my disposal. They are also due for a PWC.
Please help!
-Shaun
EDIT:
Noticed an old similar thread with a link to a pop-eye article, one paragraph caught my eye.
"If this disease is not detected soon after it is caught the fish can lose one or both of its eyes and its eye sight. Any impact the eye might be subjected to generally as a result of fighting, can cause this. If its one eye chances are it's injury, if its both then it is possibly a bacterial infection. Bad water quality is a common reason enough to be the cause. High nitrAtes/nitrItes, ammonia, metal or plastic poisoning can be the reason too. Unsuitable salinity can also be the cause. "
My problem is probably because of my inconsistent PWC's. If that's the case, I've learned my lesson about not slacking on them. Also, I have about a tablespoon of that API aquarium salt in the tank because I see everywhere that brackish water is good for mollies. I'm not using the right salt I don't think, the salt I have is probably just for treating problems like this. I will stop using it and leave the mollies freshwater.
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