Please Diagnose

[chezulee]

Hello All,

My molly was fine yesterday but occasionally bounces off leaves throughout the last 4-5 weeks, couldn’t really tell if ick was involved because he’s black with white spots but still didn’t see anything abnormal on top of body or fins. Few other fish (2-3) also occasionally bounce off leaves.

We have him in the hospital tank where he is slowly dying. The temperature of the tank is 82 degrees and we’ve added API general cure at a decreased amount because the hospital tank is under 10 gallons (2.5) and 2 tablespoons of API Aquarium salt which we have been using in our main tank for 4-5 weeks because our other 2 Mollys were swimming vertical (Salt solved this problem).

Please help me diagnose his condition through the photos attached. He is trying to swim but is losing energy only moving his side fins not his tail and is barely breathing. This is the 3rd fish that has died in this manner, (2 gourmis’ about 2-3 weeks ago) but thought it was because of an ammonia spike which has been under control for 2-3 weeks now.

My Tanks are as follows:
- 30 gallon with real plants (Amazon Swords, Cardinals, Anacharis and plenty of marimo moss) (Main Tank) - 8/9 week old tank
- Just added a small piece of Malaysian driftwood (boiled for 5 hours to sterilize)

- 2.5 gallon (Hospital Tank) - Air stone and gravel only.

***Water parameters for both tanks are:***
PH: 7.6
High Range PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0 PPM
Nitrite: 0 PPM
Nitrate: 5.0 PPM

Conducted a 25% water change today 2/2/19
API Tap Water conditioner, API Quick Start, API Stress Coat And Microb-Lift Nite Out II used to treat the water each change.

Any advice on his condition would be appreciated so that we can treat our main tank. Please also recommend treatments.

Thank You!
Melissa & Eric

 

[aquanut12]

If multiple fish have died with the same symptoms then it may be a good idea and treat the entire tank instead of isolating specific fish as their health deteriorates. Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnose the disease and what to treat for since fish can exhibit flashing as a result of various diseases and it is difficult to really see your fish in those photos. Are there any other physical changes to the fish other than flashing? Have you seen any clear or translucent poop? are they still eating? irritated gills? excess slime coat? were the fish acting fine after you got the ammonia spike under control?

Once fish get to the point that you described, it is very difficult to bring it back but hopefully you can find the underlying cause and prevent other deaths.