Okay, so, I'm starting to feel like a god-awful fish owner because all of my posts are about unhealthy fish.... Well, I left for the weekend to spend time with my boyfriend who lives across the state. I left my roommate in charge of feeding them because in general, they aren't fussy fish and don't require CONSTANT attention. So I gave her instructions and everything was all fine and dandy, right? WRONG.
I was rushing out the door to catch my bus when I noticed something strange. A new black molly that I had purchased about a week prior had started pooping white, thick poop that was translucent with pink parts to it. Again, I was rushing and didn't have time to snap a picture.
Well, I google it on the bus and people were saying things like "It can change color sometimes, maybe a minor infection or parasite, no big deal, blah blah." So I go off for my weekend and enjoy myself. Well, I returned today to see my new molly dead and stuck onto the filter. My roommate didn't notice him behind the decorations in the tank, so there was nothing she could've done. I have no idea how long he was dead in the tank, but it couldn't have been more than two nights.
So, I get my little net and a plastic baggie with every intent to yell at the pet store owners tomorrow when I realize that he's not coming off the filter. Puzzled, I take a closer look and see that he is attached to the filter by a thick white strand of something coming from his anus. As in, the strand was sucked further in and was keeping him in place. So I manage to pull him off and put him in a baggie and I see the strand is about 2 inches long (the fish is about 2.5 inches long).
Now, here's why I'm posting about this. What is this? What killed him? Can it affect my other mollies? Will the fact that he was dead in the tank for who knows how long sicken the other fish? Is it contagious? What do I do if I see this again?
Now, I was treating the tank at the time with Melafix and Pimafix for some minor fungal issues and possible bacteria. The water parameters were all normal, ammonia and nitrites at 0, ph at 7.2, and nitrates in a safe zone. I had been treating the tank for one week and a few days. My tank is a ten gallon, population of 2 surviving female black mollies and 6 glofish (danios). All are practically babies (the one that died was the biggest, one left is 2 inches, and the rest are an inch or less) and are being upgraded to a 20 gal in a month.
I'll post pictures of the dead fish and strand. RIP 狗!
I was rushing out the door to catch my bus when I noticed something strange. A new black molly that I had purchased about a week prior had started pooping white, thick poop that was translucent with pink parts to it. Again, I was rushing and didn't have time to snap a picture.
Well, I google it on the bus and people were saying things like "It can change color sometimes, maybe a minor infection or parasite, no big deal, blah blah." So I go off for my weekend and enjoy myself. Well, I returned today to see my new molly dead and stuck onto the filter. My roommate didn't notice him behind the decorations in the tank, so there was nothing she could've done. I have no idea how long he was dead in the tank, but it couldn't have been more than two nights.
So, I get my little net and a plastic baggie with every intent to yell at the pet store owners tomorrow when I realize that he's not coming off the filter. Puzzled, I take a closer look and see that he is attached to the filter by a thick white strand of something coming from his anus. As in, the strand was sucked further in and was keeping him in place. So I manage to pull him off and put him in a baggie and I see the strand is about 2 inches long (the fish is about 2.5 inches long).
Now, here's why I'm posting about this. What is this? What killed him? Can it affect my other mollies? Will the fact that he was dead in the tank for who knows how long sicken the other fish? Is it contagious? What do I do if I see this again?
Now, I was treating the tank at the time with Melafix and Pimafix for some minor fungal issues and possible bacteria. The water parameters were all normal, ammonia and nitrites at 0, ph at 7.2, and nitrates in a safe zone. I had been treating the tank for one week and a few days. My tank is a ten gallon, population of 2 surviving female black mollies and 6 glofish (danios). All are practically babies (the one that died was the biggest, one left is 2 inches, and the rest are an inch or less) and are being upgraded to a 20 gal in a month.
I'll post pictures of the dead fish and strand. RIP 狗!
