Pineconing

Once an elderly fish is pineconing, there really isn't any hope for it, is there?

Dad's tank has a trio of huge black mollies, two female, one male. At least 5-6 years old, maybe more. Noticed yesterday that the male was very bloated, and today he's pineconed Gasping more than normal, although not at the surface, hes resting on top of the java moss tree a lot, although still swimming around a little.

No other fish showing symptoms of illness, parameters are 0/0/10, water changed two days ago. Tank was treated last month for worms, and I also used an antibacterial med to try to reduce secondary infections. eSHa-ndx used, eSHa gdex and eSHa 2000 (the 2000 is the anti bacterial) used concurrently.

Everything logical says that it's an elderly fish, and that he's likely in organ failure, and clove oil might be the kindest solution. But wanted to give it one last check before I go ahead.

I could try moving cories out of quarantine, moving sick molly into QT and using the eSHa 2000 on him. I don't have epsom salts and can't go get some right now, or I might have tried an epsom salt bath. I do have aquarium salt. But it also feels fruitless and perhaps cruel to drag out treatment attempts if he is indeed in organ failure at his age.

Pineconing, ah, normally a sign of dropsy or at least organ failure am afraid

Once fish reaches pineconing in its scales, very lethargic then its very rare you can bring them back at this stage even with esha2000 , salt baths and methylene blue treatments etc

If it was up to me, I would probably euthanise the poor guy soon so as not to pass on any possible infections to the remaining livestock in the tank.

Sorry

Ch4rlie said:

Pineconing, ah, normally a sign of dropsy or at least organ failure am afraid

Once fish reaches pineconing in its scales, very lethargic then its very rare you can bring them back at this stage even with esha2000 , salt baths and methylene blue treatments etc

If it was up to me, I would probably euthanise the poor guy soon so as not to pass on any possible infections to the remaining livestock in the tank.

Sorry

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It's okay, it's about what I expected to hear everything I've read says that there's no coming back once they're pineconed, and organ failure in any creature isn't a nice, pleasant way to go, so I did think euthanising might be the kinder option than letting him suffer. And as you say, really don't want the other fish eating him when he passes either.

He is also an elderly fish. I've held back some of their offspring so we can keep their line going, I was expecting given their size and age that they wouldn't be with us for that much longer, although at least one of the girls still pops out fry now and again. He's been a father and grandfather many times over now.


This is him back a month or so ago, surrounded by offspring. Beautiful boy, sad to see him go.

A lovely Molly. Really nice you've offspring. Hope he swims off peacefully & other fish are ok x

He is a very good age for a molly, 5 - 6 years old, that's pretty good going so he's had a good life

AilyNC said:

A lovely Molly. Really nice you've offspring. Hope he swims off peacefully & other fish are ok x

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Ch4rlie said:

He is a very good age for a molly, 5 - 6 years old, that's pretty good going so he's had a good life

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Thank you both.
I could swear that he's even older than that, that's just the last date we can pin down that my dad got more fish other than the cories he got two-three years ago. The black mollies have been a tank staple for a long time, I think it's actually closer to eight or nine years, but can't be sure, so at least 5-6, but more likely 8-9.
You can tell by the scale of them that they're old, this is a 57 gallon tank, and the black mollies are huge. They dwarf the other mollies.

Okay, can't procrastinate anymore, going to go and let him go peacefully

You could almost go so far as to say they are chonky. Sorry for your loss

He passed quickly and peacefully, so I think he was ready to go
Buried him in the garden.

I'll try to get some photos of his offspring that we'll be keeping later, end on a brighter note. The male we'll be keeping is jet black, except with a tiny light speck under his chin on one side. The young females have more of the silver and blue speckles like their parents.

NC guessed that these are a cross between sailfin and black mollies, which would explain the large bodies, and maybe crossing them gives them some hybrid vigour that helps with a long lifespan? It certainly wasn't pristine tank conditions since they survived off the chart nitrate levels for years. Do want to keep the line going though since they've been so hardy, and for sentimental reasons. My mum loves these mollies, and I've grown fond of them too.

With dogs the cross breeding can mean longer lifespan so maybe. They're a very lovely Molly and nice to have generation go on. Especially as it's a fish your Mom loves.