can't diagnose my fish! Help!

[rosie T.]

I have a 10 gallon tank that contains 3 mollies and 3 pink skirt tetras. First of all, 2 of my mollies seem to be lingering near the surface most of the time. Just recently, one of them excreted white fecal matter. The other seems to "shimmy" a lot. What does "shimmy" mean anyway? Well, I did a lot of research tonight and just came up with a lot of different possibilities. For example, nitrite poisoning (although my nitrite levels are ok), fungus, worms, and the need for more aeration. Can anyone help me with this problem?
Also, is it ok to try and treat ALL of these ailments together in order to eliminate the problem? For example, treating the "shimmying" problem at the same time dropping in medication for fungus while treating worms? HELP!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ron]

My male and female are doing the same thing. But being at the surface is normal for mollies, their surface to mid section of the tank swimmers. So that normal, As far as teh shimmying, and white feces, mine are doing the same. I cut back on feedeing my female, shes the one with teh white feces, and she seems to be normal now. As far as the male, I separated him, upped the temp just a bit and put salt in his tank, he still shiimyies, but not as bad. And I'm wondering teh same thing about the meds.
Ron

 

[airborn]

treat one symptom at a time.Dont shotgun your meds.More fish are killed by this method than any thing else......Air

 

[Mogo]

Hi Rosie

When you said that you checked you're nitrite you we're absolutely correct. Shimmying is usually a sign that something is a miss with the water quality. I would suggest that you check all the water parameters. Check your pH, hardness (both general and carbonate), ammonia and nitrate.

White, transparent and stringy poop very occasionally is no reason for concern and is likely just fish diarrhea. But continuous frequent abnormal droppings are a sign of internal parasites, could be worms or protozoan in nature. It also can be a sign of an internal bacterial infection.

The first step you should take is to remove the infected fish. As for using meds in conjunction with one another, yes it can be done with certain ones but you need to know quite a bit about the interactions before attempting this. I don't suggest it, as this would expose the fish meds/chemicals that may be unnesessary, and besides, you're also risking an overdose. I would recommend sorting out what the problem is first, as treating for bacterial infections and for parasitic infections is quite different.

 

[rosie T.]

Thanks guys. I'm definitely going to do a double check on my water parameters. So Ron, you think it's not a good idea to treat an infection that I'm not 100% so sure about? You know... just to rule out that factor.

 

[Ron]

Before I would treat for infection, I would check the paremeters, get them all straightened out. See if that helps. If it doesn't help, go for the treatment.
Ron

 

[rosie T.]

Hey Ron!

So your mollies are shimmying too? What does that mean anyway? Is that normal? Can anyone else help out with this question? Because they just seem to be chillin in one place a lot. (Mostly, near the top of the surface).

 

[Angel Lady]

what about your ammonia is it normal if they are staying in one place then my first guess would be ammonia or nitrites do you have salt in there with them if not I would add sometest that stuff and post it then I will get back to you I will look in my disease book if that stuff checks out make sure you check ph to it could be to high or something I am just guessing until you get those results posted.

 

[rosie T.]

Hey everyone!

You all have been so much help!! Today, I did a partial water change (20%) and double checked on my water quality. Everything seems up to par. That was early this morning... at about 10:00am.

Well, it is now 5:30pm and I just lost a molly!

I thought I did everything right since the water condition was good and the fish seemed happy. Then I left for the day, came home... and she was gone!

What happened? My other mollies seem to be ok, but they're still at the surface. Do you guys think I need more aeration? I don't have an air pump, just an external filter. Are they gasping for air?

I don't want to lose another molly!

 

[Angel Lady]

do the mollies have salt in with them or do thier bellieslook swollen or flat what is your ph testing at I hate to hear about you losing another fish work with me on this a little and I will try to help you figure out what is the matter ok

 

[rosie T.]

Hey!

Well, the tank does have salt but I cut the dosage in half since I have 3 tetras in the tank as well.

Their bellies look fine and the ph reading is at 7.2.

 

[Angel Lady]

well since the ammonia and the nitrites are at 0 and the ph is just about right and thier bellies are swollen or flat and they are salt in the water. that doesnt leave much to work with except mabey bad testing kits have you tried changing out mabey 20 percent of the water and seeing mabey if that will make them quit hanging around at the top of the water. If changing out the water makes them quit then it is bad testing kits then> Do they have any red streaks near thier tail fins.

 

[rosie T.]

no red streaks by their tail fins.

But... the molly that died was having white, slimy looking feces just before she died. Worms? Fungus?

Today I did a water change and they seemed to go back to the top again. Should I do another one tomorrow? If you don't know, I don't own an air pump. Do you think I need more air bubbles/ air stuff in the tank?

 

[Angel Lady]

I would do another one tomorrow and also if it were me I would do a salt dip mollies seem to respond very well with the salt dips. If you have the extra air stone then I would put it in there it couldnt hurt. I will be looking this up tonite in my disease book hopefully we can come up with something so you wont lose any more mollie and I am sorry that you lost your fish

 

[rosie T.]

I actually don't have an air pump at all nor an air stone. I'll be sure to get that tomorrow.

i have a question which has nothing to do with my situation, if you don't mind.
( You seem to know a lot!!)

A friend of mine had a fish tank, and recently lost the fish that was in there. He only had it for a couple of months, and it contained 2 blue gouramis. He is now thinking of making it a goldfish tank, and asked me if it was ok for him to reuse that tank for his goldfish. And I wasn't quite sure what to say.

Is it possible for him to reuse the same tank on the goldfish? Would he have to take everything out again, and wash them? Or just leave it as it is? By the way, his blue gouramis died due to nitrite problems, I think. What part of a tank is reusable for a situation like this?