Curved spine

[Squirrelbuddies]

Just trying to figure out what may be wrong with one of my black mollies.

I've had her for about 2 months and her spine has always looked a littled bent. But I can really notice it after she gives birth - which has been twice. I have no males in the tank - but apparently she was already pregnant when I got her.

She eats like a typical molly (like a pig!) She has a sunken belly right now -- but she did just give birth so that makes sense. She was pretty plump prior to that. No lesions that I can see.

She's very young, too. Still only 1.5 inches long.

I've been doing research and tuberculosis keeps coming to mind. But I have heard this is a rare disease. I did a search on this forum and someone indicated this could be a sign of inbreeding. Ireally hope its not TB because it could wipe out my whole tank, right

Anyone have any ideas/information on this?

BTW -- water conditions are great. Ammonia and nitrite are zero and nitrate is 5-10ppm.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Well, I would suspect a fish with TB would be wasting away gradually over time, and probably would be unable to carry eggs/fry. I've seen fish with it before, and they have horrible, sunken looking heads, are rail-thin, have sores and sometimes blood streaks (almost like septicemia), don't want much to do with food, and behave very poorly. So, I would guess on bent spine. Most TB seems to be in ill cared for, overcrowded fish like feeders. So hopefully your girl wouldn't have it.

I had a betta I feared TB on when I got him. He looked like a skeleton he was so thin, had a bent spine, shook violently whenever he tried to swim around, and generally looked like crap. Turned out to just be underweight with a deformed spine; now that he's being fed proper, he's healthy, robust, active, and a good weight.

If you are very worried, it wouldn't hurt to isolate her for observation. If she starts developing symptoms, handle cautiously since TB is a zoonosis. Euthanasia is the best option.

Good luck and I hope your girl is just a little inbred and not actually ill.