Mollies with Fungus

[WingedWren]

All right, I've been reading back through the ealier posts to see if any could help me. I've found a lot of great posts. You guys and gals are so very helpful! I just have a few questions. We have a ten gallon with three black mollies and two small tiger barbs. Last time we got mollies from Petsmart, they got the same fungus on them. We treated them back then, took out our carbon filter and everything but they died because our tank wasn't cycled, which was probably part of the problem to begin with. Anyway, we cycled the tank, got two tiger barbs and they did well. They are still doing well. After a while, we got two girls and one guy mollies. Soon thereafter, they started getting that fungus. Well, we started them on something the LFS suggested. Penicillin antibiotic tablets...something like that. At first, they just kept getting worse but about...three days into it, they got all better! We were so happy! We did a water change, and it happened again... I don't know if that's really related. Anyway, I believe it's ich, but why don't the tiger barbs have it? Not that I'm complaining... We also have...I believe someone called them planarian worms? Though, now I'm not too worried about those but it does give me a clue to clean the tank better. We do about...a 25% w/c a week. We don't have a heater, but now I think we should get one. If it is the tap water we are using, how do you rid tap water of ich? I'm using stress...zymes, or whatever it's called to condition the water. The ammonia is fine, the nitrite is fine, we don't have a test kit for the nitrate. The fish are good and active. They seem to like each other fine. We have a lot of snails, two live plants that seem to be doing well... Should I raise the temperature and put in salt like people have suggested for other people? I don't want our mollies to die from this fungus again. Ugh! It's like a roller coaster... Good one day, and spotted with white spots the next.

Laurie

 

[Cian McLiam]

Hi Wren,
You really need a heater, low temps and fluctuating temps are a recipie for disaster!! The heater will keep things constant, without it the tank will vary with room temp, so even if where you are is hot, it will vary during the day/night.
Cold temps are also a parasites dream because it weakens the fish and allows them to infect more fish.
Add some salt, bring the temp to 25C and keep the gravel very clean and things should clear up soon. Try to avoid using anti-biotics. They are greatly over used all ready and will probably damage your filter. You have a filter right
The only way to remove parasites from tap water is with a UV filter, use something to neutralise the chlorine/chloramines such as stress coat, stress zyme wont do this im afraid.

Ken

 

[WingedWren]

We do have a filter. No worries about that. We have a penguin 100g/hr filter. We shall get a heater soon. This is my first real tank and with advice such as your's, I will only get better at it. And you say the stress stuff doesn't remove chlorine? It says it does. I hope it does...it's what I'm using to condition my water. Stress Coat, to be exact. It says it removes chlorine and neutralizes chloramines. Well, I'll get a heater and put some salt in there as soon as possible!

Laurie

 

[bodyshop20]

Well you seem to be very up to date and with knowledge.
A heater is a good option as mentioned.
But i was wondering ?, After all symptoms have gone, do you carry on with treatment for a week or two more.
I used to have this with mollies and this worked for me.
I find mollies are durable but seem to be weak to.

Newt

 

[Juggernaut22988]

Aqua salt should do the trick!

 

[WingedWren]

All right, we went out and got a heater and a thermometer. It's about 76 degrees already without the heater, so we won't turn it on unless it goes below that point. I've read that tiger barbs don't like it above 79... Anyway, I'll keep treating, and put in some aqua salt! What do you say, a tablespoon of it for a ten gallon?

Laurie

 

[Cian McLiam]

Im not the best on dosing salt, read this for all the info you need:
To salt or not to salt

Ken