Molly With Issue-Cross Post

[finallymama]

Hello!! I'm new!! Thanks for all the great info on this site!! A bit of the story then the issues.....

My dd wanted a balloon molly to put in the tank with her mini lobster. Ok she's spoiled....we got her A orange and white balloon molly. Bought her, brought her home and put her in the tank!! Awe...she's beautiful!! Went to bed and woke up to BABIES. LOTS of babies trying not to be eaten alive by Mr. McCoy the lobster. I was frantic!! I grabbed a little betta tank, threw gravel in there and started rescueing babies!! (After I could catch my breath I came on line to find out info on molly babies and found this site!! Heaven sent!! Just wish I wouldn't have made so many mistakes!!) So we are now the happy folks of 12 strong little mollies who were smart and avoided getting eaten the first few minutes of their lives!! Yeah!!

Here's the problem. Mama Molly has this thick crusty like stuff on her head and down her back. At first I thought it was ick. Looked online and it really doesn't look like ick!! My mother came over looked at it and said too, it's not ick!! (And mom;s know EVERYTHING, right??) So I took pictures of her and went back to Petco where we bought her to see what it was and how to treat it. The lady said that it's not ick. It might be something called velvet, but they didn't have anything to treat it. So she said molly and everything in the tank, and the babies out of the tank, will all probably die. When that happens get rid of the whole set up beause I won;t be able to get rid of it for a new set up!! MERCY!!

So I went to the only other pet shop in town with my pictures. They looked and don't know what that is!! They think it's probably a fungus. They sold me some stuff to treat it, just in case that's what it is. I asked if I needed to treat the babies and the one boy said no, it could kill them, but the other person, said you would have to because fungus spreads to everything. (they couldn't agree!!)
SOOOOOOOO.........

I came here, in hopes that someone has seen this before, know's what it and how to treat it!! And weather or not I need to treat the babies. They sold me a baby tent so that I can put the babies back in the main tank....safe from the lobster, so that if I decide to treat the babies this would be the easiest way to do it!

If I didn't give enough info, please specify what it is you need to know to help me, and I will be super happy to answer if I can!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH advance for you help!!

Tank size: 6.5 gallons
pH: ??
ammonia: ??
nitrite: ??
nitrate: ?? Have never tested these since I've never had a problem with the tank.
kH: ??
gH: ??
tank temp: 76 F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
White crust on top of head and down back.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: every other week 20%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none yet

Tank inhabitants: Balloon Molly (with problem) 1 Dalmation molly, 2 neon tetra's, mini blue lobster

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Just the balloon Molly.

Exposure to chemicals: n/a

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Sam-Baker]

Are you sure she hasnt just lost all of the scales on the top and back of her head and this white crust being the under skin trying to repair and flaking of, Injurys like this usually occur on goldfish when they get stuck in ornamnets e.g and riggling free causes scale loss and minor skin damage, There isnt any fungal growth in the photos and i can't see any parasites. What does everyone else think, anybody think the same.

 

[squeeky_jane]

Are you sure she hasnt just lost all of the scales on the top and back of her head and this white crust being the under skin trying to repair and flaking of, Injurys like this usually occur on goldfish when they get stuck in ornamnets e.g and riggling free causes scale loss and minor skin damage, There isnt any fungal growth in the photos and i can't see any parasites. What does everyone else think, anybody think the same.

I was thinking that her scales where damaged too, If so ensure to maintain a good water quality and see if you can work out how she injured her self. It should heal up in time and keep a close eye on her for new symptoms just in case we are wrong about the damaged scales.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, I'm inclines to agree with you guys; looks much more like a physical injury to me too.

I can certanily see no signs of the common skin diseases, like ich, velevt or fungus.

Tip top water quality is the best treatment in cases like this; lots of water changes

 

[finallymama]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad I didn't treat the tank for fungus if that's not what's wrong!! Mercy!! What a mess!!
Since we just got her monday or tuesday, and she came like this...I have no idea how it happened to her. I feel bad for her if it's an injury!! Poor thing!!
Water changes are done on saturday or monday here, so no worries, she'll have good care now!!

THANK YOU all so much for helping me with this!! You are blessing!!

 

[fluttermoth]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad I didn't treat the tank for fungus if that's not what's wrong!! Mercy!! What a mess!!
Since we just got her monday or tuesday, and she came like this...I have no idea how it happened to her. I feel bad for her if it's an injury!! Poor thing!!
Water changes are done on saturday or monday here, so no worries, she'll have good care now!!

THANK YOU all so much for helping me with this!! You are blessing!!

Good luck; and don't forget, there's nothing wrong with doing an extra water change (or two)

 

[Jenste]

Ditto - - doing EXTRA water changes will help her recovery immensely!

Nothing is better for an injury or illness than CLEAN water!