Sick Mollie, Need Help

[Byrdman]

After running a full course of Maracyn and using Anti-Baterial food, the fish have shown no improvement. I still think its columnaris, but I can't figure out what to do now. All the fish are showing the symptoms on their heads but one, and I really don't want to lose all of them.

 

[WILDER]

It's best to use maracyn one and two with a bad strain of columnaris.

What was the medicated food you used.
Medicated food only good if the fish are stilling eating, and getting enough of it.

What your tank temp.

 

[Byrdman]

I've begun using a hospital tank as a bath with double strength Methylene Blue, and then applying it directly to their head with a cotton swab while they're in the net. This is based off of treatment info from http/www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Columnaris.html . So far, the molly that was worst off is showing slight signs of improvement, and the others are pretty much the same. I just started this yesterday, so I'm not expecting immediate results.

I used Maracyn I and II the first time I saw this, and it was really ineffective. According to what I've read Maracyn I isn't a good treatment option since it really only treats gram-positive bacteria, not gram-negative, which apparently columnaris is. Tank temp is at 74 F to attempt to reduce the spread of the bacteria.

Medicated food was Jungle's Anti-Bacterial Medicated Fish Food, and they're all still eating like crazy

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
That's why is best to use maracyn one and two for columnaris to cover all bases.

 

[Byrdman]

Those medications are really good if you catch this early, which I didn't. Thanks for all your help so far though, don't want to sound ungrateful. I wouldn't have even known what illness I was battling without your help

 

[WILDER]

Columnaris can be nasty.
Let us know how you get on if you don't mind.

 

[Byrdman]

Well, they're all still eating, swimming normally, but the sickest one now has holes or pits on the side of its face, right before its gills. The pits are around the eye, near the mouth. They're black too. The pits on the top of the head are more pronounced as well. All tank readings are indicating a fully cycled tank still. Don't know what to do.

 

[WILDER]

It's quite rare for livebearers to get hole in the head. But it does happen.
Do any fish look skinny with bent spines, Or lost any fish to looking skinny with bent spines.

 

[Byrdman]

No, their spines all look like how you'd expect a fish's to look like. I'm gonna start varying up their diet with some viatimens while continuing the columnaris treatment. Can't hurt to feed them better while treating. Also, I saw white mucasy poo from a couple of them.

 

[WILDER]

Is it possible to load a pic up onto the site.

 

[Byrdman]

I've tried, but all the pictures I try to take come out blurry. When my roommate's gf comes over again, I'll have her bring her nice camera to capture

 

[WILDER]

Ok.

 

[Byrdman]

Sickest One 1

Sickest One 2

Sickest 3

Sickest One 4

Sickest One 5

Kinda blurry, but the outline on the top of that one's head is what the others are developing

 

[WILDER]

It hard to see in the pics. Sorry.

I think I would go in with maracyn one and two.
If all the fish are showing the symtoms it sounds more bacterial to me.

Do any of the fish flick and rub, or dart, excess mucas.