White film on Molly?

[justmehere]

I have 4 black Mollys in a 10 gallon tank. One of the black mollies has a white film over its body. The tank has been set up over 1 year with same fish in it. They are fed flakes daily, blood worm & peas or zucchini on weekends. Water changes and gravel are done weekly. Simple tank with a filter on the back. I did check my water stats and they are ok. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 40. This does not look like ICH. Sorry but I don't have a camera available to take any pics. Any ideas?


By the way great site, have been lurking awhile.

Thanks in advance.

 

[WILDER]

Is the film all over the back on just in places, are the gills and fins affected, is it a greyish film on her, is she flicking and rubbing any signs of heavy breathing.

 

[justmehere]

Thank you for the fast reply.

I have not seen any rubbing or heavy breathing. Eating is normal. This film seems to cover almost the entire body including rear fin and looks like now it is over one eye. The gill on this side also looks covered but still breathing and swimming fine. I have moved him to a rubbermaid container but have no heater or filter for it. Since this is a black molly the film looks whitish? Can't really say for sure if it is grey. Thank you again.

 

[WILDER]

I would recommend a salt bath to see if that helps, add some salt to the tank as well if you have no scaless fish,does the tank seen slimey, does the fish look like its over producing slime.
Cloudy eye.
A secondary infection. It either means the tank is dirty, or the fish has a bacterial/parasite infection. Dirty tank/bacteria is the most common cause. Clear up the underlying cause and this should go away. The first thing I would do is a water change. If the eyes don't clear up in 1-3 days, begin treatment for bacteria.

Back to Disease ListNot the writer of the below article.

 

[OrkyBetta]

COuld be a lot of things. Could be fungus, slimecoat issue, or something more serious like columnaris. If you could be more descriptive that'd be great. If you can, quarantine the fish and do a water change so it doesn't spread. I'd add salt to the main tank just to be safe.

 

[WILDER]

Does it look like a bluish white,

 

[justmehere]

The Mollies are the only fish in the tank. The tank is crystal clear. I have never had a problem with algae, as I said before it does get cleaned weekly. I do replace my carbon filter about once a month and it was changed about 2 weeks ago. I try to stick with the beginning of every month. Any suggestions on med for a bacterial infection? Also, how would they contract a parasite or bacterial infection? I do about a 25% water change weekly & do add stress coat w/chlorine remover every water change. Could this cause excess slime coat build up? Can't thank you enough for the responses, much appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Have you introduced any new fish recently, or any new plants, trying to find out if it's bacteria or parasite, a salt bath would be very good.

 

[justmehere]

How much aquarium salt should be added, this is a 10 gal tank. Sorry, was writing & saw your response. No it is not bluish either, wish I had a camera. It looks like a single white coating over the fish. It isn't clumpy or salty looking. I had an outbreak of Columnaris years ago in a tank and I don't remember it looking like this either. I have quarantined the fish & will do a water change now. Thanks again


EDIT: No new fish or plants have been added and no change in diet.

 

[WILDER]

http/ukdiscus.com/ken_thomson_salt.htm
http/www.kenliz.plus.com/Salt_use.html

 

[justmehere]

Was getting ready to do a water change and just noticed one of the other fish has a long white poop. I am now guessing this must be some kind of infection, just not sure what. Any suggestions on treatments? I am guessing I will need to treat the entire tank & not just the filmy Molly now. I do not currently have any salt or medications besides Cure Ich+. I can run to PetSmart as my regular fish store is already closed. Thanks again.

 

[WILDER]

Table salt should be fine, long stringy white poo can be a number of things so don't panic, it can be a bacteria infection,constipation or internal parasites, try some shelled peas first to see if that clears it up, Do a salt bath as you might see a great improvement straight away.

 

[justmehere]

Just wanted to say thanks for all of the help.

Will get moving on the water change now & feed some peas.

If I am using table salt how much should be added to a 10 gal? Also, should I add slime guy back to the tank or watch him for a day or two first. Right now he is in a 1 1/4 gal rubbermaid container with no filter or heater. I don't have anything else for him right now. I know this can't be too good for him either.

 

[WILDER]

Try one tablespoon to the 10gal let them get used to it first, give him a salt bath then add him back to the tank, good luck, look for heavy breathing and flicking for a day or two, and give him some salt baths for a few days.

 

[justmehere]

OK, done with water change and a salt bath for Mr Slimy. I added him back to the tank & they are all happily munching on a couple of slightly boiled shelled peas at the moment. I did add about a tablespoon of non-iodized salt to the tank & none of the fish semed it have minded. I will see where it goes from here.

Let me just say I am impressed at all of the info this site has to offer and how helpful you have been. Guess I should stop lurking & hang out a little more B)
I really wanted to say thank you for all of the help. I will keep you updated.