Diseases & Treatments
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment For Mollies
Millions of fish hobbyists around the world have Mollies in their tank community. This species of fish is enjoyable and easy to raise.
Mollies are not typically prone to diseases and are an overall hardy species. If you know ahead of time what to look for with potential problems, you will know how to treat something when it comes up.
Image By: Donald (Don) Harrison CC by-nc-nd 2.0
Prevention Is The Best Medicine!
A healthy tank is completely dependent upon good maintenance practices that are routinely done. The number one cause of fish disease is poor water quality. When your fish are exposed to water conditions that are less than ideal, it causes stress which leads to disease.
There are things you can do to prevent disease.
Perform regular tank maintenance.
Water changes
Visual checks of filter system and water heater
Routinely check water parameters.
Don’t overcrowd by placing too many fish in the tank.
Always have a hospital tank up and running ready to use at any given time.
Feed your fish a high-quality diet and don’t overfeed.
Don’t handle your fish.
Quarantine new fish and/or plants before introducing into the community tank.
Symptoms
There are specific symptoms that are indicative of a problem. If you notice your Mollies acting strangely or present overall malaise, they may be sick.
Please note that we highly recommend that you consult with a local aquarist before treating your fish.
If Your Fish Is Exhibiting... | The Possible Cause Is... |
|---|---|
Difficulty breathing (staying at surface and gasping) |
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Refusal to eat |
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Odd swimming behavior (erratic or upside down) |
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Listlessness (laying at bottom of tank) |
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Slow reaction to you or stimuli |
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A rubbing behavior against surfaces |
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Lethargy and fins appear closed |
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Frayed appearance of fins |
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Bumps that are raised and fuzzy-like |
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White speckle-like appearance (like grains of salt) |
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Spots that are black |
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Bloated appearance with raised scales |
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Pale gills |
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Appearance of visible lumps |
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Protruding, bulging eyes |
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An overall slimy appearance |
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Sores that develop on head |
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Open sores/ulcers on body |
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Diseases: Indications & Treatment
ICH
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
- Stress
- The car ride home from a pet store or shipping causes extreme stress on fish. This stress causes the fish to be prone to disease.
- Introducing new fish into community tank without quarantining in hospital tank for two weeks
- New fish can be carriers of disease from pet stores. It’s vital that all new fish (and plants as well) be quarantined for a minimum of two weeks before introducing into the community tank.
- Residual water from container/bag that new fish are placed in from the pet store
- When bringing new fish home, be very vigilant not to allow water in the carrying bag to get into the tank.
- Poor water quality
Symptoms
- Fish having breathing difficulty
- Small areas develop on the fish that look like grains of salt
- Fish rubs against surfaces
Treatment
1. Slowly raise the temperature of the water to 75-80 degrees (F.) This will encourage the parasite(s) to fall off the fish.
2. Remove all plants and objects from the tank.
3. Perform a 25% water change.
4. Test water parameters to ensure levels are ideal.
5. Add aquarium salt to tank water:
a. 1 tsp for every 1 gallon of tank water
b. Use .03% concentration
6. Repeat steps 1-4 every 12 hours for a total of 3 times.
7. After two weeks, perform a 50-75% water change.
Buoyancy Issues
Causes
- Overfeeding or fed a poor diet
- Bloating from flatulence
- Constipation
Strange swimming behavior
- Erratic
- Sideways
- Upside down
- Fish appears enlarged
Treatment For Constipation
- Feed fish 1-2 cooked peeled peas a day until symptoms are gone.
Treatment For Swim Bladder
- Check water parameters
- Clean the tank (this lowers bacteria levels)
- Do not feed the fish for 3 days.
- If none of the above prove successful, consult with local aquarist for antibiotics.
Fin/Tail Rot
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
Stress in fish
Water quality is poor
Overcrowding in tank
Sudden change in water temperature
Symptoms
The fins/tail appeared frayed, fringed, torn or raggy
Edges of fins/tail develop a white appearance from bacteria that eats away at it
Treatment
Quarantine sick fish in the hospital tank for two weeks
Perform a 100% water change
Thoroughly clean contaminated tank and tank decor with hot water (no soap)
Wash gravel with hot water
Rinse filter
Check water pH and adjust as necessary
If symptoms in the sick fish does not improve, consult with local aquarist for fin/tail rot treatment.
Fungal Infection
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
Stress
Water quality is poor
Symptoms
White raised fuzzy bumps appear on fish
Treatment
Quarantine sick fish in the hospital tank for two weeks
Purchase an antifungal treatment from your local pet supply
Treat sick fish per instructions on the bottle.
If the sick fish does not improve after a few days, proceed with a salt bath.
Add aquarium salt to tank water:
1 tsp for every 1 gallon of tank water
Use .03% concentration
Velvet
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
Stress
Poor water quality
Introduced by new fish that are infected
Symptoms
Fish appear to have a slimy film
Fish struggle to breath
Fins appear clamped
Fish begin to run against surfaces
Treatment
Quarantine sick fish in the hospital tank. Other fish in the community tank may be infected as well.
Perform a 100% water change
Thoroughly clean contaminated tank and tank decor with hot water (no soap)
Wash gravel with hot water
Rinse filter
Consult with your local aquarist to proceed with treatment medication called
fFormalin. Caution: if not used correctly, this medication will burn your fish’s fins.
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
New fish are carriers of this disease, and when introduced to a community tank (before quarantining,) the other fish become infected
Symptoms
Tiny green colored hair-like attachments develop on the fish. The area where it attaches to fish becomes red and inflamed.
Fish begin to rub against surfaces
Treatment
Quarantine sick fish in the hospital tank and treat with Dipterex 98% according to instructions.
Monitor other fish in community tank; they may need to be treated as well if symptoms present.
This disease is highly contagious to other fish!
Causes
New fish are carriers of lice, and when introduced to a community tank (before quarantining,) the other fish will become infected
Symptoms
Dark olive colored disc-like parasites can be seen on fish attached around the stomach, throat, or base of fins.
Fish rubs against surfaces.
Treatment
Quarantine sick fish in the hospital tank and treat with medication from your local pet supply. Follow dosing directions.
Monitor other fish in community tank; they may need to be treated as well if symptoms present.
This disease is fatal and untreatable. This disease is painful, and you may find that making the choice to euthanize your fish is the best humane thing to do
Causes
Kidney issues
Renal failure
Bacteria
Parasites
Exposure for long periods to low water temperature
Symptoms
Fish appears bloated and enlarged with a pinecone look. The fluid retention causes the scales to protrude outwards.
The eyes of the fish begin to bulge out.
Setting Up A Hospital Tank
If you plan to have multiple fish, it’s imperative to have a dedicated/separate tank to function as a hospital tank. This tank will serve to quarantine new fish, new plants, and sick fish. Things You Will Need:
Prevention and Your Eyes Are Your Best ToolsIf you maintain good water quality, you provide the best measure of defense against disease. By visually checking your fish daily, you will know immediately if they are presenting any symptoms that may indicate a problem. |
