Molly Disease?

[Bob S]

My mollies are contracting this strange disease that looks like dry
skin. The scales look like they are deteriorating. It started, on one,
behind the gill and spread to the point where she couldn't use her
left fin, and died from it (very sad day... she was our favorite). Now
it looks like another molly has it. I tried treating the water with
Lifebearer when the first molly had it, but there was no change. I
have salt in the water and the temp runs around 82.

Thanks for your help!

[KEITH JENNINGS]

Are the mollies the only fish in the tank ?
If so, there is an easy way to cure most Molly diseases.

Mollies can survive in water ranging from nearly fresh to full strength
seawater, and most disease organisms can only tolerate fresh OR salt water.
Changing the salt concentration from nearly fresh water to 2.5 percent salt
( seawater strength ) should kill off the disease organisms. I recommend you
do a water change to remove anything harmful, then change the salt
concentration over a few days, so it doesn't stress the fish too much.

Keith J.

"Bob S" > wrote in message
om...
> My mollies are contracting this strange disease that looks like dry
> skin. The scales look like they are deteriorating. It started, on one,
> behind the gill and spread to the point where she couldn't use her
> left fin, and died from it (very sad day... she was our favorite). Now
> it looks like another molly has it. I tried treating the water with
> Lifebearer when the first molly had it, but there was no change. I
> have salt in the water and the temp runs around 82.
>
> Thanks for your help!

[Bob S]

We do have some various tetras (neon, lemon) in the tank. We did a
water change two weeks ago.

"KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in message >...
> Are the mollies the only fish in the tank ?
> If so, there is an easy way to cure most Molly diseases.
>
> Mollies can survive in water ranging from nearly fresh to full strength
> seawater, and most disease organisms can only tolerate fresh OR salt water.
> Changing the salt concentration from nearly fresh water to 2.5 percent salt
> ( seawater strength ) should kill off the disease organisms. I recommend you
> do a water change to remove anything harmful, then change the salt
> concentration over a few days, so it doesn't stress the fish too much.
>
> Keith J.
>
> "Bob S" > wrote in message
> om...
> > My mollies are contracting this strange disease that looks like dry
> > skin. The scales look like they are deteriorating. It started, on one,
> > behind the gill and spread to the point where she couldn't use her
> > left fin, and died from it (very sad day... she was our favorite). Now
> > it looks like another molly has it. I tried treating the water with
> > Lifebearer when the first molly had it, but there was no change. I
> > have salt in the water and the temp runs around 82.
> >
> > Thanks for your help!

[KEITH JENNINGS]

Tetras don't handle salt very well. Can you seperate them ?
If not, try antibiotics and hope for the best.

I do a water change every week, more often if fish are sick.
Poor water quality reduces their immune systems and makes them more
vulnerable to bacteria, ick, etc.

"Bob S" > wrote in message
om...
> We do have some various tetras (neon, lemon) in the tank. We did a
> water change two weeks ago.
>
> "KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in message
>...
> > Are the mollies the only fish in the tank ?
> > If so, there is an easy way to cure most Molly diseases.
> >
> > Mollies can survive in water ranging from nearly fresh to full strength
> > seawater, and most disease organisms can only tolerate fresh OR salt
water.
> > Changing the salt concentration from nearly fresh water to 2.5 percent
salt
> > ( seawater strength ) should kill off the disease organisms. I recommend
you
> > do a water change to remove anything harmful, then change the salt
> > concentration over a few days, so it doesn't stress the fish too much.
> >
> > Keith J.
> >
> > "Bob S" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > > My mollies are contracting this strange disease that looks like dry
> > > skin. The scales look like they are deteriorating. It started, on one,
> > > behind the gill and spread to the point where she couldn't use her
> > > left fin, and died from it (very sad day... she was our favorite). Now
> > > it looks like another molly has it. I tried treating the water with
> > > Lifebearer when the first molly had it, but there was no change. I
> > > have salt in the water and the temp runs around 82.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help!

[coelacanth]

Indeed--I know one Molly fancier who keeps his in a
medium-high saline (1.018-1.020) and claims they
never get sick. And they look great!

-coelacanth

"KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in message
...
> Are the mollies the only fish in the tank ?
> If so, there is an easy way to cure most Molly diseases.
>
> Mollies can survive in water ranging from nearly fresh to full strength
> seawater, and most disease organisms can only tolerate fresh OR salt
water.
> Changing the salt concentration from nearly fresh water to 2.5 percent
salt
> ( seawater strength ) should kill off the disease organisms. I recommend
you
> do a water change to remove anything harmful, then change the salt
> concentration over a few days, so it doesn't stress the fish too much.
>
> Keith J.
>
> "Bob S" > wrote in message
> om...
> > My mollies are contracting this strange disease that looks like dry
> > skin. The scales look like they are deteriorating. It started, on one,
> > behind the gill and spread to the point where she couldn't use her
> > left fin, and died from it (very sad day... she was our favorite). Now
> > it looks like another molly has it. I tried treating the water with
> > Lifebearer when the first molly had it, but there was no change. I
> > have salt in the water and the temp runs around 82.
> >
> > Thanks for your help!
>
>