Black Molly Death! NOOOOO!!!!

tigerchrist

I currently have a 20 gallon tank with 4 male guppies, 4 sunburst wag platies, an algae eater, and one surviving black molly. I have the marineland penguin 150 filter, a heater, air pump, gravel, and decorations.

I recently purchased and planted live plants on Saturday of last week and my excitement took over so I did not quarantine the plants. On Sunday afternoon, I realized that my black mollies were acting a little unusual. The black mollies were not swimming around the tank but instead were laying on the gravel. Upon further inspection, I realized that there was white specs on the side of two of the black mollies. I looked this side effect up and diagnosed the problem as Ich. I drove immediately to the store and purchased Ich treatment. I followed the recommended directions; took out the filter cartridge, vacuumed 25% of the water, and gave the appropriate dosage. I have been giving the recommended dosage once a day since Sunday.

Two days after the treatment began I came home from work and saw that one of the black mollies was stuck in the filter. Depressed, I removed 25% of the water again and continued with the treatment. Three days after the treatment I came home from work and saw another black molly dead in my tank.

The third black molly seems to be getting the white specs and I am fearful. The other fish do not seem to be affected by the Ich which is confusing to me.

Please help me!

Pisces47

There are a some things you could try for a few days:
1. Make sure the nitrite levels are zero.
2. I'm not familiar with your filter, but if it uses carbon, then remove the carbon.
3. Increase the water temperature to around 28 degrees Celsius (82 F).
4. Add aquarium salt at the rate of one teaspoon per gallon of tank water.

Are you sure it's Ich? A sure sign of Ich is that the fish "flash", that is, try to rub themselves on the gravel. It could have been something on the plants, I guess you'll never know for sure.
If it's possible, put the infected fish in a quarantine tank.
Good luck.

tigerchrist

Thank you for responding to my post.

I am not sure if it is actually Ich. I am relatively new to aquariums but I will buy a test kit and aquarium salt tomorrow. The remaining molly does not appear to be as sick as the others. She is chasing the other fish around the aquarium. I hope that she will make it.

I was under the impression that it was bad to use aquarium salt while administering treatment to the tank? I thought that I read somewhere that it will increase stress to the fish to do both.

Pisces47

Mollies prefer a small amount of salt in the water but sometimes this can be to the detriment of the other fish, they are classed as a brackish-water fish, "brackish" means slightly salty.
Have a look at the link I have put here and see if you can come up with a symptom that matches.

Tropical Fish Problem Solver Chart

tigerchrist

I will buy fungus eliminator because one of the black mollies that died had white cottony growth on the body and a little near its mouth. I may have been quick to diagnose the problem as ich when it may have been white fungus. Do know if the fungus would attack the other fish? It seems to only affect the black mollies. Thank you again for all your insight.

k19smith

I would not use anything for fungus while treating the tank for ich. More than likely the fungus developed on the fish after it died if you have not seen it other wise. Ich looks like the fish has been sprinkled with a salt shaker.

What kind of algae eater do you have depending on the fish salt could kill it.

Have you tested your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?

How long has the tank been set up?

How long have you had the mollies?

tigerchrist

I have a Pleco - Suckermouth catfish.

I tested the ph level but that is it. I am going to test the water today.

I have had the tank for 3 weeks and the mollies for about 2 weeks.
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k19smith

I would not add any salt with the pleco in the tank, pleco's do not like salt, it could possible kill him.

Did you do anything to cycle the tank when you set it up?

Santaclaws

Can you put a pic up.

tigerchrist

To cycle the tank I have been vacuuming the bottom of the tank and replacing 25% of the water with treated tap water.

I will post pictures later today.

Thank you for your help!
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