Super sick molly-need help fast!

RackinRocky

Please help- I googled to find out how much aquarium salt to put in 10 oz. of water to give my sick molly a salt bath, and couldn't find anything. All I could find was 2-3% salt should be used in a salt bath, but I'm TERRIBLe at math.

She's a black balloon molly with columnaris. (I've been losing fish to it off and on for months). She was swimming and eating normally yesterday, but I thought I noticed a bit of white on her. Thought it was my imagination or the lighting, but this morning she looks just awful. Gasping at the top, and definitely a lot of white on her body.

I have two bettas in a hospital tank with Kanamycin. I put the molly in 10 oz of aquarium water and started out with about 1/4 teaspoon aquarium salt, dissolved. She looked fine. I added a bit more, and ended up with about 3/4 teaspoon in there. After 10-5 minutes, she was swimming slower so I realized she was starting to stress out.

So I put her in the hospital tank in a breeder and now she's lying on the bottom of it! Not dead, as she does move if I touch her.

Is she a goner? And if she's alive lately, can I give her another salt bath, but mainly, HOW MUCH SALT? I'm afraid she'll die if I don't get help very soon.

Water paramaters are PH of 8, A-0 Nitrites 0 and Nitrates 10. Thank you!

beaslbob

I hope she's not a goner.

FWIW mollies will live in full marine conditions so it is kinda hard to overdose salt at least as far as the molly in considered.

I used aquarium salt for FW tank some years ago at the levels in the instructions. A white cottony growth started pealing off in a few hours. So I suggest you look at those instructions. I think is was on the order of a tablespoon per gallon but hate to speculate.

Best of luck as I have found mollies do better in a full marine environment.

my .02

RackinRocky

Thank you so much for your lightning quick answer! From what you say, sounds like I didn't overdose her on the salt. I think maybe just the moving her into the container from her tank might have stresed her just enough to push her over the edge. She was gasping for breath as it was, and then I moved the poor thing. Couldn't have helped her sorry state. I thought a salt bath entailed more salt than just keeping mollies in 1 T. per gallon. I am so sick of this columnaris, striking over and over again. Can't wait to break down the tank and start the heck over! This one by one, losing fish, is just killing me. Will keep you updated. Thanks so much again!

beaslbob

FWIW I didn't do a salt bath but rather added the salt to the aquarium with the mollies.

do you have any live plants in your tank(s)? The salt was only necessary with an unplanted tank. with planted tanks or marine tank the mollies did much better especially the marine tanks. In fact I use them to cycle new marine tanks.


my .02

RackinRocky

Would you euthanize her, beaslbob, if it were you, considering she's in with the two bettas who are recovering? Please be honest. I don't want to jeopardize them as well.

RackinRocky

Oh, yes, the 55 gallon has several plants and moss in it. The hospital tank has only a miniature sword. Would it be worth it to put the molly in a one gallon tank I have? I have no heater or filter for it though. But at least she'd be away from the recovering bettas.

beaslbob

I generally don't euthanize So can't help.

Sounds very doubtful the molly will make it.

You could put it in the 1 gallon to protect the bettas. with some salt. And not feed for a few days to prevent parameter spikes.

Sorry I can't be more help.

my .02

RackinRocky

Okay, then that's just what I'll do. That way, hopefully the bettas won't get it (if they haven't already). At least I won't be giving up prematurely. Can't tell you how much I appreciate your suggestions.

RackinRocky

I ended up having to euthanize my sweet little Licorice. She was on her side on the bottom, gasping, and I just couldn't let her suffer like that anymore. Thank you for your help to those who replied. I feel so sad right now.

beaslbob

Sorry to hear and we've all had this happen.