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1 puffed up scale
By maggie1270 from the maggie1270 department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 11:34:30 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

I have a male balloon molly who has what looks like a tiny bubble on top of his head right between the eyes. I can't tell if it's a scale or an actual bubble. He doesn't seem affected by it, but I've had dropsy in the past so I'm a little nervous. The "bubble" is clear and if he's moving you really can't tell unless he's sideways. Does anyone have any clue what I'm talking about? Because I sure don't.

< I KNOW WHAT 2 OF THEM ARE!!!!! | tail nipping >

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1 puffed up scale | 17 comments (17 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: One puffy scale bubble (none / 0) (#1)
by Angelee on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 08:02:04 PM PST

Ewwww. You said the bubble is clear, like a water drop? Auuuuuggghhhhhh fish chicken pox! Ohhhh Noooooooo! Oh, sorry it's a Mom joke. Is the bubble moving at all, or is it stationary kind of like a lesion? And is it not as shiny as the other scales? (Trying to narrow it down here.)
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE

Re: One puffy scale bubble (none / 0) (#2)
by maggie1270 on Thu Feb 12, 2004 at 06:17:54 AM PST

You're too funny!!! 8)

It looks like a clear bubble. It doesn't move, there are no others on him or any other fish in my tank. I'm wondering if maybe it's some type of deformity that I never noticed before. It's hard to tell if it's shiny. It kinda looks opaque. He's bright orange and black (very handsome and the ladies love him) and it does not seem to bother him. I've had dropsy in the past but I've done numerous treatments, gravel syphons, water changes and carbon filter changes since then so I don't know what to think. Maybe I'll see if he will sit still and take a pic to post.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Not moving bubbles leaves out the first (none / 0) (#3)
by Angelee on Thu Feb 12, 2004 at 10:03:00 AM PST

thought on skin parasites. Hmmm a bigger brain than the other fish? (The tuna with the glasses, yuk yuk yuk.) If it starts to turn grey or white, or if it becomes less shiny than the rest of him... I'd worry. Let me research on it,.. I think that there is a condition that causes a hump, but don't remember where I found the info. You could be right, it may be a deformity that you didn't notice but if it changes in any way, I'd think trouble. I'll get back to you.
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE
[ Parent ]

Well, he's been treated with Tetracyclene (none / 0) (#8)
by maggie1270 on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 04:41:59 AM PST

for the last couple days and the bubbles (yes, there are a couple now) have not gone away. I also noticed that he has a few pink spots on top of his head where the 2 bubbles are. I was wondering if some had popped and the spots are maybe bruises from it. Well, if they are, hopefully the antibiotic will clear it up.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Not moving bubbles leaves out the first (none / 0) (#7)
by maggie1270 on Sun Feb 15, 2004 at 03:45:35 PM PST

I think I've found it could be 1 of 2 options:

1) External parasite

2) Gas-like bubble which can be caused by too much of a water change or by adding colder water than tank temp

In either case, it recommends an antibiotic because when the bubbles pop it could cause a secondary infection.

So, I've quarrantined him and his sister who may have an infection as well, and I'm going to treat them with Tetracyclene.

Wish me luck!
Maggie
[ Parent ]

You know, I just found 1 more on him (none / 0) (#5)
by maggie1270 on Thu Feb 12, 2004 at 06:15:36 PM PST

It's near his right gill. I wonder if it could be some type of blister? I am changing at least 25% of the water weekly. My tank is crowded with older molly fry which I was hoping to take to the pet store this weekend. I wonder if it may be a sign of high ammonia levels, even though I'm doing frequent water changes. The water I'm using I let sit for 3 days before adding. I've also found that a female has something pink near her gills on one side. This is insane!!

Can I cry now???? I can't do anymore to keep this darn tank healthy. 8(
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Not moving bubbles leaves out the first (none / 0) (#4)
by maggie1270 on Thu Feb 12, 2004 at 11:14:00 AM PST

Rather than describe it as opaque, I think a better description would be transparent. I've been trying to search the web but it's been difficult to pin down a good description and if you do a search on the general description I've given, well, let's just say the search was too big to even describe.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

I think I've figured it out (none / 0) (#6)
by maggie1270 on Fri Feb 13, 2004 at 06:53:32 AM PST

I looked on the back of a box of Parasite Clear and it describes some parasites as looking "bubble-like" in appearance. I was looking at him last night, and the one on top of his head looks like it may be going down but he has another near his gill so I'm wondering if it either moved or if it's another one. I was thinking of quarrantining him, but since I've had parasites in the past with this tank, I think I'll treat the whole tank, as another fish is looking different as well.

Oh well, a mother's work is never done....
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: I think I've figured it out (none / 0) (#9)
by Angelee on Wed Feb 18, 2004 at 11:20:29 AM PST

RELAX! There's no crying in the aquarium hobby! (Shouting, screaming, borking, pulling your hair out, that's allowed.) Treat the whole tank at this point. Parasite clear will muck up your water, but it'll make fishy feel better. An even better option would be to give them heavy bath at this point (make sure that if the fish shows signs of distress you remove him immediately. Use the water from the tank for the bath and add the medicine with (and I know I'm going to get nailed on this) a small amount of dissolved salt, catch fish and soak him in the bath for 3 minutes or so. If he shows signs of distress remove immediately. Hope I helped.
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE
[ Parent ]

Re: I think I've figured it out (none / 0) (#10)
by maggie1270 on Thu Feb 19, 2004 at 04:36:28 PM PST

Ok, now how much water and how much salt and med should I use? He's now in a 2.5 gal tank and I have been treating him with tetracyclene for the last 4 days. Tomorrow is the last treatment. Maybe I will do a small water change and wait a day or two to let the tank cycle again and then try the bath. I've never done a "bath" so I'm not sure what to do. He's still eating and not acting like the bubbles are bothering him (yet anyway)
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicinal baths for the fish (none / 0) (#11)
by Angelee on Sat Feb 21, 2004 at 02:24:50 PM PST

Use a small container (less than a gallon will do nicely. Since you have alrready moved the fish make sure you use the water out of the tank he's in. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water and dissolve it (I use aquarium salt but others have used the iodized salt from what I understand)in the 'bath' water. Add the pharmaceudical to the bath ,don't overdose, look at the package and (this is where a measuring device for the water and medicine is especially handy)add two times the amount you normally would. DO NOT LEAVE THE FISH IN THE WATER TOO LONG!! Very important, three minutes tops. If the fish shows signs of distress, remove him immediately! Dispose of the water don't add to the tank. Some aquarians only use salt. I'm quite sure there are other recipes for this, but it's my last resort and I only use it as such. I prefer to treat in the hospital tank because this can be very stressful and dangerous for the fish. But if nothing else works....
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicinal baths for the fish (none / 0) (#12)
by maggie1270 on Sun Feb 22, 2004 at 12:03:10 PM PST

Well, I noticed this morning that 1 of the bubbles on his head has popped. Should I still try the bath with an open wound?
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Yuck, lesions.... (none / 0) (#13)
by Angelee on Sun Feb 22, 2004 at 05:50:21 PM PST

See the post U.S. just made on the flying fish. He has a few remedies in that. I'd also ask the molly owners on this site if they havwe dealt with it. I've only had to deal with Dwarf Gouramis on this subject. The Anabantid species is notorious for getting those nasty lesions. They are particularly nasty and hard to rid your fish of. The medicine it will take to get rid of them can kill the other fish in the tank, and/or stress them out considerabley so that they start having problems, as well. Catfish can be particularly vulnerable, as well as , ghost knifes and fry of the livebearers. I've tackled them before only to have them break out again a month later. My advice is to keep the fish quarantined and if he gets any more during treatment, well... I usually don't advocate culling fish in this manner but,.....I'd cut my losses before the other fish get the disease. Treat the main tank too since the blisters burst in there. Sorry... maybe someone else will have a better way. As far as only a salt bath, I wouldn't recommend it. It's the pharmaceudical that would be the most helpful. A parasite/delouser, but you'll need a secondary antibiotic for the lesions now, too.
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE
[ Parent ]

Re: Yuck, lesions.... (none / 0) (#15)
by maggie1270 on Tue Feb 24, 2004 at 09:15:53 AM PST

Well, his bubbles are either popping or are being absorbed back into the body because he only has 1 big one and 1 baby one on top above his eyes and there is 1 tiny one still on his gill. Maybe the antibiotic is actually working for once. He seems to still be in good spirits and the pink spots on top of his head are also reducing.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Reductions! Yay! (none / 0) (#16)
by Angelee on Tue Feb 24, 2004 at 11:36:57 AM PST

That's a really good sign, keep doing it. What I was worried about was a secondary infection from the open wounds. Watch out for that.
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE
[ Parent ]

Re: Reductions! Yay! (none / 0) (#17)
by maggie1270 on Tue Feb 24, 2004 at 05:31:19 PM PST

Well I hope the antibiotic will prevent that. He seems to be doing ok still. Tonight he's still has the same ones, but hopefully by the weekend he'll be much better. I think he misses flirtin with the ladies 8)
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Yuck, lesions.... (none / 0) (#14)
by maggie1270 on Mon Feb 23, 2004 at 01:54:16 PM PST

Well, I still have some more Tetracyclene and I have some TripSulfa which is a stronger antibiotic. My LFS said that the TripSulfa is stronger and maybe that will help my guy out.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

1 puffed up scale | 17 comments (17 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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