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strange red spots...

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By hbfishie
from the hbfishie department, Section Diaries
Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 01:42:58 PM PST
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my sailfin molly has developed strange red spots on his side.  there are about 3 spots, and I have no idea what they are.  (kinda look like blood)  Any tips? what should i do to help him? my balloon belly is still flopping around, but hanging in there.  Is this bad luck or am I just really bad at fish care?



 I cleaned the water 5 minutes ago, and I clean it once a week. (2 mollies in a 1 gallon fish bowl with an airator and rocks. ) would a live plant help? please give me tips on keeping my fish bowl healthy!
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strange red spots... | 4 comments (4 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
When you say you cleaned the water, did you (none / 0) (#2)
by unclescott on Sat Jun 11, 2005 at 07:41:37 PM PST

change it all? Also does that bowl have any gravel? What temperature has it been in the last day or so?

It is possible to keep a fish in a gallon bowl, but it is much harder than im a larger container because it is so small that the slightest thing can throw the temperature or chemestry off. Also it is hard putting aquarium accessories in there, even if they are scaled to the bowl. ;)

I have used bowls for sorting fry and quarantining or at least holding new acquisitions. Almost all the time, water is partially changed as often as I can. Most, let's say 70% of that water is from an established tank, which is reasonably clean. The other 30% has sat for a week or three in a food quality holding barrel. (Our water supply has chlorine, which will dissipate over that time. We are fortunate in that our water department does not also add ammonia to te chlorine, because that water is much dangerous if untreated.) I try really hard to make sure that the water chemistry and temperature is pretty much the same for the bowl and new water.

Red spots, sometimes called "fingerprints"
of Aeromonas bacteria, can be the beginning of tailrot. Keep up the partial water changes. It might be possible to add an antibiotic, scaling the dosage to one gallon, but i would suggest instead changing 1/3 of the water a day, if you can "season" it for a few days before the water changes. (On your scale, are you keeping a few open gallon jugs with tap water sitting in them?) You don't want to take all of the water out if that is you only fish home, because you can pretty badly set back or destroy the nitrogen cycle.

If I'm confusing you with phrases like seasoning water, partial water changes and nitrogen cycle, you need to Google those phrases or Google {Guppylog and ... each term}. These are necessary parts of keeping any fish, whether it is a mollie in a bowl or a shark in a 100,000 gallon tank.

Also, look around the house and if there is a place for a 10-gallon aquarium. They are 12" high by 20" by 10". A so-called 20 gallon aquarium is even better, if you can afford the space and cost. That tank will still have to be cycled. You will still need to do partial water changes with seasoned water. A filter (a box filter will do fine) and a thermostatic heater is very important. But your mollies will stand a much better chance of living comfortable and full lives.

All the best!
uncle scott



Re: strange red spots... (none / 0) (#1)
by maggie1270 on Sat Jun 11, 2005 at 07:26:55 PM PST

Do you empty out all the water every week?  If so, I'm wondering if it could be ammonia poisoning from the new water every week.  How strong is the aeration?  A 1 gallon is not that big of a tank to be using an aeration device.  Are you using a filter as well?
Maggie


Re: strange red spots... (none / 0) (#3)
by hbfishie on Sun Jun 12, 2005 at 02:52:41 PM PST

Yes, I am changing all of the water every week.  I'll start doing 70% water changes and seeing  if that helps.  I fill a new gallon of water to let sit every week, so it sits for about 7 days.  any thing else?
"wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more, say no more...."
[ Parent ]


If you have no gravel or filter, even 70% (none / 0) (#4)
by unclescott on Mon Jun 13, 2005 at 12:04:25 AM PST

is liable to reverse whatever nitrogen cycle you have and turn nitrates and nitrites back into ammonia! Go 20 or 25 % twice or three (or more) times a week.

As things stand now you are nearly poisoning your mollies. But it is a great environment for the bacteria which are invading your fish's systems. :(

And (for the moment) I'll say no more. (wink, wink...)

All the best!
unc;e scott

[ Parent ]



strange red spots... | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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