injured molly

[dorkopolis]

Hi everyone. I hope I'm posting this in the correct place.

Yesterday afternoon, my three spot gourami, who was always peaceful beforehand, decided to attack one of my little female dalmation mollies.

By the time I noticed what was going on, she was hiding. First she hid behind the heater in a corner at the surface of the tank, and later went to hide in a cave. I removed the gourami, but I'm pretty certain it is too late. I actually expected the molly to die overnight due to the injury to her tail.

This morning she is still alive, and hanging at the surface. Unfortunately, she has damaged, missing, and "ruffled" scales along with tail damage that seems to stretch almost to the base.

She's an extremely little fish, very underweight, and seems to be in too much misery to eat.

Can she recover? Should I give her time or euthanize ASAP?

Thanks (in advance) for the advice.

Edited to add that I do have a little 2 gallon tank that I could use as a hospital tank if it's worth a shot.

[Rue]

It's always worth a shot...fish heal from injuries quite quickly...esp. if no secondary complications crop up (like fungus or bacterial infection)...

[Lady Hobbs]

You will most likely have to make a decision between the 3-spot and this molly. Once a fish has zeroed in on another they don't like, the attacks are sure to continue. Sometimes when that fish is removed he will just pick on another or all attacks may stop. You can opt to treat the molly with some Metafix and Primafix but the attacks will continue on this particular fish by this gourami most likely.

I had 3-spots as well and they were horrible fish. But then I had the golds which are the same (just a color variation) and had no problems with them. However, they were also younger and had not reached their prime. I had Moonlights that got huge (5 inches) and had more aggravation and discontempt in my tank and those all were given away, as well. I even tried to hold the aggression down by buying all of one sex. Still the fights continued and the rein of terror on everything else in the tank.

You may possibly be having the gourami's mating which is upscaling the aggressive. (You don't mention if you have more than one.) If not, you just have a very bad gourami. Fish are such odd little creatures and you never know what fish will deliver a rein of terror to your fish tank. Some fish zero in on just one and some on all. Some fish deliver their nasty attitudes to fish of bright colors and leave the others alone.

Who knows what gets into them but you will most likely have to part with one or the other.

The 3-spots, golds and moonlights are best in tanks with larger fish.

I had a golden wonder killie that didn't bother a thing in the tank but suddenly he decided there was one fish in the tank he didn't like and would go to the ends of the earth to hunt him out in the tank and attack him.

I currently have one angel fish that is a pit bull and has his own tank he shares with a featherfin. He attacks all 8 of my other angels.....male or female, he doesn't care which. He tolerates a platie now and then and also zebra danios because he can't catch them. But all in all, he's a pain in the rear and it bugs me to donate a whole tank to him because of his rotten attitude.

I will be setting up another tank with a severum (or two) and this angel will go in with them. Possibly they can give him an attitude adjustment but my guess is he will be a pain to them as well but I figured I'd give it a try.

Sometimes we have to make the decision if paying $10 worth of meds to save a $2 fish is worth it. And also is it worth it to keep a $2 fish that will terrorize every other fish in the tank and keep them all stressed out.

[dorkopolis]

You will most likely have to make a decision between the 3-spot and this molly.

I removed the gourami from the tank. He was the largest (aside from the pictus) in a 30 gallon -- 1 full-grown mail molly, 1 female molly, 7 tiny little mollies, two glofish, and a female betta. He's back in the 10-gallon and doing okay at the moment, but I think I'm going to isolate him in a net breeder.



You can opt to treat the molly with some Metafix and Primafix but the attacks will continue on this particular fish by this gourami most likely.

I'll keep jerk-fish away from the molly forever more. What exactly are Metafix and Primafix? The only fish-supply store in my podunk town is wal-mart, so I'm certain my options will be limited if I wish to start some sort of treatment today.


I had 3-spots as well and they were horrible fish.

In hindsight, I am now remember that when I last kept a 3-spot years ago, they were, indeed, mean little fish.


You may possibly be having the gourami's mating which is upscaling the aggressive. (You don't mention if you have more than one.)

I only have one. And he's quite a misfit in either of my tanks at the moment. He may need a new home, but I do think he's pretty. Regardless, I prefer the underdog and would rather protect my mangled molly than keep a good-looking gourami.


Sometimes we have to make the decision if paying $10 worth of meds to save a $2 fish is worth it. And also is it worth it to keep a $2 fish that will terrorize every other fish in the tank and keep them all stressed out.

I'll definately try to save my molly and make any accommodations needed to help her recover, if it is not considered inhumane. She's moving and looking at food now. I'm thinking a 2-gallon with gravel from an established tank, maybe salt and some antibiotics, and a nice, quite room to house the tank.

Thank you for your post. It stirred up a lot of dormant knowledge lurking in the back of my mind, helped me realize my priorities as far as individual fish go, and offered tons of great advice! :19:

[Chrona]

Melafix and Pimafix are antibacterial and antifungal medications made by Aquarium Products International. They use natural ingredients from various plants, so it's safe for all fish. Many of the people on this forum (me included) swear by the stuff. It will help prevent any bacterial infections and work to heal the damage.

[dorkopolis]

Melafix and Pimafix are antibacterial and antifungal medications made by Aquarium Products International. They use natural ingredients from various plants, so it's safe for all fish. Many of the people on this forum (me included) swear by the stuff. It will help prevent any bacterial infections and work to heal the damage.

oh great! I think I know where I can pick some up tomorrow. I'll ask my husband if we can make the 40-mile trip to the fish store in the neighboring state tomorrow morning. Sounds like things to have on hand, especially since a couple of my platies look a bit dodgy.

can you put those meds in a tank with a 6-week old platy fry?

Thank you guys so much. This is a very nice forum you have here and I'm proud to be a part of it.

ETA: It sounds as if the gourami will be the first fish to go into the 55 when I get it next month. I only plan to put fish that can hold their own in that tank, so maybe I can keep him and treat him decently.

I'm going to pull the little molly (cup capture) and put her in a quite, secluded two gallon hospital tank. If I can find anti-fungal and antibiotic meds today, I'll add those into the water. Hopefully, a bit of aquarium salt and those meds will help. Or is that overkill?

[Rue]

I wouldn't overdo it...try a little salt and then wait to see what happens...

[Lady Hobbs]

I agree. No reason to give him anti fungal meds if he hasn't got a fungus.

[dorkopolis]

while my husband was out buying the meds, my molly started to gasp and roll at the surface of the water.

Decided that a full-out disease assault wouldn't hurt her more than she was already injured.

30 minutes later - SERIOUSLY - the fish is in a 2-gallon tank (old water from my tank and my 5-gallon reserve) with gravel and a plastic plant from my established tank, salt, malachite green, and melefix.

She is swimming and EATING! Actually she has been swimming more in the past 30 minutes than she has in the past 2 days.

She MIGHT make it.

You guys are awesome. Thanks again.

ETA: I picked the anti-fungal just because I felt it was worth a shot. Otherwise, I would have taken your advice. I thought the fish would be dead in 30 minutes rather than friggin EATING and swimming. :D

[Rue]

If she's showing signs of improvement that rapidly...I'm guessing it's the salt...

...the other meds would take longer to work...

Hope she makes it!

[Chrona]

I would try to get that malachite green out if possible. I've heard quite a few stories about it killing fish in an otherwise healthy tank. Pimafix and Melafix are different in that they use no harsh chemicals and so do not stress fish. I agree with the above posters though, there's no need for Pimafix atm, I was just explaining what they were.

[Chrona]

Actually, I just realized....what do you mean by "ruffled" scales? Do they kind of puff out? If so, then the molly may have developed dropsy. Does it look swollen? That may explain the attacks, as fish will often drive off or try to kill diseased/injured fish. It also may explain the addition of salt causing such a large change, since the increased salinity will have drawn some water out of the body through osmosis before the fish can adjust, which probably would have eased the bloating.

[dorkopolis]

I would try to get that malachite green out if possible. I've heard quite a few stories about it killing fish in an otherwise healthy tank. Pimafix and Melafix are different in that they use no harsh chemicals and so do not stress fish. I agree with the above posters though, there's no need for Pimafix atm, I was just explaining what they were.

yes, I realize this as well. I just thought with the tail destruction, ruffled scales, and totally ripped off scales that it was a "no harm no foul" issue. Now that the molly is better, I agree.

I never liked malachite green. (i also realize the difference between it and primafix thanks to the forum members) I'll replace a gallon as soon as I know the little girl is adapted to her new home.

For the record ... the molly is in a 2 gallon tank separate from all other fish, so the malachite green has only been given to her. Given what it did to my fingernails, I'm inclined to agree that it is not the best option for treating fish.

I'll get primafix tomorrow, at least to have it on hand.

BTW: I had to turn out the light. We only had a 40-watt, which I used to warm the tank. Do sick fish prefer low lights? I might not bother with buying a light if she'll do better without. I have the lights on in the room and she is beside my lighted 30-gallon.

[dorkopolis]

Actually, I just realized....what do you mean by "ruffled" scales? Do they kind of puff out? If so, then the molly may have developed dropsy. Does it look swollen? That may explain the attacks, as fish will often drive off or try to kill diseased/injured fish. It also may explain the addition of salt causing such a large change, since the increased salinity will have drawn some water out of the body through osmosis before the fish can adjust, which probably would have eased the bloating.

She's emaciated. It doesn't look a thing like the dropsy that I am used to seeing in goldfish. It's on her chest and above her head.

Actually I was much more concerned that (if not injury-related) a case of fishy TB might have made her seem vunerable to attack by the 3-spot gourami.

[Chrona]

yes, I realize this as well. I just thought with the tail destruction, ruffled scales, and totally ripped off scales that it was a "no harm no foul" issue. Now that the molly is better, I agree.

I never liked malachite green. (i also realize the difference between it and primafix thanks to the forum members) I'll replace a gallon as soon as I know the little girl is adapted to her new home.

For the record ... the molly is in a 2 gallon tank separate from all other fish, so the malachite green has only been given to her. Given what it did to my fingernails, I'm inclined to agree that it is not the best option for treating fish.

I'll get primafix tomorrow, at least to have it on hand.

BTW: I had to turn out the light. We only had a 40-watt, which I used to warm the tank. Do sick fish prefer low lights? I might not bother with buying a light if she'll do better without. I have the lights on in the room and she is beside my lighted 30-gallon.

Ambient lighting is fine. Some fish do not like bright lights because they come from murky water, but I don't think the molly will mind. There's no real point in leaving it on though, since you aren't growing plants or anything.

[Lady Hobbs]

If she's showing signs of improvement that rapidly...I'm guessing it's the salt...

...the other meds would take longer to work...

Hope she makes it!

Salt was used as a treatment for many things long before all these meds were introduced to the market. I don't know if you noticed the post about my angelfish that had a lump on it's gill for MONTHS. Two days after adding salt it was gone. Soooooo.....who's the say, huh? Your gourami may have detected this was a weaken fish and went after it for this reason. They seem to sense when another is in a bad way.

[dorkopolis]

Salt was used as a treatment for many things long before all these meds were introduced to the market. I don't know if you noticed the post about my angelfish that had a lump on it's gill for MONTHS. Two days after adding salt it was gone. Soooooo.....who's the say, huh? Your gourami may have detected this was a weaken fish and went after it for this reason. They seem to sense when another is in a bad way.

Honestly, I believe in salt. I've cured cellulitis and moderate blood poisoning in my own self by opening and packing the wound with salt. It draws the fluids out (water naturally goes to a saltier place ... thus, infected bodily fluids will migrate to patches of salts.)

Hurt like heck, though! thumbs2: