Fuzzy around mollies eyes

Question
Hello Chris, thanks so much for your help, I so very much appreciate it!  Fred (a/k/a fuzzy eye) seems perkier and so does PeeWee. Fred's one eye is cleared up. The other one is much better. The tank is getting clearer too. So, I'm going to continue with the suggested 25% water changes, vacuuming, and I'll keep the PH steady and temp at 80. I have an airstone in the tank, and it makes plenty of bubbles.

I brushed down the sides when I vacuumed, and the algae is dissapearing and tank clearing up. I put the filter back in.

You know what? I just thought of something that I left out. Last week when I was wiping around the outside of the tank, I noticed a little PINK goo - must be algae, and I've never had that before. I wonder if that is the culprit for the eye fuzz?

Also, and I apologize for "hogging" you time and picking your brain, but how long should I wait to get the medication if Fred's eye does not completely clear up?

And, should I vacuum every day? I've heard that that sucks out all of the good bacteria and causes the tank to go out of balance.

I'm sure you can tell that I'm a rooky, but I'm  trying to learn as much as I can, and there are a lot of opinions "out there" and I've suffered fish loss over it. Pee Wee is the only original of the 4, and I'm really protective over him. He was born in the tank. That's why I searched out you. I truly need an expert, not just someone with another opinion :)

Thanks again!!

Patricia "Pam" Stevens
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Followup To
Question -
Hello! It is definitely a white, spidery type of fuzz over his eye. One of his eyes has cleared up, but not the original one. While waiting to hear from you, I called several fish "experts" at pet shops and got a variety of answers. One was to raise my tank temp from 78 to 82. All said to keep the carbon filter out (now the tank is getting algae).

(1) What temp do you suggest?

I looked at a website "tropical fish pharmaceuticals" and it described his sympton - cottony white growth over the lens. Their diagnosis is Saproglenia Fungus and the treatment Forma-Green, Malachite Green or Copper Sulfate. No one in town has it. Plus, one gentleman said switching medications could cause worse problems. He is the one who said to raise the temp, oh, and lower the PH to 7.0 and to add 1/2 tsp per gallon of water and to just let the tank alone that the fungus won't hurt him and will probably go away with these changes. I have it around 7.5, which is what I understand Mollies and Platies like.

(2) What PH do you recommend?

All I did today was to raise the temp to 80, add a little reverse osmosis water for evaporation loss (our water is hard), and I did add the salt.

At this point the Mollie with the eye problem seems to be swimming fine, but my other, younger mollie (which was a baby I kept from an accidental pregnancy) seems to be swimming with his tail drooping a little. Very uncommon for him. Platies seem happy.

I'll anxiously await your recommendations!

Thanks,
Pam
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Followup To
Question -
Hello, I sure hope you can help me. I have a 10 gallon tank. Set up in Jan of this year.

2 platies, 2 black mollies.
The water has been perfect for livebearers.

Then, about 10 days ago, I noticed a white fuzz around 1 of the black mollie's eye. Just 1 one eye at first.

The only "expert" I know around here is a girl at Petsmart. She said he must have popeye.

Okay. I started treating with Maracyn (200mg erythomycin) at her suggestion. The package said normal filtration. She said remove carbon filter.

Well, 8 days later, the fish still has "fuzzy eyes" - 2 now. The tank is filthy from no filtration. Water balance is still fine - I don't know how. He eats fine, and seems to be acting normally. The other fish are fine.

Do you think he has popeye? Some articles that I've read seem to disagree.

Do you think I'm using the proper treatment?

How to I get the tank clean again?

If you can't help me, do you have a suggestion as to where I should search for help?

Thanks so much!
Pam
Answer -
Hi Pam;

Is the fuzziness like cotton or are the eyes actually protruding? Let me know as soon as you can. In the meantime......

Put in a new filter cartridge and make a 25% water change every day for the next 4 days while vacuuming the gravel. This will get things back in order and it may even cure the fish all by itself. Also add aquarium salt. The first time you add it put in 5 teaspoons. This is a dosage of 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. After this, every time you make a 25% water change you will only need to add salt for the water actually replaced. For instance, if you replace 2 gallons of water, add back one teaspoon of aquarium salt. Fish diseases hate salt. Mollies love the addition of salt and so do other livebearers.

All aquariums need water changes of 25% once a week while vacuuming the gravel. Overfeeding is also very common for most of us and we just have to keep it under control.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Come on over and join us on the freshwater fish forum at About.com to get even more information too;
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/questionsanswers/a/naavigateforum.htm

My member name is ChrisR62. See You There!          


Answer -
Hi Pam;

It could indeed be saprolegnia fungus if it is fuzzy. Use the salt and make water changes. The water changes strengthens the immune systems of the fish and the salt helps kill the fungus. So does heat. You can use "Fungus Cure" or another fungus remedy if it doesn't get better in a couple of days. If it has anything in it that says "green" it will do the trick. (victoria green, malachite green, etc..) Just avoid copper and formalin. They can be toxic to the fish, even when used properly.

Raising the temperature is fine but don't alter the pH. All it does is stress the fish out. Making it go up and down is harder on them than leaving it at a pH that the breed of fish you have don't like as well. PH suggestions in fish profiles are simply what the fish enjoyed in their natural habitat. It doesn't necessarily mean they can't do well in a different pH. Best to leave it alone.

Don't worry so much about the carbon in your filter. Once it has been used for about a week the carbon no longer absorbs anything. The pores become full. If it still worries you, take the carbon out so you at least have a place for the filter to collect stuff. I just cut them open and shake the carbon out of mine if I need to.

If the fish seem stressed out at all or up at the top a lot, they may need more oxygen. Warmer water holds less oxygen so add more with an air pump hooked to an air stone in the tank.

The water changes will get rid of the dissolved organics that are making algae grow. The filter not working with media in it requires these water changes anyway. Your fish should perk up soon.

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

Come on over and join us on the freshwater fish forum at About.com to get even more information too;
http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/questionsanswers/a/naavigateforum.htm

My member name is ChrisR62. See You There!  

Answer
Hi Pam;

Thanks for your kind words..... Don't worry about asking lots of questions. That's what I'm here for!

I'm so glad the fish are feeling better. If they don't continue to get better after a week, then medication may be the answer. The trouble with that stuff for fungus is that it makes the water greenish and/or blue and it can permanently stain your decorations as well as the sealant and hoses. (Yuck!) Medicines also stress the fish and can burn their skin, eyes and gills. I always avoid traditional medications wherever I can. Often causes more problems than they cure. You can use a product called Melafix instead. Most fish stores have it. It is natural and helps damaged tissue heal. Doesn't cause the fish stress at all but soothes their irritated skin.

Vacuuming can be done pretty often but after the first 4 or 5 days of it every day you can cut back. Too much crud in the gravel can cause more problems than over-vacuuming. Just keep doing water changes once it gets clean. Maybe 25% twice a week for the next couple of weeks. This will help prevent the fish from being affected by toxins going up (if that happens) from the bacteria being disturbed too much.

The pink stuff is a slime mold that grows in wet areas. It doesn't get on the fish but is a symptom of overfeeding and excess waste. Once the tank is more clean and less waste is present it will probably not return.

More Followups Always Welcome.........

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins