Constipated Molly?

[ShineOn75]

I have a 7 month old female Yellow Lyrietail Molly that appears to be constipated.  Her anus looks swollen, possibly compacted? 

I've tried giving her blanched skinless peas and garlic, but so far little success. She's on a 48 hour fast now, though she's a resourceful forager.  Her normal diet is brine shrimp and blood worms every 2nd day and occasional algae wafer. 

Is my next step an Epsom salts bath?

pH 7.8

Ammonia 0

Nitrates 30 

Nitrites 0

GH 250 PPM

KH Buffer 120 

Chlorine 0

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 14 by ShineOn75

[Colu]

Could be having issues giving birth or internal parasites any rapid breathing hanging out near the surface lethargy flashing spitting food out @ShineOn75

[ShineOn75]

Someone else pointed out that it looked similar to egg bound or possibly, a bacterial infection.  No rapid breathing, she still wants to eat and swim around the tank.  But she is clamping her fins.  I've tried blanched skinless peas and garlic with not much success. I was considering trying to gently rub her belly to see if I can stimulate a bowel movement. I started an Epsom salt bath last night. A tablespoon of salt, with a gallon of aquarium water for 7 minutes. She had a small bowel movement during that process. I didn't see her go anymore before I went to bed. 

 I was going to continue this method for 3 days and if no success treat for bacterial infection.  I currently only have Paragard and  erythromycin. Not sure if appropriate for the situation. 

 

Edited September 13 by ShineOn75

[Colu]

On 9/13/2023 at 12:01 PM, ShineOn75 said:

Someone else pointed out that it looked similar to egg bound or possibly, a bacterial infection.  No rapid breathing, she still wants to eat and swim around the tank.  But she is clamping her fins.  I've tried blanched skinless peas and garlic with not much success. I was considering trying to gently rub her belly to see if I can stimulate a bowel movement. I started an Epsom salt bath last night. A tablespoon of salt, with a gallon of aquarium water for 7 minutes. She had a small bowel movement during that process. I didn't see her go anymore before I went to bed. 

 I was going to continue this method for 3 days and if no success treat for bacterial infection.  I currently only have Paragard and  erythromycin. Not sure if appropriate for the situation. 

 

What I would Do is try Epsom salt baths for 5 days 1 table spoon for 1 gallon for no more than 15 minutes  if your seeing no improvement then I would do a course of expel p once a week for 3 weeks 

[ShineOn75]

I bought the Fritz Expel P.  Couldn't find it locally, I had to order it. It should be here in 3 to 4 days. In the meantime, I'll continue the Epsom salt baths. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. 

[ShineOn75]

Update: Tonight was day 2 of giving my Molly an Epsom salt bath.  She did much better tonight; easily completing the entire 10 minutes.  Her first bath, she could only go 7 minutes before I noticed stress.  After her bath tonight, I placed her back in the tank and she swam happily with her fellow mollies around the tank  She hasn't been clenching her fins today, either.  So, some good signs.  She still hasn't had a regular bowel movement.  She's only going a very little at a time.  I'll keep up the baths and soaking her food in garlic and epsom salts while I wait on the Expel P.

[ShineOn75]

@Colu completed day 3 of the epsom salt bath.  Today she was a little lethargic but still swimming and eating at feeding time. She even stole a wafer from a corydora. 

Despite this, I noticed for the first time her flashing.  It was only once but she did do it and I noticed one of my other Mollies do it twice. 

Expel P should be here on Monday 9/18.

Keep the course? Two more days of Epsom salt and then hold out for expel p?

On hand, I have Paraguard, Epsom salt, and erythromycin, Ick-X.

Edited September 15 by ShineOn75

[Colu]

On 9/15/2023 at 10:48 PM, ShineOn75 said:

@Colu completed day 3 of the epsom salt bath.  Today she was a little lethargic but still swimming and eating at feeding time. She even stole a wafer from a corydora. 

Despite this, I noticed for the first time her flashing.  It was only once but she did do it and I noticed one of my other Mollies do it twice. 

Expel P should be here on Monday 9/18.

Keep the course? Two more days of Epsom salt and then hold out for expel p?

On hand, I have Paraguard, Epsom salt, and erythromycin, Ick-X.

I would do the two more days of Epsom salt baths the medication you have such as para guard and ick x  don't treat internal parasites or Gill flukes I would holed out for the expel p 

[ShineOn75]

Good deal.  I'll proceed with the epsom salts.  Thanks for the help. Much appreciated.  

[ShineOn75]

@Colu So, I believe you indeed diagnosed my Molly correctly. I thought I saw her starting to have a bowel movement but I think it's a red worm that I'm seeing sticking out of her anus.  

 

When I get the expel p should I just go ahead and treat the entire tank with it or should I just treat the female Molly that seems affected in quarantine?  She was in the tank several days before I realized what was happening and separated her. 

[Colu]

On 9/16/2023 at 12:55 PM, ShineOn75 said:

@Colu So, I believe you indeed diagnosed my Molly correctly. I thought I saw her starting to have a bowel movement but I think it's a red worm that I'm seeing sticking out of her anus.  

 

When I get the expel p should I just go ahead and treat the entire tank with it or should I just treat the female Molly that seems affected in quarantine?  She was in the tank several days before I realized what was happening and separated her. 

I would treat the whole tank with expel p I would do a minimum of three full course of expel p it can take upto 4 course of expel p 

Edited September 16 by Colu