Black Molly Disease
Flexibacter is a genus of bacteria consisting of some seventeen strains (or species), known for their yellow hue. The unfortunate problem with this disease is that the infected fish rapidly becomes ill and stops eating, especially if it has “Mouth Fungus”, therefore, treating with medicated food may not be an option.
The specific conditions and stressors identified as setting up the right conditions for a Flexibacter infection are:
1. Sudden increases in water temperature
2. Overstocking
3. Infrequent water changes
4. Low water oxygen (O2) content
5. Elevated nitrite levels
6. Uneaten food in the tank, which supports growth of Flexibacter
The treatment of Flexibacter is best accomplished by feeding medicated food, containing oxytetracycline, tetracycline or kanamycin. Other antibiotic-laced foods may contain antibiotics, to which Flexibacter is resistant, such as ormetoprim and sulfadimethoxine, so, substitutes are not acceptable.
