Is this dropsy?

Goldiefinn

Goldiefinn

AC Members
May 11, 2009
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Vancouver, BC
Hi - I was just feeding my fish tonight, and noticed my male Ornate Rainbowfish is looking odd -- i take a good look at my fish at least once a day, and this is the first time I've noticed this.... his abdomen or 'chest' area looks thicker than usual -- I guess you could say bloated. And his scales seem to not be lying quite flat. He wasn't very interested in the flakes I put in tonight, which is unusual, so I'm worried that he's got Dropsy.. it would be fairly early stages, but I want to do what I can to help him.

I've got a 28 gal tank, with 2 rainbowfish, 2 cherry barbs and 7 tiger barbs. All my fish have looked very healthy til now. He seems to be the only one affected right now, and I want to keep it that way.

I checked my parameters today and Amm = 0, NO2 = 0, NO3 = 5. I do weekly water changes of about 30%. Temp is 78F. Plastic plants, gravel substrate... did i forget anything?

Unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank. I don't have the space or money to invest in a second tank... if a QT is needed, what are my options for a very simple one?

Any advice is welcome!!
 
If does sound like dropsy. does it look like a pine cone when you look down at it?
I have a female betta that just came down with dropsy, so I have been doing a lot of reading up.
I have in the past treated a couple dropsy tiger barbs with Maracyn-Two with good results, however a site I was reading yesterday, said the active ingredient in that med is hard on the kidney and should not be used.

I have my betta in kanamycin right now. It is recommended for dropsy.

One site recommended a bath of methylene blue, kanacyn, and salt. I went to the fish store for methylene blue, but the store owner talked me out of it, said methlene blue is to hard on fish.

I will search for the website in case you want to read up on it.
Here it is...http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2006/11/betta-with-dropsy.html

Also, a rubbermaid tub container with a filter, could serve as a QT tank.
 
My guess is yes and you should start treating now. I use maracyn two and have been able to save countless bettas from death because of dropsy. Also put him in a hospital tank and treat him with maracyn two and put a little epsom salts in his water. This always helps me and it should be helpful to you too.
 
A spare tank is always advisable. A used 10g will save you time and money. If this is not an option, then the rubbermaid tub as suggested by Twistermom will work but I prefer a tank than a tub as the tank is much easier for me to monitor for any changes.
 
I dont know if a photo will help you, as it's not that noticable.... it's just that he used to be smooth and shiny, like my femal rainbowfish, but now his middle is thicker and the scales on it are a bit 'rough'. It's not the obvious pine-cone look.... yet.

I will look into grabbing a 10gal.... in terms of a QT tank, I do have a spare filter (marineland Penguin 150 biowheel) that's never been used.... how do I set that up without worrying about cycling the QT tank? My current tank just has an Aquaclear 70 filter, with a sponge and a carbon insert.... so I can't really take out an insert and stick it in the biowheel.. is a handful of gravel from the big tank enough?

I'll look into getting some Maracyn II as well...
 
Well, I'm sorry to say that my 7-yr old son just called me at work to tell me that Mr Rainbowfish is lying dead at the bottom of the tank this morning... if it was dropsy, it sure worked fast. My husband couldn't even tell that the fish looked different, but I knew he looked a bit fatter than usual and wasn't acting his usual self. I was going to pick up a used tank this evening that I found on Craigslist too, to use as a quarantine tank.... I am still going to get it so that I have it ready next time, but MAN I was hoping I had a chance with this guy. :(
 
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