Please help me!!! Female cherry barb trouble

[divingne1]

I have 3 female cherry barbs that looked like they were carrying eggs. Then when I got home a few minutes ago I saw one of my females was really bloated, scales protruding out around her sides and belly and there is blood on one side of her. Is there anything I can do for her or is she too far gone? Is she eggbound or is there something else it could possibly be?

water parameters:
ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
ph - 6.0
temp - 78 (should be 80-82...thermometer getting replaced tomorrow since it appears it is not kicking on unless I mess with it)

Pictures to follow in a few minutes. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[divingne1]

You can see the blood on her belly.

 

[divingne1]

Here is a picture of one of the other females who have a fat belly but she is acting fine and hungry.

 

[Animallove]

Sounds like Dropsy =[ I don't know too much about it since my fish have never had it, hopefully someone else can help you out.

 

[divingne1]

You may be able to see her scales sticking out in this picture.

 

[leighasnana]

I've never had to deal with this myself but it sounds like your fish has dropsy. Just google dropsy and you'll find lots of info on treatment. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[jm1212]

sounds like dropsy to me also...is there anything that she may have gotten caught under or behind?

 

[divingne1]

She is staying in a cave right now. I don't know of anything she could have gotten hurt on unless she brushed up against the heater. I think it is dropsy myself but I haven't read anything on why she would have blood bruises.

 

[divingne1]

I have another question...I read that she could have gotten dropsy from "dirty water"...were they refering to bad water conditions or dirty water as in feces or something like that. I have a fairly new piece of driftwood in there that I thought I soaked long enough but it the water is pretty tannic. Could the tannins have caused it?

 

[wataugachicken]

no, tannins would not have caused it. however if the wood was exposed to chemicals in the store that got into the water that could be a possible cause. dropsy is caused by kidney failure as a result of bacterial/viral infections, continuous poor water quality, toxin exposure, or organ failure/old age.