Cardinal Tetra Has Suspected Dropsy- Can You Help Me?

[Carp4U]

I bought 6 cardinal tetras but all but 2 were eaten by my kribensis. I moved him to a separate tank. The two survivors were fine and pretty much unscathed. However, i have noticed one of them has been getting fatter and has a white lower body. The other which is small has a slightly extruded stomach as well.

The bigger one is eating well, fins are fine, scales not protruding outwards. His belly seems to be getting bigger since i got them about a fortnight ago, it is also a whitish colour. Is it pregnant? It is just overfed?
I haven't been feeding that much. The tetras don't get much anyway, the harlequin rasboras usually snap it all up first. The pair of cardinals are a little bit nippy with each other but ok in the tank. I was planning to get more.

Tank stats (i know you'll ask for them)

15 gallon (70 litres)
Last water change: Monday
Nitrates about 20
Nitrite 0
Don't have ammonia test kit
Feeding: Flake and Bloodworm

I think this could be abdominal dropsy. I don't want you to ask me lots of questions unless absolutely necessary. If you have an answer, diagnosis and hopefully how i can treat it then please reply as i have had enough of dying fish!! Could it be pregnant?

 

[WILDER]

Bad diet to many dried foods and bloodworms can bloat fish up if they had to many.
The bloodworms are they frozen, live, or freezedried.
Are the fish still going to the toilet, if so what does it look like.
Can the fish maintain there balance in the water.

More frozen foods in brimestrimp and frozen daphnia which helps the fish digest its food.
Cook some frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell, mush between fingers into small pieces and add to the tank.
Don't feed any other foods for a few days.

 

[Carp4U]

Yes, can keep balance.
Its frozen, i add it to the tank and allow the cube to melt but i have less fish so i pull it out before it all goes in like i used to do it.
I have only had it for 2 weeks i noticed it had the belly when i first put it in the tank.
Not seen them going to the toilet but i don't watch them that often.
Should i stop feeding completely unless i add in daphnia and peas? Will my fish die?
Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Is it possible to load a pic up.
Don't feed any bloodworms for a week.

Yes try the peas and daphnia.

 

[Carp4U]

i've tried but i'm struggling to do it,
should i feed flake either?
will my tetra die?

 

[WILDER]

I would leave flake food for aday and just try the peas and daphnia.
As for being pregnant I don't know without a pic.

 

[Carp4U]

you still haven't answered my question- is my fish likely to die or will it recover?
is bloating serious?

 

[WILDER]

Blaoting is serious if she not pregnant.
Epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.
Bloating can be constipation, dropsy, swim bladder, internal parasites, egg bound.

 

[Carp4U]

is it
likely to die?

 

[WILDER]

Can't tell you that without a pic.
It could just be consipation.
Post tomorrow if no improvement.
All you can do is epson salt baths, and a bacterial med if you thinks it's bacterial.
When fish bloat up the tummy can look abit white with the stretching.

 

[Carp4U]

Wilder, thanks for your support!

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[Carp4U]

Hi again, the cardinal is much much slimmer this morning and is still swimming fine, i think it might of just had a bit to much to eat! I have tried the peas however. Thanks again

 

[WILDER]

Ok that's good news.
Feed peas twice a week keeps the fish going to the toilet.

 

[JediWiggles]

Hello, Im having the same type of problem and intend to post a pic later tonight (camera battery is charging)

I have a shoal of 8 cards all with similar symptoms.

-My water levels are pretty normal. 6.6ph, ammonia and nitrites are 0 and nitrates are @ 10.

-The fish were bought about 5 days ago, were tank raised.

-Roughly about an 3/4" inch.

-there bellys are a whitish hue, some more prominant than others.

-they are swimming pretty regularly, as far as tetra's are concerned.

-Sometimes I guess you would say that some have trouble staying balanced.

-I feed them tetracolor tropical crisps and freeze dried brine shrimp.

I never see them poop.

Thanks for the help, my tank can be seen here My Cardinal Tank

Jedi Wiggles