Danio Problem

[Kairi]

well, i gave him a quick salt bath... figured hey, what can it hurt. *ech* now he has the protruding scales and is acting all the symptoms of swim bladder. should i just go ahead and end his suffering or give him a pea?

 

[steelhealr]

Dropsy, as we all by now, is not really a disease, but symptoms of a disease. One might liken it to coma in the sense that the state of unconciousness is not a disease but occurs because something is affecting the brain.

Dropsy is a swelling that occurs in the fish's body that can cause eye swelling and body swelling, enough that the scales stick up like a pinecone. Anything that can cause 'edema' will appear as dropsy. Kidney blockage by infection or tumor or parasites can produce this appearance. As Wilder has noted, one can try and treat for infection but dropsy is usually fatal.

There isn't one specific bacteria that causes dropsy, but, the only treatment we have is to try with antibiotics (Maracyn II here in the US) and use a salt bath.

Coming down with a severe infection related to fish is extremely rare and when it does occur, is usually limited to skin infections and then again, mostly if the skin is broken. In humans, mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that can cause tuberculosis. Believe it or not, it is very hard to transmit and one needs prolonged contact over a long periods of time to do so. Fish can carry TB, but, if you don't have a cut on your hands and you wash after putting them in the aquarium, there shouldn't be a problem. Can it be transmitted tho'? Yes...to skin.

I don't recall any instances of dropsy being transmitted to humans.

SH

 

[Kairi]

well mr. fish isn't bloated. he's a bit pink now, especially by his tail. he isn't swimming anywhere- just sitting on the bottom. the salt bath seemed to knock him for a serious loop.

i'm just out of ideas.

 

[WILDER]

Sh bless him, i asked him to reply to the dropsy being contagious to humans and he did, with fish sometimes once you start to notice the symtoms it's usually to late, sorry he dosn't sound good if he's resting on the bottom.

Good luck bless him, you've kept me up all night worrying, i'm going to bed now speak to you tomorrow.

 

[Kairi]

sorry wilder i went to class tonight so visibly upset my professor talked to me for about 30 mins about the fish. it was really sweet of her. i gave him a little bit of smooshed pea- but he didn't seem to want any.

 

[Kairi]

this morning he's still alive.... unfortunatly i don't have any ice. no vodka. no clove oil. any other ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Just really very cold water then, if he dosn't look good.

 

[Kairi]

i can't tell- maybe i'm too sympathetic? when i turned the light on this morning, he swam (best he could) to the top, so i fed him and he ate a flake. i gave him another salt bath and his breathing isn't near as fast as it was. good or bad, who knows. the pink on his body isn't as pronounced as yesterday either. i put a wee bit more meds in the tank as we changed some of the water out yesterday when we put him in.

 

[WILDER]

He does sound a little bit better, but seen it before look like there on the way to recovery then go down hill fast again, fingers crossed and good luck.

 

[Kairi]

whatever happens will happen. i feel horrible thinking fishie hurts, but at the same time- what if he *is* getting better... i don't know much about how the insides of fish work (which is why i have forums like this to run to lol)- but i'm sure if i did, i'd still have a fit when they get sick. i feel so helpless

he seems to be exhibiting many symptoms of swim bladder too... (he sinks pretty fast if not moving around)- and yet his scales are still sticking out. i gave him part of a pea last night... he still sinks though.

can swim bladder cause the scales to stick out? can whatever is causing the scales to stick out cause swim bladder? any other reason he might be sinking? (his side fins still don't move)

 

[WILDER]

I know been there, but at least you are giving him a chance, and that what makes you a good fish keeper in the end taking care of your fish when they are ill.

 

[Kairi]

that i do... i do that w/ every pet i've ever had though. i'm paranoid about some weird disease in the main tank though- i've been constantly watching all the other fish

 

[WILDER]

I was like that when first started, if i noticed something on a fish, what that should it be there, lol, not to bad now, but still check them over daily.

 

[Kairi]

he's in his last moments.... just wanted to let you know, Wilder. He's on his back now... I netted him as he would try to hard to get to the top for some reason and just fall. Now he's about 1 inch below the surface of the water. Poor little guy.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry, bless him, yes he's dying, won't be long, sorry again.