dropsy

[keith]

I've lost 2 guppies to dropsy this week, or bloat(sounds like the same thing)

Is this from over feeding? I admit, I feed 3 times a day with flake, dry brine, and daphnia. I feed what they eat in 3 or 4 min. Am I blocking up their intestines and causing this? My water is fine.

 

[Angry_Platy]

I would say that you are overfeeding....I had a few fish that died or dropsy and that was from overfeeding too much food as well....I now feed once a day and never have troubles....they get flake food everyday and bloodworms once a fortnight....oh....and they go a day a week without food....since then I have lost no fish to dropsy...

What I would do, if I were you, is don't feed them at all for 2-3 days then feed them once a day on flakes (what they can eat in 2 minutes)...then as a treat give them them the other things you mentioned....about once every 2 weeks.

Good luck...let us know how you go....

PS...overfeeding can cause organ failure from too much protein....this results in the symptoms you are seeing like dropsy!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

To add to Chook's good advice, whe you first feed the fish after the fast maybe give them peas. It helps with theur digestion. Make sure you use non-salted peas, they do not need to be cooked but should be defrosted if using frozen. They should also be de-shelled and cut/squiched up into small pieces.

HTH