Dwarf Gourami Swelling Up

Zante · May 4, 2012

My females keep swelling up with eggs and deflating as they re-absorb them, but my male has been right as rain. In the last few of days I have noticed he's started swelling up. He reminds me of a small zeppelin now.

It's not just his belly, he's swelling all round.

He's behaving as usual, and eating normally. He's just blown up.

I'll try and post a picture

Any ideas?

Zante · May 4, 2012

Here are the pics. Sorry about the quality, not enough light.

LucyB · May 4, 2012

Dropsy? I think it is dropsy because his scales are sticking out and he is all swollen up :sad:

You need to treat it ASAP because it kills very quickly, I don't know how to treat it because I have never been faced with this problem but I'm sure another more experienced member will come to your rescue

Zante · May 4, 2012

Mmm... Dunno... He's swimming fine, and as far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong) dropsy also causes buoyancy problems.

betta fish · May 5, 2012

I'm afraid that looks like dropsy to me too, not all fish get buoyancy problems with it and then it usually happens in the later stages they just get bigger and bigger, you could try treating with an anti bacterial product but I have never been able to treat it no matter what I do :no:

others say epsom salt baths, I think it is mainly kidney failure that causes a build up of water within the fish.

Zante · May 5, 2012

betta fish said:
I'm afraid that looks like dropsy to me too, not all fish get buoyancy problems with it and then it usually happens in the later stages they just get bigger and bigger, you could try treating with an anti bacterial product but I have never been able to treat it no matter what I do others say epsom salt baths, I think it is mainly kidney failure that causes a build up of water within the fish.

Ok, I've prepared an emergency tank (only 12 litres) with harder water, higher temperature and some methylene blue.
He's drip-acclimatising now.

I'm using harder water, basically tap water with some added salt (just under a tablespoon), to see if I can draw out some fluids through osmosis, or at least help with it.

Tap water here is 19gh, with a ph around 7.5. The water in his tank is half tap and half RO.

I don't have my tests with me unfortunately, so I cannot be precise on the environment he's going in.

Should I feed him while he's in there or shall I keep him on a fast?
He is well fed normally, with good quality flake and live food at least once a week.

betta fish · May 5, 2012

As long as the salt is Epsom salt, any other salt will just make the problem worse, he should not be kept permanently in salt and only given half hour baths and then returned to the quarantine tank. I hope he pulls through for you, they usually do continue to eat for some time after they get the issue so I don't think there would be any harm in continuing to feed him as normal.

Zante · May 7, 2012

He hasn't gotten worse, he's exactly as he was, but he's not eating now.

I suppose he has to settle in the bare quarantine tank.

I'm starting to wonder wether he's actually badly constipated.

In any case he's staying in the quarantine tank for at least a week.