female guppies with dropsy...

[big mick]

I have 2 female guppies (pregnant) with what looks like dropsy. One is worse than the other but what is the best way to treat it and can it spread to the other fish?

I just got them about a week ago, 8 in total but the rest are fine, I have seperated them from the big tank into a seperate tank which houses my blue lobster but they are in a seperate bit so he cant get them.

Do I treat them with some kind of anti-internal bacteria?

 

[Kerryk]

Hi Big Mick,

There are a few medications out there that claim to cure drospy, treat as soon as possible!

(following from www.fishiezoo.com)

Dropsy
Description: Dropsy is a bacterial infection of your fish's internal organs. Being internal, it is difficult to diagnose and is often not treated early enough to save the host fish. It attacks fish that have been weakened due to excess stress resulting from poor water conditions, overcrowding or being moved. It causes excess body fluids to build up making the fish appear bloated or it's scales to stick out. Early stages of this infection may present themselves as popeye as excess fluid causes the eyes to bulge.
Symptoms: The visible symptoms of drospy come from the excess body fluid buildup inside the fish. Bloating, as well as eyes or scales that protrude more than normal may be signs of dropsy. Avoidance of other fish and loss of appetite are also common.

Treatment: Commercial treatments are available from your local fish store. Just ask as soon as possible. If possible, keep some on hand as you must treat this disease as soon as possible if your fish is to have any chance of survival. Usually by the time the scales of the fish are protruding, it is too late.

 

[WILDER]

If the scales are prutruding outwards that's the last stage of the desease, and it usually in most cases fatal, but if you have court it early interpet anti internal bacteria med, good luck, plus salt if you have issolated them, also turn temp down abit.

 

[Jen21]

It really varies in each fish. I also had a case of dropsy in a few of my fish. I had to put 2 of them down because they were not getting better. You might find meds to work, I added some salt and that seemed to work a bit. I still have a few fish that are still bloated, they aren't pineconing, but I don't think they will ever get better- sometimes its hard to get rid of.

Most people say that dropsy is not contagious... but in some cases it can be.

 

[big mick]

Cheers guys, I think she has had it to be honest, the two are in a a small breeding trap at the moment in my lobster tank and I think Im just going leave nature to take its course, if they havent given birth to anything in a few days I will have to do what I have to (Its hard to tell how pregnant they are due to the fact they are swollen), I know the chances of them actually giving birth is slim due to the stress but if they do will the babies be okay?

 

[Jen21]

I have noticed that the only fish that have had swollen bellies have been females in my tank. And of these females with swollen bellies, none of them have had fry. I don't know if this is why or not....

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Actually the dropsy is probably a consequence of the pregnancy, i've had a few heavily pregnant guppys in the past with dropsy and it has dispeared after they have given birth.

 

[Bloo]

I recently had a platy female that looked absolutely huge and as she was pregnant I wasn't overly concerned. Until she started pine-coning She became worse and worse until she died and aborted on death. Some fry was alive for a few hours, but eventually they all died.
Best of luck....