Gourami-Not Sure If Dropsy?

[MegaZerino]

Hello, over the past 2 days ive noticed my dwarf gourmi has suddenly become elephantised. I'm not sure if it is male or female so i cant be sure if it has just been full of eggs, but after some small research I am thinking it could be dropsy. Although I read that this is caused by poor water quality. But i did a 100% water change last friday (I kept the filter media) to add sand over the top of the substrate. The scales are starting to protrude, but it seems to be behaving just as usual, still slightly shy, but happily bobbing about as before. Could anyone give me some advice as what it could be, which treatments are best, and what to do next. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Here are some pictures, I am sorry but it's very shy so this is the best i could do.

It sort of looks like this: http/mysite.verizon.net/niphredil/fish/101_0158.JPG
But not as severe as this: http/www.aqua-fish.net/comments_uploads/1325041978-care-of-blue-gourami-faq-and-forum-8962.jpg

 

[the_lock_man]

I'm not 100% certain, because the scales are sticking out very far, but it could well be dropsy.

Dropsy isn't necessarily caused by poor water, it can be caused by one of a number of issues. In the majority of cases, it's fatal, but you could try giving the fish a bath in espom salts to try to draw out the internal fluid.

 

[comocrayfish5]

I'm not 100% certain, because the scales are sticking out very far, but it could well be dropsy.

Dropsy isn't necessarily caused by poor water, it can be caused by one of a number of issues. In the majority of cases, it's fatal, but you could try giving the fish a bath in espom salts to try to draw out the internal fluid.

yes i agree. it does look like dropsy. i would isolate the fish.

 

[KrystaK]

If you put it in a quarantine tank, even just a 5 gal. Add at least twice the recommended amount of aquarium salt or unscented epsom salts (Make sure they're unscented. The salt should draw off the fluid build up in the body cavity, but don't leave the fish in the tank too long, only 20 minutes at a time, as that much salt in a tank isn't very good for a fish to actually live in.

We're only treating the symptom with the salt bath, not curing the issue.

http/animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm#Dropsy
I find the above site very helpful with identifying and treating various illnesses.