Help! Cherry Barb Close To Death

[Beephnix]

Hi,

I just fed my fish and noticed that one of the 6 cherry barbs wasn't appearing. I took decorations out to see if I could find it and it's close to death from what I can tell. It's whole body is puffed up (viewed from the front or above) and it's swimming very strangely. When left alone, it is just lying on the gravel.

Is this a disease, and if so, what could it be and is it likely to be contagious? I can't think of any way it could have been introduced to the tank. Nothing has been put into there for a couple of months. They only eat flake food and the plecs eat algae tablets. I tend to do a water change weekly. I hadn't noticed any of them acting particularly strangely over the last few days. Is there any chance of saving this fish? What should I do now?

Thanks

 

[Beephnix]

I've removed the sick fish, and in the absense of a hospital tank, I put it in a jug of tank water. I've now suspended the jug in the tank, so most of it is submerged but the water can't transfer. I figured that this would keep the fish separate from the 'healthy' ones, but allow the water to stay at the same temperature as the tank. Is this good enough to stop the transfer of disease or could it transfer in the air? I think that the disease is dropsy, judging by what I've read elsewhere.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like dropsy if the fish is really bloated up.
Are scales stickiing out.

Epson salt baths helps draw the fluids out.
Bacterial med, but if scales are sticking out organ failure, fish never seem to make it once scales stick out.

 

[Beephnix]

Sounds like dropsy if the fish is really bloated up.
Are scales stickiing out.

Epson salt baths helps draw the fluids out.
Bacterial med, but if scales are sticking out organ failure, fish never seem to make it once scales stick out.

The scales weren't sticking out yesterday, but they are now. I've bought a hospital tank and heater for it today. In conjunction with the medicine, it's cost nearly £60 (~$120). I've filled it with water from the main tank and put the very ill one in there. Two of the others have started showing signs of bloating, so I've dosed both tanks. I don't hold much hope for the bad one though, he spends most of his time lying on the bottom, with occasional zips around the tank.

I can't find anything in the instructions for the medicine, but should I do any water changes while the medicine is in the water? I figure that would dilute the medication, which would be bad. I was considering doing partial water changes on the small one, but taking the water from the larger one because the small tank isn't cycled. Is this a good or a bad idea?

Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest I would of just moved all the sick fish to the hosptal tank if stats are bad in the main tank.
If you have to preform water changes you just add the correct amount of med to the water removed.
Good luck.