Help! One Of My Guppies Is Sick!

[guppymommy]

When I got up this morning one of my male guppies was bloated and his scales are sticking out. I immediately removed him from the tank and all the other fish seem to be fine, but is dropsy contagious? I purchased a treatment, but I don't want to medicate the whole tank if it isn't necessary (I have 7 fry in a net in the tank and pregnant females and am concerned that the medication might hurt/kill them).

So is dropsy contagious or should my other fish be fine since I removed the infected fish?

 

[WILDER]

Only if they peck on the dead fish body, once scales stick out that it, organ failure sorry. if you want to try and save the fish antibiotics and epson salt.

 

[guppymommy]

Whew! Thank you. I'll treat him in a seperate container if there is a chance of him recovering. I have aquarium salt, will that work as well as epsom salt?

And I don't need to treat the entire tank of fish, just him, right?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[WILDER]

Epson salt are meant to try and dry the fluids out, but to be honest i doubt he will make it, but good luck anyway.

 

[guppymommy]

Bummer! I'll see if I can save him, though the prognosis is grim.

 

[Annastasia]

Are you sure it's dropsy, and he's not just bloated from say...too many high protein foods? The scales can sometimes stick out for a while if they are very bloated, and then go back once the bloat ends. Good luck!

 

[guppymommy]

Well, unfortunately, he died about an hour ago. I took him to the store where I had purchased him and the owner was pretty sure it was dropsy. None of my other fish are showing signs of illness, and I haven't fed them anything but flake food and only twice a day. Is that too much?

I feed the fry more often (about 4 times a day) but they were in a breeder net (I just moved them this morning into their own tank) so the food stayed in there.

I think I'm going to wait on treating the other fish unless any of them begin to act lethargic and don't eat. I've done a 25% water change in the tank so I hope that helps a bit. I'm rather sorry he's gone as I really liked him. I even made a fool of myself and cried in the petshop. He was my favorite though. He was the one in my avatar picture . . . I took the picture a couple of days ago just for this purpose, but now I'm gonna have to change the avatar so I don't get depressed everytime I see it.

Anyway, thanks for all your help. I just hope my other fish will be fine.

 

[Annastasia]

Awww, I'm so sorry to hear that! *hugs* RIP little guy.

No, the feeding is fine. I'd just keep up with the water changes.

 

[Kairi]

i'm sorry i just had a danio die of the same thing (i think)... it sucks
rip lil guy

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss. R.I.P.

 

[barbiedoll]

oh I'm sorry for your loss too. I lost my best male guppy uesterday after he struggled with dropsey for several days. he was suck a strong lovely fish too! Always the way. Bot his sons to grow on now though. So I guess the circle keeps turning.

 

[guppymommy]

I got a 5g tank for my fry and relocated them. I am now treating my 10g and its inhabitants. Hopefully it won't hurt them if they aren't sick and will help them if they are. Thank you all so much for your condolences and help with this issue.