He's Got Dropsy :(

[ellena]

My betta lotus has dropsy
A few weeks ago, he lost a little chunk from his lip, but he could still eat OK and seemed fine, so I changed the water and kept an eye on it. It got no worse, but no better either.
Then I fed him yesterday and noticed he was a bit bloated, so I was intending to give him a pea today, but he's started to pinecone Just checked ammonia and it's 0ppm. He gets pellets, granules, bloodworm and peas, so varied diet. I have the worst fishy luck.

 

[keithp]

My betta has dropsy and I am currently treating her with maracyn 2, and adding epsom salt to her tank, it actually has helped quite a bit making the swollen belly go down and her appetite increase. I had to use the max amount of treatment, which is 10 days. I dont know if it will actually cure dropsy, as i've heard it usually 99% fatal, but trying cant hurt and she did improve instead of getting worse. I have NOT fed her any pellets during treatment, only frozen bloodworms and daphnia, to avoid constipation which could further worsen things. I also changed the water twice as often to keep it clean and aerated.

 

[ellena]

Thanks keith, but we can't get maracyn in the UK

 

[keithp]

Amazon or Ebay for US sells it, could you buy it off of those sites?

 

[loraxchick]

hows she doing? any improvement?
get some epsom salts (they are chap and can be found in any pharmacy or similar place where they sell over the counter medication. the ingredient is magnesium sulfate. if treating in the tank dose at 1 tablespoon per 5 gal. if using as a dip, 1 teaspoon per gal and leave the fish for up to 30 mins 2X a day. this will help draw fluid out of the tissues.
fish can also pinecone from being very bloated or swimbladder issues (particularly bloating from constipation!!) so keep feeding peas and fasting along with epsom salts which will also help with constipation!
all the best.
cheers

 

[ellena]

Thanks for the advice loraxchick. Unfortunately he died last thursday Only 4 days after I first noticed the pineconing. Couldn't get him to eat at all, poor thing.

 

[BethK]

rip x

one of my pk's has pineconing, it's got worse and i know what is coming next............goodnight vienna to molly

 

[ellena]

Oh no It's a nasty disease isn't it? Once you see the symptoms, too late to treat. Has anyone actually had a fish recover from dropsy?

 

[keithp]

My fish had dropsy symptoms, mabye it wasnt dropsy, but her pineconing is completely gone, and her belly is back to normal, as if nothing was wrong.

 

[loraxchick]

pineconing isnt always (and usually isnt) from dropsy. severe constipation/impaction and swimbladdder issues (both of which may be fatal) can also produce the pinecone effect-especially around the abdomen.
even with pineconing and good treatment, the fish may yet survive.
cheers