Is Dropsy What My Fish Has?

[AHorseNamedFrank]

He ate the peas just fine, and he's been pooping but he isn't getting any smaller.

Also, he's pineconing and actually seems to be swelling up a bit more than he was.

But it's been a couple weeks now since this started, should I treat him for dropsy?

 

[jollysue]

I believe it is epsom salt baths that are recommended. Pineconing may be the end stage of a problem. He is retaining water. It may be due to kidney damage. It is usually not a good outcome. Sorry

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

In most cases once they've pineconed, the disease is too far gone. I know some people have successfully treated it, but the odds are unfavorable. I've never had a fish with dropsy make it despite my best efforts. Try the epsom salt and see what happens, good luck!

 

[sylvia]

If you are worried your fish is constipated, it helps to fast as well as to feed peas.

Dropsy is a symptom (the result of organ failure) - not a disease in itself. Usualy it is because of internal bacterial infections but then there would be other symptoms as well (lack of appetite, ulcers, general lethargy etc). For this you'd treat with antibiotics.

However, it can also be due to a simple organ failure as was mentioned (kidney or liver damage). There is very little that can be done to treat this besides making sure the tank conditions are the best possible. You can try the salt but it's unlikely to help.

 

[heineken skywalker]

try feeding daphnia<sp> too. that might help

 

[QuotheRaven]

I am confident that what your fish has is Dropsy....Pineconing is pretty much the last stage of organ failure & usually has a high mortality rate I believe

 

[lisie]

If he's pooping, he's not constipated. It does sound like dropsy unfortunately. All you can really do is add Epsom salt to his water and treat with an antibiotic.

 

[DarkEntity]

Id take him out of the main tank and put on his own, you dont want the belly to burst and the infection to spread through the rest of the tank.