Possibly Dropsy In New Fighting Fish?

[Acer56]

Tank size: 10 gallon

pH:ammonia:nitrite:nitrate:kH:gH: Do not know but had them checked when i got the fish (10 days ago) and the store said they were all perfect.

tank temp:79

Fish Symptoms: Fish got lazy and started hiding alot more. Looked very bloated, identical to pictures of dropsy in fighting fish on google. Could not notice any raised fins however which are apparently also a sign.

Tank inhabitants: 1 fighting fish, 4 platies, 2 swordtail.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): All inhabitants are new.


Details:
Hi guys, i'm new to fish keeping, as a background i got a recently used tank off ebay, reused the gravel and filter media during a 3 week fishless cycle, checked weekly by the fish store and they said it was fine to put fish in. I put in a Fighting fish, 4 Platies and two swordtails. All the other fish have been fine and show no problems. The fighting fish started getting bloated a few days ago, which i thought maybe he was constipated or overfed so i gave him some pea and then havent fed him since. Looking online he looks very similar to pictures i have seen of fighting fish with 'dropsy', so i am a little worried as this is apparently often fatal.

Day 1- Notice fish looked very fat/bloated, fed a pea incase he was constipated then did not feed again incase he was being overfed. 20% water changed.
Day 2- Purchased Anti-Bacterial medicine from fish shop and used as instructed, however noticed fish did not look as fat. Did not feed.
Day 3 (today)- Fish looks perhaps the same as yesterday (only slightly bloated, hardly noticible, much much less than day 1) considering feeding a small amount? Pea perhaps? Will conduct a 25% water change today.

So did he get fat by being overfed? Or is dropsy more likely? Have i been doing the right thing? Whats mainly confused me is the fact he went down in size so much by day 2, before any medicine was used.

As a sidenote, and quite a seperate issue, when introduced the male swordtail did bully and slightly fin nip the fighting fish, however now they do not seem to cross paths, and i have seen no more nipping of his fins or bullying. Is it likely that one has become dominant and i do not need to worry about seperation? Or will a fin nipper always keep nipping the same fish and i should address it? Tricky because they are my two fave fish and they now seem to get along.

Sorry for a huge post and alot of questions, basically im asking:

1) What is the problem with my Fighting fish and am i treating it right?
2) Should i keep it with the swordtail as i think the fin nipping was a one off?

Thanks guys.

 

[Acer56]

The fish looked very much the same as the pic in this thread, just slightly less swollen.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/337759-swollen-belly/

I guess by the responses i need some epsom salt? Any ideas what the problem is?

 

[WILDER]

Invest in some liquid test kits of your own. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.

For bloating epson salt baths.
Don't feed for a few days.
Peas. Remove shell and cut into small pieces.
Check fish for when they go to the toilet.

Once scales start to raise it the last stage of dropsy, organ failure. Once this happens this fish rarely makes it.

 

[loraxchick]

likely overfeeding as he seemed to be less bloated after simple fasting. dropsy generally will not heal on its own and will kill the fish. bettas are VERY prone to constipation and in severe cases will also cause scales to raise around the belly of the fish.
i would actually starve him for another day or two (he will be fine) and see if it helps. if he is already decreasing in size, i suspect overfeeding-bettas are greedy feeders and get "backed up" easily.
all the best.

 

[hamfist]

SOunds like you have done the right things so far. When Betta's get constipated, you need to fast them, or only feed them small pieces of pea.

Some of them get constipated very easily. When that happens, the compacted gut can block off tubes to the swimbladder, leading to the bloating that we see.

In my experience, bloodworm can be a serious problem in some bettas, leading to constipation. But in others is not a problem. Learn about your own bettas' response to bloodworm.

I would echo the advice given to either buy a test kit (get the API master freshwater test kit), or take a water sample to your LFS and get them to test it.

As it is a new tank, with lots of new inhabitants, it's quite possible that your water stats are all over the place, and causing problems. Without testing, you will not know though.
Also, the general water stats of your tanks are very relavent.
My tapwater is very hard and alkaline (tanks are all at pH8.0), and Betta's simply do not thrive in my water. Even doing "everything" right, all the bettas I ever kept in this water succumb to bloating and death after 3-4 months max.
Hopefully your water is a bit more "Betta-friendly".

 

[Acer56]

The fish is now fine, has been back to normal for the last few days, not bloated, very active and generally looking happy.

It seems my betta feeds from the bottom and all the other fish feed from the top, i think perhaps i was putting too much food in at once, so most of it sunk to the bottom, and the beta ate all of that, while the other fish just got a few floating bits. A pea then fasting him for a few days seems to have worked.

I will get a test kit and test the water, keeping an eye on my betta, thank you for the advice.

 

[WILDER]

That's good news.