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What are the recovery signs of Dropsy/Popeye? I have a goldfish in a 10 gal recovery tank that I thought was doomed. I asked the LFS if there was any thing I could use and they recommended Maracyn-two and for 5 days did not see any difference but on day six I noticed that his eyes seem back to normal. he is still pineconed though, he's been swimming along like nothing been wrong the whole time

Do a second round of Maracyn-2 and maybe you will be lucky. Actually, if you can find Kanacyn by Aquatronics, I'd do that. If he is feeding go one step further and feed him the new Jungle Anti-Bacteria Medicated Food. You can find it at Petsmart for sure and Jungle was going to distribute it more widely the end of last month. Don't know if that happened.

Keep water quality exceptional (Ammonia and nitrite zero; nitrate below 20ppm). This may mean frequent water changes - like several times weekly for now.

Hope this helps

Diane

Thanks for the help I am going to go a second round of Maracyn 2, I think his body is slimming down (maybe just wishful thinking), should I wait a day or two before the second go around? ohh and if/when he recovers how long should I wait to put him back in my little 120 gal pond with his buddies? thanks again for the help

If this fish is in a recovery tank all to himself, lets try something else, in addition to what you are doing. But if he has internal problems it could just prolong the inevitable.

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) can draw fluid off the body. It is used to treat constipation in fish that are quarantined (you don't want to add to the main tank).

Scroll down to the bottom of the page where it discusses
"optional".

http://groups.msn.com/TheBettaObsession/illnessandcurepart3.msnw

I would dissolve the epsom salts in a container first, then dose that 1/4 tsp solution a little at a time. They recommend 1/8 tsp/5 gal so that would be 1/4 tsp for the 10 gallon. I like to acclimate fish slowly to anything i put in the tank. I have used this with a betta who was constipated and it did not affect him adversely. He was an old betta all stopped up. Along with heat, I believe it helped him for that.

If the dropsy is the result of infection, it is possible the epsom salt will buy him the time necessary to allow the med to work.

If you see the Kanamycin, grab that instead of Maracyn-2. Kanamycin is more readily absorbed than minocycline, which is in Maracyn-2. Just do a water change of 30%, and if you have activated carbon you can run a few hours, that will pull more out. A little left would be alright.

Medicated food is really the ultimate route. Waterborne meds not only mess the filter up, but they just don't allow the fish to get the same therapeutic level they can get from ingesting it. That anti-bacterial medicated food would really be best and it can be fed along with the Maracyn-2. But if he eats it, I'd not use the Maracyn-2 at all.

Good luck and let us know how he does.

BTW - welcome to fishprofiles.com

Diane


Last edited by Cory_Di at 12-Feb-2005 21:20

Here's more:

[link=http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#dropsy]http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#dropsy" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

I could not find the Kanamycin, so I just got some more Maracyn-2. I have been feeding him the medicated food too. I have not started the second round yet I was trying to lower the nitrites which were at 5ppm I have them down to 0.5ppm now and I was going to start the second round today but I when I saw him this morning he is pretty much normal size. should I still treat him? the Epsom salt, is that simular at all to aquarium salt, I didnt see any epsom salt at the lfs, or would you find is somewere else? I have been using the aquarium salt(sea salt).

thanks for all the help.

Epsom salts can be found any place they sell first aid stuff, like pharmacies. If he is normal sized, then don't do the treatment, but get some to keep on hand should he pinecone again.

It's good he is eating the medicated food. Feed for the maximum number of days. In fact, you may be able to skip the Maracyn-2 altogether if he is eating that anti-bacteria food. The nitrofurans are good for systemic infections.

Keep us updated. In fact, I'd like an update in a few weeks as to his progress. Its not often you see a fish pull out of dropsy.

So far so good. If he is still doing good by this weekend I am going to move him to the little pond. Thanks for all the help

Thanks for the update and congrats! .

Did you ever use Epsom Salts or just the Antibiotic?

Just the medicated food. And he seems to be fine, the only thing I noticed is that he is missing a few scales.

The medicated food explains it. That is very powerful if they are eating. Excellent recovery .

I'm trying the epsom salt bath. I'll let you know if it does anything.

If he's fine, I wouldn't bother. Save it for another day when nothing else works.

Well, I'm from another thread (Persistent Disease) With Bubba. The Epsom bath didn't really do anything, but it would probably help more with a fish that isn't so far along.