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I have a 55 gallon with a severum, firemouth, kenyi, clown loaches, and 4 tiger barbs. Just today I noticed one of the tiger barbs starting to get fat and have pine-coned scales. Is this dropsy? I had 2 other tiger barbs that I just euthanized because they had the same problem....although they do keep swimming around and eating. I just did a 25% water change today and added some melafix but it didn't help last time so I'm doubtful....

btw-nitrates have always been high in my tank: 40-80ppm

Hi there,

It does sound like dropsy to me, especially if you have lost other fish the same way. the treatment can be intense but i suggest salt baths at the rate of 4 tblsp/gal, 2 to 4 min each, 2 to 3 times in one hour. Also a gram positive or an antibiotic that covers both gram neg / gram pos bacteria is used in the aquarium, such as amoxycillin (penicillin) or erythromycin, at the rate of 1000g per 80 ltrs roughly 40 gals. A good vet should let you have some of the antibiotics if they wont go to a LFS and they will give you a broad spec antibiotic that you can use.

HTH

Trace




I forgot to tell you keep up the water changes while you are treating. Try to do daily water changes.

sounds like drospy, from bettas i found it pretty lethal, about 98% death rate,

I'm sorry to hear about your clown loach.
Dropsy is the one thing I absolutely hate the most.

Dropsy is a condition (not a disease) caused by either internal bacterial infection, or body organ failure..
The fluids that cause the fish to swell contain toxins, as the body is unable to clear itself of any waste.

In advanced cases, the chance of treating dropsy is very slim. Dropsy has a higher chance of treatment the earlier you catch it, and only if organ failure is NOT the cause. I may add if your fish hasn't eaten or gone 'to the washroom' for a couple weeks as well as pineconed (and puffy eyes ?) assume organ failure, and euthanize.

Go with Tetracycline or Maracyn II if you feel you must treat your fish. If fish shows increased stress, reduce the dosage.

SALT BATHS - EPSOM SALT (hydrated Magnesium Sulfate) is what is used for dropsy. It helps draw out excess fluid, reduces swelling and toxicity, and provides relief from muscle soreness. The salt bath method is more effective for dropsy in goldfish, not tropical fish, and often baths cause more stress to the fish then good, moving it back and forth from the quarantine tank etc.. My female krib did not respond well to it. Maybe your clown will. If you must try it, again keep a close eye on your fish and let it be the judge. You can find Epsom salt over the counter at your local pharmacy, even sometimes at the supermarket.

There are 2 types of dropsy, one is contagious form. If you had other losses in the tank from dropsy or recent undiagnosed losses you should maintain a strict quarantine in that tank for 2 months. No fish in or out, maintain top water quality and diet. Observe closely.

Should you attempt to treat your fish, I wish you the very best of luck.

Regards,
Da



The Amazon Nut...

Here is a few links that could help you.
info 1

info 2

There is also a photo of Dropsy at "Info 2"

I hope this helps.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Damoss, you must have gotten confused, its my tiger barbs that are sick. Its horrible to say but I'm glad its them and not the clowns.

Anyways I know I can get penicillin, I don't know about those other meds. The penicillin won't hurt the clowns will it? I heard some meds were pretty bad for fish with no scales...

Edit: You posted just before I did, thanks for the info keith. I'll continue my treatment with melafix and get some penicillin.

Sorry for the mixup fishiedude !

I'd have to agree with you. I really like clown loaches, but still unfortunate when any fish gets sick.

If it's caused by internal bacterial infection, at least there's a chance for treatment. At least if you attempt to treat, you either heal it, or at least know you did all you could. I know it's not an easy situation.

After 2 weeks if you see no improvement and fish not eating, draw the line. The cause of death with dropsy in most cases is starvation.. I lost an amazing fish to it, which is why I hate it so. Trying to treat her prolonged her suffering by a month. I don't want to see that happening to anyones fish in here.
I hope you get a much happier result...

Is your barb able to eat still ? If not, how long has it been ? Can it poo ? If so what color is it ? Is your fish still swimming upright or have you caught it on it's side ? Are the eyes puffy ?

The Amazon Nut...

From what I can see, it's acting normal except for the fact that it looks like a pinecone. It doesn't seem to be looking much worse than before though so maybe the melafix is working some.

Melafix will not heal dropsy. It's an antiseptic for sterilyzing wounds.. But it does help to reduce stress so your fish is prob benefitting a bit from that.

If it's still eating ok you've caught it in the early stages. Get a med on it FAST. Tetracycline or if can't find that, Maracyn II.

The Amazon Nut...

Oh I thought it was for bacterial problems too. Thanks.

An antiseptic like Melafix will prob kill some mild types of bacteria, but it still will not heal dropsy. You need a medication.. It can be used in combination with medications, and helps to ease some stress on the fish

The Amazon Nut...

I would be careful using the "Penicillin" as it "could" kill all or part of your good bacteria thus causing greater problems.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Id also make efforts to keep the nitrate at less than 40 ppm to be sure, and make sure that any peat , bogwood,or blackwater extract you have isnt overused or causing problems, a lot of people trigger dropsy by overdoing the tannic content of the water. Its known as tannic dropsy.

With barbs, especially green tiger barbs and specially bred variants with abnormally shortened or chunky builds there is often an increased rate of dropsy due to pressure on the renal system from a packed out stomach. Avoid large foods and heavy feedings, its better to feed small amounts often.

Just checking in. How's it going ?

Have you begun using a med yet ? If so which one, and how is your fish reacting to treatment ?



The Amazon Nut...