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for the past few days, i noticed one of my female golden killies started to breathe rapidly and didn't have an appetite.

since i didn't have a quarantine tank, and i didn't want her tank mates to get sick, i started treating with both mela and pimafix.

the water conditions are the following:

the tank is 29 gallons, with flourite as the substrate. it is moderately planted.

temp - 77-84F depending on the time of day/night
pH - <=6.0 (with water changes it can rise to about 6.6)
ammonia - 1ppm (since the pH is so low, practically all of it is ammonium)
nitrates & nitrites - close to 0ppm
gh - very hard
kh - ~0ppm

filtration - penguin biowheel 200 (200gph) & a marineland powerhead with large sponge filter (unknown specs)

tank mates - 3 juvenile angles, 1 adult angels, 4 golden killies (2 males, 2 females), 1 adult opaline gourami, 1 2" feeder goldfish

water treatments - amquel+, novaaqua+, stability, mela & pimafix daily.

water changes - 15-20% every 3rd or 4th day.

i'm set out to get a quarantine talk tomorrow, but i have no idea if it's dropsy or something else, and what's the best way to treat her?

i'm also concerned if this is a contagious condition.

will the easiest way to tell if it drospy is to look at the fish from the top... you will know... when they say it looks like a pine cone. that a pine cone after it sheaded all it seeds. If you it is Dropsy there not much you can do, except not let the fish suffer.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams