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i have a female with a dropsy problem. everytime i look at her i get goose bumbs. a couple of questions:

is it contaous?

and to treat, i am useing salt, jungle buddies fungus clear. good?

[font color="#000080"]chris,
according to the website that i searched... please read, it answers your questions![/font]

Common name: Dropsy

Cause: Various organisms (nonspecific), poor water quality

Physical signs: Bloated appearance with scales that stick out like a pine cone. Best viewed from above. Dropsy is not really a specific pathologic entity; it is to describe a general condition of fluid accumulation in the internal body cavity, which has many causes. Dropsy usually signals internal infection and multiple organ failure. It can be compared to ascites in humans in end stage kidney failure.

Behavioral Signs: Lethargy, lack of appetite, grave constitutional signs.

Potential Treatment: Unfortunately, dropsy is *usually* incurable and fatal, however, in rare cases, spontaneous recovery may occur. A strong antibiotic such as kanamycin sulfate can be tried, but because it is an internal infection, usually it does little good.

Other Notes: Take measures to improve water quality immediately. Fortunately, it is not highly contagious.

[font color="#000080"]I'm sorry a little percent of chances awaits... i know you love your fish, mine either... please try the meds above and let us keep posted. Hope your fish will be fine![/font]

Last edited by ronnfive at 11-Jul-2005 00:42

she was still feeding the day when i frist noticed it, so she will be well feed for a few days. i also noticed that she had a fungus and also a part missing from her body and fungus was growing. anyway this morning that fungus is gone, and hopefully she might get better.

IMHO, Dropsy in itself is actually not an illness but the symptoms of various other problems that conclude in the same appearance of the fish.

Please do some research on the web about my statement (as I am not 100% certain), but if I am correct then you might very well have a contagious illness in your tank.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Is it a betta you are talking about?

If she looks bloats, and stops eating and is very largethic I might suspect internal bacteria.

Is she starting to list on one side?

It might be wise to start an internal bacteria med.

I have had good luck using meds from MARDEL for internal infections.

Last edited by openwater at 11-Jul-2005 16:56

thanks open, but i know dropsy. her scales are oine coned.

she isn't doing well. she will probably not beat this, but i will try and make her final moments as pleaceful as possible.