jen82

I have a guppy that has dropsy. (I think). He has got very round and his scales and standing out. He looks like a pine cone. I have him in my hospital tank. What can I do to help my guppy and the other fish still in the main tank. Can they catch it? I have increased my water changes. Please help. I love my tank the way it is at the moment. I dont want anything happening to them. Im still learning. Thanx in advance.

jdhef

This is an excerpt from the Fish Disease section on this site:

This is not really a disease, but a symptom of a bacterial infection and possibly malnutrition. There are medications available but try to increase the quality of the water by performing a 25% water change every other day and increase the quality of fish food given. If your fish's condition doesn't improve, try the medication. Your local pet store should have medication for this disease. Remove any carbon filtration before using medication because the carbon will remove the medication from the water.

I think I would go right to medicating at this point. I don't know much about Dropsy, but I think that by the time they go pine cone, there is a much greater chance that they will not make it.

Good luck, I wish I could help more. I felt bad that no one answered you, so I figured this would be better than nothing.

missjerm

Hi, I haven't been on here in awhile. I'm sorry to hear about your fish. I had one with dropsy one time but I didn't know what it was until it was too late. I treated my tank with medication but unfortunately, he didn't make it. I agree with the person who replied above, I would start medicating him but if he starts laying around the bottom of the tank or turns on his side, he probaby won't make it. That's what happened to my little guy. Sorry and good luck.

COBettaCouple

If you can find an antibiotic with kanamyacin, it may help but for a guppy you may want to use less than a full dosage. It's very strong. Also an epsom salts bath is a dropsy treatment. They're extreme, but Dropsy calls for it.

jen82

So far I have not medicated the hospital tank or my main tank yet. With increased water changes I have got my nitrates back down to 20 after a brief peak while i was on holiday. Could this have caused it? Anyway no one in main tank seems ill and the guppy is still alive and swimming and eatin fine. I have heard dropsy is not something a fish can survive. Is this wrong because my guppy plumpness seems to have gone down over the weekend.

Butterfly

Yes the parameters being out of range can definitely cause this disease. Continue with the frequent water changes and if you stop seeing improvement it is time to medicate.
As Dave said an Epsom salts bath may help, this will draw some of the fluids out. I have heard good things about the medication he recommended also.
carol

jen82

Sadly when i got home from work today my little guppy was dead. But thanks for all your help guys.

Lucy

I'm sorry you lost him.

Butterfly

So sorry you lost him
Carol

jen82

thanks friends. Everybody in the tank seem healthy and nitrates are back under control. I brought 4 five banded barbs to cheer myself up. I really love these cute little fish.

COBettaCouple

I'm sorry that he didn't make it.