All 7 bettas got Dropsy in my tank do I need to start tank over?

All bettas died over a few months time from Dropsy. Frustrating!!!!! Tried many things to solve it was unsuccessful.

Question: Do I have to start tank over.?????? The tank is very healthy all plans are great. Can I use the filter media to re-start the tank ? I want to put my guppies in there but nervous in fear of them getting dropsy.

thanks

 

If I were you, I'd clean out the substrate- Full on gravel in a bucket, rinsing it off, etc. If you have plastic plants, rocks, deco. from other tanks, that will surely speed up the process. I think filter media would work, too.

 

Dropsy is normally the result of another illness weakening the fish.. and then ‘dropsy’ kills them. were there signs of an underlying illness? Stress? For example bloating can weaken a beta, cause fluid buildup, and that initially starts dropsy and symptoms. Your fish doesn’t really just die “from dropsy”.

what were the water parameters? Was your tank cycled? I strongly advise you fill this template out, Aquatic Emergency Template | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 376562, with the little information you’ve included in your initial post, I don’t think we could really give you much of an accurate answer to your question.

 

Dropsy is just a symptome. Sounds very much like it was caused by bacterial infections. When fish are subjected to unknown bacteria (like with newly bought fish) and they are in bad shape and stressed, the bacteria can overwhelm their immune system. There is nothing we can do about that.

Except prevention.

Quarantine and careful choice of the source we buy fish from are helping lots.

Now in hindsight there is nothing to do. The bacteria are always there and the composition of species and types of bacteria is as unique to a tank as a fingerprint. Though all tanks a person owns are likely to have at least similar microfauna.

If the Guppies are with you for a while already they should be fine. If you want to be absolutely sure, leave the tank running without fish for a week or two.

with the little information you’ve included in your initial post, I don’t think any experienced fish keeper could really give you much of an accurate answer to your question.

Actually, it is quite irrelevant what happened. Very few parasites and pathogens stay present long without a host.

 

Dropsy is just a symptome. Sounds very much like it was caused by bacterial infections. When fish are subjected to unknown bacteria (like with newly bought fish) and they are in bad shape and stressed, the bacteria can overwhelm their immune system. There is nothing we can do about that.

Except prevention.

Quarantine and careful choice of the source we buy fish from are helping lots.

Now in hindsight there is nothing to do. The bacteria are always there and the composition of species and types of bacteria is as unique to a tank as a fingerprint. Though all tanks a person owns are likely to have at least similar microfauna.

If the Guppies are with you for a while already they should be fine. If you want to be absolutely sure, leave the tank running without fish for a week or two.

Actually, it is quite irrelevant what happened. Very few parasites and pathogens stay present long without a host.

Agree with Mac there.