Dalmatian Molly with Dropsy? Any Tips?

Hi, I recently just joined and it's great to be here. So, anyways, one my dalmation molly has gotten bloated and its scales have started to raise. I've heard this is a sign of dropsy, which has plagued a few of some former fishes. Howevere, it's still eager to eat and seems active, which seems good, right? So what do I do?

Oops, I made a typo. "One my dalmtion molly" doesn't make sense.

 

Can you post any pictures of the molly?

 

Just to start with the basics. Dropsey comes from water retention when the kidneys start failing. What's causing that? Tricky, but often an internal gram negative bacterial infection. Just like, ballpark throw there. First, do some small water changes to make sure water quality isn't contributing to illness. Antibiotics are a typical treatment. Salt baths are sometimes used to reduce swelling. Theres posts ad infinitum about salt baths and antibiotics here

 

Just to start with the basics. Dropsey comes from water retention when the kidneys start failing. What's causing that? Tricky, but often an internal gram negative bacterial infection. Just like, ballpark throw there. First, do some small water changes to make sure water quality isn't contributing to illness. Antibiotics are a typical treatment. Salt baths are sometimes used to reduce swelling. Theres posts ad infinitum about salt baths and antibiotics here

Okay thanks! I'll start with water changes and see if that works.

 

First look at your water parameters. Then what you’re feeding. And how much/often.

You’ll want to use epsom salt if it’s dropsy. Post pics please?

 

So, I'm new here, and I'm not that bright. How do I post pictures? (you can shame me later)

 

Get the picture, come to the thread, click "upload a file", navigate to select the photo, then type any message and "post reply". That's what it looks like on my phone at least

 

There is an option called "upload file" next to "post reply"

 

So, I'm new here, and I'm not that bright. How do I post pictures? (you can shame me later)

I have trouble too. Ok. SirI says upload a file. Photo library (or take photo) once you’ve got the photo, there’s a done button in the upper right hand corner on my iPad. Click that. Then you’ll have your pic loading. Once you have it, you can choose to have thumbnail or full .

 

Okay, I think the problem is I'm doing this on a chromebook. I'll see if I can get a photo.

 

Ok. And, in case I’ve not done so before now, welcome to fishlore!

 

You shouldnt have an issue on a chrome book. The thing you click to post your comment, it is right next to there. But you would have to have the picture actually on the chrome book

 

You shouldnt have an issue on a chrome book. The thing you click to post your comment, it is right next to there. But you would have to have the picture actually on the chrome book

I don't think uploading pictures is the problem. It's taking them.

 

I don't think uploading pictures is the problem. It's taking them.

Pardon my ignorance, I’ve never touched a chrome book, does it not have a camera?

 

Pardon my ignorance, I’ve never touched a chrome book, does it not have a camera?

It does, but it's a facecam, like for videochat or streaming. I would think it's a bit hard to put a laptop to the side of an aqaurium to take a picture.

 

hold the chromebook on the plams of your hands and have your thumb hover over the picture button, then filp the chromebook around and just start randomly taking pictures, and just hope you get a good one.

 

Do you have a cellphone that you could post from?

 

hold the chromebook on the plams of your hands and have your thumb hover over the picture button, then filp the chromebook around and just start randomly taking pictures, and just hope you get a good one.

I'll try that.

Do you have a cellphone that you could post from?

If using the chromebook fails, I'll try that.

This should not have taken as long as it did. Thank you for your patience. Got the photos.

There pretty blurry. I’ll get more soon.

 

They look a overfed and probably pregnant but I'm not sure I see pineconing and dropsey from that picture. Maybe the updated ones.

 

Here are some more photos. Hopefully these are better.

 

The waterchanges and cutting back on the food would be a good first step. It might not be too late to turn around. I see string poops on the platy too. Overfeeding can bring on constipation (pot bellies with string poo sticks) that makes an environment for bacteria to grow, infection, kidneys, dropsey and here we are. Maybe a day of fasting them and then feed a split pea in pieces to help fiber out their tracts.

 

The waterchanges and cutting back on the food would be a good first step. It might not be too late to turn around. I see string poops on the platy too. Overfeeding can bring on constipation (pot bellies with string poo sticks) that makes an environment for bacteria to grow, infection, kidneys, dropsey and here we are. Maybe a day of fasting them and then feed a split pea in pieces to help fiber out their tracts.

Thank you for your help! After a water change yesterday, I noticed the swelling was less today. Hopefully, he'll pull through.

 

He's looking much better now. His swelling is less, and his pineconing is less. Hope he makes it.

 

Great hope! Keep them clean and lean. Good work.

 

Thank you for your help.