Dropsy In Catfish?

Hello, I have a bumblebee catfish which had dropsy, I believe. It is extremely swollen, and I have just fasted it and it is still very fat. I plan on keeping it in a 5 gallon tub for now, but I can only treat it for two days before going on vacation with my family. I will need to put it back during that time in prevent ammonia buildup, but would Epsom salt still work? I do not want to harm it farther by medicating it improperly. What can I do to help? (I know 5 gallons is way too small but I currently have no other options. I'll do my best with what I have, if there are suggestions.)

 

use a mix of melafix and pimafix. you could also put in some salt, but mela and pima kill ALL diseases. is the fishs fins spiking out?

 

I don't have melafix or primafix right now and I have to leave for vacation in two days, but I have the salt and I don't think it's fins are sticking out. Could it be constipation? Should I try a pea?

 

I don't have melafix or primafix right now and I have to leave for vacation in two days, but I have the salt and I don't think it's fins are sticking out. Could it be constipation? Should I try a pea?

Any fish of other gender in the tank? If not, where did you get it from?

 

Unfortunately, I got all of them from PetSmart. There are two blood parrot cichlids and a pleco and African cichlid(f) that I am rehoming after I get back from vacation. It was my dad who got those two from a friend, but I'm not sure where they originally came from. It's also not accepting food right now.