Dropsy- What are the Next Steps?

Hi, all. Me again with more questions. I removed my effected female cherry barb with dropsy from my 30 gallon yesterday. She survived the night in my uncycled 5 gallon with Epsom salt, a few drops of anti-fungal/bacterial meds, and a tiny bit of aquarium salt. Once in the salt, my barb came alive and started being more active, even though she did not want food. I am hopeful, yet I suspect another female barb might have it. She is round but not as round as the first female. Should I put them in the 5 gallon together even though the female isn't pineconing yet? Is that safe? My 3rd female is 100% okay and so are the males, and I put a tiny bit of Epsom salt in my 30 gallon yesterday. How should I deal with this dropsy in my 30 gallon. Should I tear it down? I'd hate to do all that unless I need to. My stocking in my 30 gallon is 3 juvenile bronze corys, one adult pepper cory, 1 older female platy, 9 neon tetras, 5 cherry barbs (including the one with dropsy), and a ton of brand new baby bronze cory fry. I also moved my young angelfish into my 55 a week or so ago, and this was before I noticed my cherry barb had dropsy. Every other fish is a 100% healthy from what I can see and the fish in my 55 gallon are not showing symptoms. What should I do next?

 

Hey,

I only ever use epsom salt in a bath for about 20 minutes or so, so I find it interesting that the barb is doing well in that setting. I would not add epsom salt to the main tank at all, only aquarium salt, and only if you really need to in order to treat something.

Since dropsy isn't really a disease, but a condition brought on by some sort of illness, I wouldn't tear down the entire tank. There may be something that those two fish have - something bacterial, or some sort of kidney issues, and that might be what caused the dropsy. But I would definitely keep an eye on all of the fish in that tank.

I think that I would pull them out, if you haven't already, and treat them in the 5 gallon together. Pristine water, aquarium salt, and maybe a broad spectrum antibiotic might help.

 

I just ordered melafix and I plan on a water change to dilute the salt. I did a ton of research and people advise not to use aquarium salt. I’ll take that into consideration though! I got my 3 females in there, and 2 are bloated and one is fine. I don’t know if I’m paranoid but their anus looks more prominent than normal? I’ll attach some photos. One is definitely pineconing, one is just bloated, and the other on seems okay. I put the one that was fine in there just in case she just didn’t have symptoms and I can kill off that bacteria that seems to be harming my barbs.
Here they are.

 

Hey,

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I am attaching a link to a thread about a betta that had dropsy. The member who posted actually had an aquatic vet come to the house (very expensive). If you scroll down, you will see Stacia talk about what the vet had to say about epsom salt vs aquarium salt in treating dropsy. Just something to think about...

Thread 'Comfort care for dying betta?'

I do hope that they get better!!! Barbs are such pretty little fish!

 

After losing the barb that pineconed, one was cleared to go back in the main tank. I’m not sure what is wrong with the other one. She’s just fat, even with fasting and meds. Is she possibly full of eggs? Or something else?