I have a betta that contradict dropsy and he's most likely going to die unfortunately. He's starting to show signs of pine coning, his head and gills have swollen to crazy proportions it's quite literally almost wider than his body, and his belly is starting to puff up also. There's probably no hope for him sadly. The question now is if he dies how would I have to clean the tank to make sure there's nothing else that can cause dropsy to any new fish I get. I have some fake plants and a Marimo moss ball in the tank. Any help is appreciated thank you.
Dropsy what to do
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Not much you can do about dropsy
Consider euthanasia with clove oil perhaps? Instead of just letting him die a painful death ya kno
Sorry to hear about your fish
I'd suggest some sorta water change and maybe cleaning decorations? Not sure completely, you may just need to clean the substrate with a vacuum and do a water change
I'll wait for someone else's opinion too
Consider euthanasia with clove oil perhaps? Instead of just letting him die a painful death ya kno
Sorry to hear about your fish
I'd suggest some sorta water change and maybe cleaning decorations? Not sure completely, you may just need to clean the substrate with a vacuum and do a water change
I'll wait for someone else's opinion too
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I agree sadly once this condition sets in there is really no resolution. You could try and do one last thing which would be a Epsom salt bath, this will release the water retention within his little body and if that works you could then try to treat the bacteria problem
what size tank has he been in is it cycled. what are the water parameters ammonia etc. How long have you had him? does he have heater and at what temp?
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Dropsy isn't really curable like that and requires medication
I hate to tell you this but he's probably going to die
Best way to go is clove oil
I'm very sorry
Ah you got to it before me
I've rarely ever heard of people curing dropsy, it's extremely difficult to cure
Worth a shot though
I hate to tell you this but he's probably going to die
Best way to go is clove oil
I'm very sorry
Ah you got to it before me
I've rarely ever heard of people curing dropsy, it's extremely difficult to cure
Worth a shot though
I'll see if his condition looks slightly better tomorrow I moved him to a different tank if he progressively worsens I'm just going to met him relax him for a while in clove oil and hit him on the head with a rock so it ends quickly
The second part of my question is what do I do now that I have two tanks have that have housed a fish with dropsy how do I clean them and what do I do about the Marimo moss ball ideally I want to keep it but I don't want any dropsy bacteria in the moss ball to harm any other fish should I clean the tanks and fake decor with a bleach solution if so what proportions? How do I clean the live plant?
The second part of my question is what do I do now that I have two tanks have that have housed a fish with dropsy how do I clean them and what do I do about the Marimo moss ball ideally I want to keep it but I don't want any dropsy bacteria in the moss ball to harm any other fish should I clean the tanks and fake decor with a bleach solution if so what proportions? How do I clean the live plant?
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Instead of using clove oil and then hitting him with a rock. You could stick to just clove oil. In low doses it acts like an anesthetic but in higher doses it's fatal. It lulls them into sleep forever.
I would try an epsom salt bath first. No more than 10-15 minutes though. And make sure you're with him in case he starts to freak out. Then you should take him out immediately.
You could also try a general cure medicine. Dropsy is usually a result from some underlying problem.
I had a betta that had dropsy. Unfortunately he didn't make it but 'Betta revive' helped him hold on and regain some of his personality in his final days. I stopped dosing betta revive and he passed shortly after.
As for cleaning the tank. You could use bleach but you would have to rinse it really well before setting it back up. I would just use really hot water for everything to disinfect it.
I hope he gets better!
I would try an epsom salt bath first. No more than 10-15 minutes though. And make sure you're with him in case he starts to freak out. Then you should take him out immediately.
You could also try a general cure medicine. Dropsy is usually a result from some underlying problem.
I had a betta that had dropsy. Unfortunately he didn't make it but 'Betta revive' helped him hold on and regain some of his personality in his final days. I stopped dosing betta revive and he passed shortly after.
As for cleaning the tank. You could use bleach but you would have to rinse it really well before setting it back up. I would just use really hot water for everything to disinfect it.
I hope he gets better!
100% agree with westiegirl13. I felt that the hitting it over the head was a bit violent I know others would disagree with me but I just have a hard time with that method. And yes I have euthanised fish using the clove oil only method where it is done ever so slowly so they don't realise and don't stress and over a period of time keep dosing til they are in a deep sleep and then pour in the overdose. Using this method the fish don't stress and don't feel pain they just fall gently to sleep, just as we would under anesthetic.
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I used white vinegar to disinfect everything in my tank when my betta died of dropsy recently. I use vinegar over bleach to clean anything that's going to be in contact with my tanks. But that's just me.
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The live plants do a bleach dip then soak them in primed water and rinse until they no longer smell of bleach. Betta revive will help until you feel he is too far gone that you should euthanize, clove oil is best way, they pass out/go to sleep then you dose a higher concentration to put them under.
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I am so sorry poor little guy. I have used bleach to steralise many items and it has never caused any problems. I use straight bleach with no additives or deodorants only. Always rinse for about 10 minutes after and then overdose with prime. Bleach is just concentrated chlorine which is in the tap water
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I read that dropsy is caused by a type of bacteria in a tank and this bacteria is only a problem if a fish is stressed and the water quality is bad so would I be fine if I just put the plant into a different container for now get new fish then after a week when the fish have acclimated and aren't as stressed and add the moss ball back?
You really need to make sure your tank is cycled before going out and purchasing another fish. you need to check your parameters make sure you have no ammonia, nitrites and have a reading of nitrates. If you go out and replace this fish with another fish and you don't have a cycled tank that is just going to bring a quick death to that poor fish
you said it yourself here in the quote about poor water quality, unless a tank is cycled the poor fish is placed in an environment where they slowly burn in their bodies and in their gills which causes slow suffocation as well as burning this is caused by the increasingly high ammonia levels followed by increasingly high nitrite levels when placing fish in a non cycled tank. Please think about this,I don't buy the "bettas are hardy fish and can cope through this cycling process it is not true and it is very cruel
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Dropsy is a systematic effect of an underlying issue. Your fish can have a bacterial infection with no signs of dropsy. Dropsy occurs when an infection has progressed to a point where your fish starts retaining fluid due to internal systems failing.
In this hobby, you keep water, not fish per say. Should you choose to get another fish, you need to correct your water quality issues and be prepared for a fish in cycle to keep tank contaminate low.
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So my betta fish is showing signs of dropsy. The scales going along his back are just starting to lift up, and I've noticed they've progressed a little more since yesterday. I don't know what to do for him since I thought there was no cure for dropsy. His params are 0,0,20. PH 7.0. Everything is normal as far as I can tell. I'm pretty bummed about this because I have a fluval spec cycling right now to have him transferred in to. Is there anything I can do?? And if the new tank is cycled and he's still alive, is it okay to add him or should I just wait and see what happens as to not possibly containminate the new tank with anything?? I really need some help here. This fish has had so many issues from the start. I've cured him of fin rot, velvet, and gill flukes. But now dropsy? what do I dooooooo????
Hmm... I take it he is bloated as well.
Usually when the scales start to raise up it's too late, but doesn't hurt trying. I would do a teaspoon of epsom salt per 1-2 gallons, depending on how severe you are willing to treat for.
Personally though, because they have had problem after problem, I would put them out their misery. I know it sounds horrible, but they will likely only continue to suffer once treated. Make a small mixture of clove oil:water 1:50 and put him in it. It's a quick and painless death.
I'm so sorry
But don't move him to your cycling tank... whatever you decide to do.
Usually when the scales start to raise up it's too late, but doesn't hurt trying. I would do a teaspoon of epsom salt per 1-2 gallons, depending on how severe you are willing to treat for.
Personally though, because they have had problem after problem, I would put them out their misery. I know it sounds horrible, but they will likely only continue to suffer once treated. Make a small mixture of clove oil:water 1:50 and put him in it. It's a quick and painless death.
I'm so sorry
But don't move him to your cycling tank... whatever you decide to do.
Before anything else, complete a 50% water change and recheck your parameters. Make sure to wait five minutes before determining the results of nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. Tell us what they are.
What's the size and temperature of your tank?
Are there any other fish in it?
How long have you had your betta?
Was he in good shape when you bought him?
Once you answer these questions I'll try my best to help.
What's the size and temperature of your tank?
Are there any other fish in it?
How long have you had your betta?
Was he in good shape when you bought him?
Once you answer these questions I'll try my best to help.
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I changed his water yesterday and his water params are 0,0, and around 20. I've had him for almost a year now, temperature stays between 78-80 degrees, and no. He was in awful shape when I bought him. He had gill flukes, velvet, and fin rot. I accidentally overfed him the other day and his swim bladder failed on him and he did a straight nose dive towards the bottom. He has since gotten back to normal besides the scales that are starting to raise on his back. I don't have any epsom salt on hand. The tank he is in now is 3 gallons with the substrate and decor.
All right. Please provide us with multiple pictures: top view + left and right side view.
I'd still follow my first set of directions.
Dropsy isn't exactly something betta fish can come back from. Even if he survives, his organs will be permanently damaged. I would suggest making sure he has plenty of hiding places, his gravel isn't too big or sharp, and that he has a lot of plants to swim through. All you can really do is make sure he's comfortable until he passes.
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I have helped many people on this forum treat their fish at this stage to regain full recovery---
Can be done---
Oh, absolutely, OP's choice... but, lets not tell them its a death sentence, there is no hope, the organs have been damaged... etc...
because, like I said, in the early stages of this condition, fish have recovered.
Can be done---
Oh, absolutely, OP's choice... but, lets not tell them its a death sentence, there is no hope, the organs have been damaged... etc...
because, like I said, in the early stages of this condition, fish have recovered.
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I can't get a really good picture of it because I've taken my tank lights down. But I swear it's there. They're not popping up on his sides yet, just along his back. I don't feel comfortable uthanizing him but I will make him as happy as I possibly can. I will try and pick up some epsom salt tomorrow. Thank you everyone for all of your help.
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Yet, this isn't an early stage. If this is dropsy (I'm unsure now), then the organs are undoubtedly damaged, which can shorten his lifetime. I'm all about being positive, but being honest is important as well.
Honestly, he just looks bloated. Epsom salt and a fast will help with that. If you're positive that it's dropsy rather than bloating, then I'm sure you can do what you feel is best.
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I've heard that even if you do manage to cure it, it'll just reappear. Just because the dropsy is gone, doesn't mean the issue that caused the problem to begin with isn't gone. I really appreciate your comments though and I'm definitely going to take all of your advice. I'm going to treat him with epsom salt if I see that his scales are worsening and it's not just bloating
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But he's been eating fine and he's been active. I did just have a problem with feeding him about a week ago. I gave him two pellets and he ate one of them, but when he went for the second one he wasn't able to eat it. So I took it out and soaked another one to feed him - he wasn't able to eat that one either. So I tried a small blood worm and he would peck at it and try to eat it, but for some reason he wasn't able to. After that, he couldn't stay afloat and went straight to the bottom. I took him out and put him in a Tupperware container so he wouldn't have to travel very far for air at the surface. After about an hour he was back to normal.
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