Chubby Gourami

Hi Not really an 'emergency' as such but I'm a bit worried about George my gourami. In the last couple of days he seems to have 'blown up'. His tummy has gotten larger. He's eating and being his usual self and the tank stats are all fine, its a mature tank over 12 months. He's not been fed anything different. I've had him about 6/8 months now. Just wondered if anyone can tell what the problem is. Sorry the pics are not very good, taken on my phone.

Not an expert but it could be dropsy ....

Certainly looks like dropsy....
Have the scales begun to 'pinecone' at all?

Try feeding some peas, also treat with a bacterial medication. This bacterial medication can sometimes help prevent problems with dropsy however not guranteed.Also how often do you perform water changes?

Hi Thanks for the replies. His scales have not pineconed at all but his sides look more silverery with his tummy bulging. He's still eating and swimming ok and being his usual bossy self with the other fish. (he's not aggresive just king of the tank)
I feed them all peas about once a week and do a 30 or 50 percent water change also weekly. I'll have to google 'dropsy' and see what medication is the best cos I'd hate to lose him he's such a character.

just wanted to say i hope george is ok

xXx

Thanks bubbleburst80 but checked him before and even though he is seems ok and eating I've now noticed that he is 'pineconing'. I guess its definate that he has got dropsy and will die soon! I'm gutted because he is one of my fav fish and my 'centrepiece'' fish! Can't bring myself to kill him though. I'll go the lfs tomorrow and get some medication but I think it will be to late.

In a rush, work at seven, have a look into salt baths (i think epsom is reccomended) try BadMans Tropicals theres a little info on there, never checked on TFF though....
This could draw off the fluid, although may rick osmoregulatory overload=death but TBH i think he is fairly far gone and the earlier you treat the better.
Just my opinion mind, have you got an antibacterial med? If so get this in.
Make sure you aerate the tank when treating with anything......
Good luck!

Thanks -germ-, guess you're at work by now. I've put in an antibacterial med to see if that helps but I'm not hopeful. Poor little guy! It seems strange to watch him swimming about knowing he's probably dying and doesn't realise. The tank is right next to the tv so I'm watching him all the time. Unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank but I have read that its not contagious, just have to get him out as soon as he's gone. Has anyone else heard anything about salt for dropsy?

Back, again not up on salt treatment must elaborate on this though;

Unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank but I have read that its not contagious

Click to expand...

Dropsy is not actually an illness itself, its indicative of greater woes; normally bacterial, viral, or osmoregulatory issues (which is why salt may be a bad idea) also commonly linked with(to put you at ease a little); immuno-suppression due to old age.
You need to make sure your tank is absolutely perfect, if it is bacterial dropsy then it can be transmitted via the ill fishes faeces, i'd get water changing and gravl vaccing for two reasons; keeping the tank clean will reduce the risk of infection (if bacterial) to other fish AND if it is related to his osmoregulatory function it may also help with this.
Antibiotics administered orally can help.

I'll try and hunt someone down someone that has treated an anabantoid for dropsy, with salt....
Betta Section

Thanks -germ-, I'll start doing daily water changes for a while. George is still doing ok, eating swimming fine etc, he's still 'pineconed' though. How long do fish live with this condition? The tank stats are still normal and all my other fish are ok. Don't know how old he was when I bought him, but he has grown a little bit so he can't have been more than a few months.

Did you get an antibac or some epsom salts?

A friend went to my local maidenhead aquatics this morning (i was at work) and they said to use melafix, so I've put some of that in the tank. I'm going shopping myself soon and will get some epsom salts. Can you tell me how to administer this. I've got a small container that I could put him in (big enough so he wont be too cramped) I've also got 5 guppy fry in a breeding net in the tank and I'm hoping the melafix wont harm them.

Okay, please remember i've never performed an Epsom bath and while i have heard it is suitable for dropsy (numerous times) i worry about reccomending certain treatments.....
The standard bath appears to be 1 level teaspoon epsom* to 4-5gals of old tank water... allowed to pre-dissolve in a tiny bit of water before adding to the main bath. Leave in for 15-20 minutes. This can be performed twice daily. But is stressful for the fish. Remember Epsom may not be available in your LFS and is used in various ways for people, i'd try local health food shops(obviously make sure nothing has been added) as well.....
Try livebearers as to whether it'll hurt the fry, i know some poecilids are salt tolerant but epsom is magnesium carbonate rather than sodium chloride so i really don't know, make sure you point this out to posters.
Please double check the info i have provided and if you find suggestions to the contrary please let me know. Go with your instincts, not mine i'd hate to feel responsible for any losses.
Good Luck.
*I'd certainly perform my first bath using about an eigth of a teaspoon and work up from there, there are so many treatment suggestions on the net and that is the lowest i have found as per a 4-5gal bath, however one teaspoon is the one that crops up most often.

I'm so sorry about George. By the time you see the pineconing, the kidneys have pretty much failed, which is why dropsy has such a high fatality rate. I just lost a female betta to dropsy. She was symptomatic for just one day, and then she died the next. I treated her with maracyn & maracyn 2, but it just didn't work for her.

The jury is still out as to whether dropsy is contagious or not. This is the first episode I've had, I immediately pulled her and placed her in the hospital tank, and I've been watching my other girls like a hawk but so far, so good. If you don't have a hospital tank, there's really nothing you can do but if there's anything else you can put him in, please do.

They're not even really sure what causes it so it's very difficult to do your best to prevent it. I've always had perfect water params in the tank this girl came from, and she got it anyway. I think it's like a person can come down with cancer. No matter how you try to avoid it, they're going to get it. Perhaps its genetic.

Please keep us posted as to how George is doing.