Correct amount of epsom salt in a (fish) bath?

Hello all,
It's been a while since I've posted anything because things have been going well for me in terms of fish keeping. I hope you are all keeping well

My betta fish has been less active these last few weeks, I've been changing his tank around seeing if it makes a difference. Removing his neocardina tank mates, lowering water level, more and less floating plants, ect. His behaviour is normal at meal times.

I was feeding him some frozen bloodworms for the first time in a week and I took the lid off so I could use a pipette to slowly feed them to him. Looking down on him from above I can see that his scales are pineconing. I do know that pineconing is often a death sentence but I want to do what I can for him before I need to euthanise.

I can't seem to find the exact dose rate for an epsom salt bath. I'm seeing people recommend 1/8 teaspoon per gallon or 3 teaspoons per litre, and other dosage rates.
Advice would be appreciated, I've not dealt with this issue or given an epsom salt bath before.

Rebe

1 teaspoon per gallon/ 4 litres.
Giving fish baths is stressful so make sure to minimise this by matching the temperature, ensuring the bath is dechlorinated and not lifting the sick fish in a net (use a cup/ladle/bowl with water to reduce pressure and friction).
I think you are aware that the treatment is very unlikely to cure the fish but hopefully it will be more comfortable afterwards.

Naughts said:

I think you are aware that the treatment is very unlikely to cure the fish but hopefully it will be more comfortable afterwards.

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Yes, thank you Naughts. That was my thinking.


We've run out of epsom salts, so it'll have to be tomorrow before I can do anything. I'm starting to wonder if waiting to try this treatment is the wrong thing to do. Because he was never an "active" fish, swelling is the only thing wrong with him visually (to my eyes.) He's normal during meal time and he's not behaving strangely apart from being the lazy bones he always is. So it feels hasty to euthanise straight away, but I want to do what's best for the fish.
I know that few fish come back from this.

Epsom salts is unlikely to help. You probably need antibiotics, which will cost more than replacing the fish due to having to visit a vet, get a prescription and then buying the drugs.

My understanding of dropsy is that it happens when the organs are already failing.