2 Fish died from Dropsy and don't know what to do!

[ellee1]

Hi, I hoping I can get some help. I have (had) 3 Guaramis (2 Sunrise- I think they're called), and 1 powder blue). Well, the two red/orange ones had dropsy and I had to euthanize them. It was awful. My question is should I worry about the powder blue guarami? This tank is for my Blood Cichlid Parrot Fish and I use the Guaramis, Tetras, and cories as "dither fish". So this is a tank for my big Parrot fish. It would break my heart if something happened to him. I am really attached to him. This is a 20 Gallon tank. I have another 30 Gallong tank in which I have another Parrot fish, maybe I should temporarily put him in that tank. (I separated them because they were fighting).

All of my water parameters were on target except my ammonia was a bit high in this tank when I tested it, so that was probably the reason they got dropsy. Guaramis are particularly prone, I've read. I do water changes every 2 weeks, 1/4 or sometimes 1/2. I add ammonia reducers and stress treatment to the water frequently. I am pretty fairly experienced w/fish. I've had them for about 5 years. I've just NEVER had a sick fish before.

I heard that dropsy is not contageous. Why did two of my fish get it then? They both were prone? I don't understand. I am worried about my Parrot fish and I don't know what to do. All the other fish in the tank have no symptoms. The last Guarami left (powder blue) has a very skinny body still, but may have (or I may just be paranoid) a couple scale abrassions around his face, one of the symptoms, I guess. I plan to medicate the tank with Maracide as soon as the petstore opens tomorrow. But what should I do about this other Guarami who will be most likely to contract it over the others? I don't really have enough money for a separate hospital tank.

Thanks to all, I REALLY appreciate it!

Ellen

 

[wetwetwet]

Firstly hi and welcome Ellen,

If you could give us your actuall water paramters, tank size filtration etc. it may help for someone to come up with some ideas.

You say ammonia was 'a bit' high - how high? I'm sure as you know that even in small concentrations ammonia is extreemly toxic to fish.

In an established and mature tank why is there the need to add 'ammonia reducers'? - the filter bacteria should easily be able to cope

In the past I've kept dwarf gouramis but didn't have much luck with them - suffered the same fate as yours. Likewise most of my water paramteres checked out fine but I was having a problem with high nitrAtes - while not a direct killer itself (unless through shock) I believe that over time if exposed to high levels then it makes the fish susceptable to other diseases with possibly gouramis being less tolerent than other species - jmho

 

[ellee1]

Hello:

My tank is 20 Gallon, with a Biowheel 120 & undergravel filter. Yes, I had an ammonia reading of 2.5- 3. I know it is bad! I am going to watch it very closely. I add ammonia reducers just for that reason. Even though I do frequent water changes, it is sometimes present. I do not have an over crowded tank, my step-mom who is pretty familiar with aquariums told me that our tap water has ammonia in it, or causes the tank to have ammonia. That's why I use tap water conditioner everytime I do a water change. I don't know.

My Nitrates are at 0.

I guess my main concern is should I put my fish temporarily in my other tank (30 Gallon) (AMMONIA = zero! ) and then start establishing this one over again? Maybe cycle it or something? But will these fish have the bacteria on them if I transfer them to the other tank and then give it to that tank? I was told it is not contageous, but quite confused because I get mixed results when I do a search on that.


Thanks,
EL

 

[Gibbo]

Dropsy is contageous to a degree, usually when other fish eat the flesh. It is a symptom of fish TB (like popeye) but is generally brought about by stress caused by poor water quality. It is one of those diseases that causes controversy because you either believe it is present all the time or it is carried by a 'new' fish. I believe it is always present in fish but like many human ailments, only really manifests itself in old or stressed fish in poor water conditions. The best solution I suppose is to keep them in their current tank (almost like a quarantine tank) and do daily water tests. Don't overfeed them. With good water quality you may find the situation improving, but the Ammonia may have already done damage. It's a tough one ellee... keep us posted.