Dropsie

[DRD1812]

Don't know if thats how its spelt but thats what I've been told one of my Red Honey Gouramis has by my lfs. He told me its best just to get rid of her cos if thats what it its likely to spread to the rest of the fish and is hard to treat since even if it goes its likely to come back.

Basically a brief description is shes getting fat but not eating anymore than anyother fish and is starting to show pine-cone scales. Apart from that she seems in full health either way when I got home the first thing I did was seperate her from the rest of my tank.

Is there anything I could do to save her or is there something else it could be and if so how do I help her lol if you want anymore details about symptoms I might have missed just ask and I'll try my best to find out.

 

[laboul]

You can isolate her and try treating with Maracyn-Two. A lot of times these fish don't make it, but if you want to try sometimes you can bring them around. Good luck. I just lost a fish tonight

 

[DRD1812]

shes isolated but not looking good im gunna see if I can get some stuff for her tomoro since I was bloody working today and there isnt a pet shop close enough.

 

[WILDER]

Once they show the pinecone effect there is nothing you can do, last stage of dropsy, and the fish isn't eating either not a good sign, sorry, don't let her die in the tank.

 

[jimw13uk]

I had exactly the same thing happen to my Gourami - dont let her die in the tank cos its not pretty - My son found her one day when he came home from school as I thought some Parasite treatment would cure her - Nothing really cures Dropsy once your at that stage - sorry shes a gonner

 

[DRD1812]

shes eating and everything apart from lookin fat n her... poo not looking normal more like cotton then shes totally fine

I have put her in... well a tupperwear bowl to be honest in my tank so its still warm but shes totally isolated.

 

[WILDER]

Or bless her, give her some shelled peas if she eating.

 

[DRD1812]

ok i will if i can find some but... why lol???

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Basically dropsy can often lead to constipation and vice versa; feeding her vegetable based foods(i.e algae wafers/tablets, vegetables like boiled pealed peas etc) will her retain a normal digestive system and make the condition easier and more comfortable to cope with.
Dropsy can be caused by a number of things and fish still can be cured even once they have reached the pine cone stage(i know from my experience), if an inner bacterial infection is the cause, using "Anti internal bacteria" treatment by Interpet will help; dropsy can take a while to cure and it may be as long as a fortnight before you see any improvement, a good sign that things are improving is that the pine cone scale effect will stop in its tracks.
Good luck!