Dropsy Cure?

[omega59]

Hi one of our fish developed dropsy. She is swollen, pointy looking, and her skin looks kind of translutant. She is eating and swimming fine still. Is there a chance for a cure? I understand this is caused by poor water quality. Qe do water changes every 7 to 10 days 50% which includes a gravel vacuum on the surface and rock cleaning. Here are the current stats from our tests.

4 angel fish
4 corydoras
7 live bearers in total (guppy and platy)
live plants
tank 1 years running
aqua clear 20 or 30 filter. Can't recall

ammonia 0
nitrate 0
nitrite 0.025
ph 7.5 or so hard to tell
40 gallon aquarium breeder style wide and long but not tall

 

[dh058977]

I have never had a fish with dropsy myself but as I understand it, dropsy is a result of an underlying issue and as such can be hard to cure. TBH of all the recent dropsy threads I dont think many have been saved. Was your tank cycled properly? What type of testing kit are you using? I would keep a larger group of corydoras as well, I dont think 4 is enough. Do your angels get on with the guppies? I wouldnt mix them either but that might just be me!

 

[the_lock_man]

As stated, dropsy is a symptom, not a disease. It is caused by the failure of the internal organs, leading to a build-up of fluid inside the abdominal cavity.

The only "treatment" as such is to give the affected fish Epsom Salts baths, in order to draw out the fluid. Sad to say, by the time the fish is suffering from dropsy, it's probably too late to save it. It certainly was in my case.

 

[colleen0309]

Well, from your water parameters, you are showing a small amount of nitrites and no nitrates. This is an indicator that you are not cycled. As the lock man said, epsom salts baths is your only "cure". I would recheck your water parameters and make sure the tests were right and go from there.

 

[omega59]

The fish was found dead at the bottom of the tank. yes my angelfish do not bother my guppies at all never had a problem