Dropsy!

[davidnso]

Have any of u had a betta w/ dropsy? What's the most comfortable thing to do right now? Euthanize? If so, how? Salt bath? Get the liquid out of his tummy?

I am going to be gone for the weekend, and I just discovered the dropsy tonight. He is still highly active, but VERY bloated and has the pinecone.

What should I do? I don't want to come back and find my buddy passed, but I don't want him to suffer either..

 

[Yazan]

Have any of u had a betta w/ dropsy? What's the most comfortable thing to do right now? Euthanize? If so, how? Salt bath? Get the liquid out of his tummy?

I am going to be gone for the weekend, and I just discovered the dropsy tonight. He is still highly active, but VERY bloated and has the pinecone.

What should I do? I don't want to come back and find my buddy passed, but I don't want him to suffer either..

i haven't had a betta with dropsy but try feedind peas every day.

 

[K.J.]

If it's true dropsy the best thing to do would be euthenize the poor thing, wouldn't have made it anyhow.

 

[davidnso]

what do u mean by 'true' dropsy

 

[K.J.]

Sometimes what seems like dropsy can be other things. Like for bloating, there are four main reasons; constipation, which can usually be relieved by a cooked mushed up pea. Eggs or pregnant in livebearers case, which isn't harmful, swim bladder disorder, which is usually not deadly but annoying. Sometimes you just need to give it some time. I noticed sometimes that the scales around the stomach do pinecone a bit but after about three days of fasting go back. Now dropsy is deadly in 99% of cases, a buildup of fluid. There is no way to relieve this and the best thing to do is end the fish's life, but IME it usually dies within 24 hours of the symptoms.

 

[Dibari]

If he's bloated all over and pineconing, and you aren't going to be there, he's going to die.
Is there any way you can postpone your trip?
You can try doing intense salt baths to draw the liquid out of his body, but.... Most dropsy ridden fish die..
If you can't stay to help him put him out of his misery now, because if you can't even try to help him, he's just going to suffer horridly while you're away, before he finally goes.

 

[zoekin8yg]

There isnt any point in saying he'll be any better if the OP is there, you need to treat before pineconing to have any chance to treating it and even then its not guarenteed. Its probably kinder to euthanise, either cut his head off (fastest way) use clove oil or some other method, don't flush him though. Dropsy isnt a disease its a symptom of one, most commonly an internal bacterial infection causing kidney failure.

 

[Dibari]

There isnt any point in saying he'll be any better if the OP is there, you need to treat before pineconing to have any chance to treating it and even then its not guarenteed. Its probably kinder to euthanise, either cut his head off (fastest way) use clove oil or some other method, don't flush him though. Dropsy isnt a disease its a symptom of one, most commonly an internal bacterial infection causing kidney failure.

Cutting the head off is not the best method. Not even the fastest method.
The head stays alive for seconds after severence. Clove oil, however - Is suggested as a good method.
Clove oil puts them down painlessly and quickly (It's an analgesic/anasthetic for fish).
Another suggested method is CO2 poisoning, but most people don't have access to that sort of system.
Try and find some clove oil at Walgreens, or a nearby pharmacy.. It's usually a 1.50.

 

[davidnso]

well i just came back from my trip and my fishy is still alive..and surprisingly still active.. maybe its not dropsy even w/ his bloatedness and pinecones? should i give saltbath still

 

[liz2]

I should try a weak epsom salt bath.... little trooper!