Dropsy

[Havindier]

Two days ago, I noticed my mollie had protruding scales and a swollen body. It was only the back half of his body then, but yesterday it had developed more and most of his body was like that.
I put him in a hospital tank, added 3 teaspoons of rock salt per gallon, and added antibacterial/fungal. I found out epsom salt works. Should I add that too? Wouldn't it be too much salt? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Unfortunately there's not much one can do after a fish develops dropsy...if it was me I'd put the poor thing out of its misery...sorry

 

[Havindier]

Unfortunately there's not much one can do after a fish develops dropsy...if it was me I'd put the poor thing out of its misery...sorry

Can it be anything else other than dropsy?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Posting a photo of the fish in question could help us identify the issue

 

[Havindier]

Posting a photo of the fish in question could help us identify the issue

These are the best I could get. He is all black, so it is hard to notice from a picture. But I'm sure he has protruding scales and he is swollen.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Thank you...it does look like dropsy to me unfortunately. I would euthanise

 

[Havindier]

Alright thanks.

 

[Havindier]

I confess that doing it was much harder than I thought. I tried clove oil a few days ago, but it would not work. Even after I added more and waited 45 minutes, he was not slowing down at all; I think the oil was fake.

One day later, the swelling lessened and the scales mostly went down, and it gave me a lot of hope. Then I came across this on a page only to become disappointed again: "Most often a fish with dropsy dies. Perhaps not immediately, but within several months. Indeed, in instances where dropsy is caused by internal infections, the bloating will disappear for a time, only to return a bit later with a vengeance."

He is still active and eating, I think it is best to wait for a while, see if a miracle happens, and if things get worse, I just might try euthanasia again. What do you think? @CaptainBarnicles

 

[Havindier]

What worries me right now is that in the last 4 days, I've seen him turn into a vertical position for a few seconds from time to time, and it is rarely followed by some sudden movements. Have you ever seen this behaviour and what do you think it indicates? By the way, earlier today I gave him a short bath with sera baktopur direct and also treated the main tank with it.

 

[Kyshiara]

What medications or salt do you have in the tank right now? What are the water parameters?

 

[Havindier]

What medications or salt do you have in the tank right now? What are the water parameters?

3 teaspoons of rock salt per gallon. At first, I used the antibiotic you see in the picture. Then I changed about 40% of the water after 4 days, as it was written in the consumption instruction. Yesterday I gave him a short bath with sera baktopur direct and treated the main tank with it as well. I haven't filtered out the previous medication with carbon.
Tank capacity: 25 liters (6.6 US gallons).
Ammonia: 0 (result from 2 days ago)
Nitrite: below 0.15 mg/l (result from 2 days ago)
tank temp: 27.5 Celsius (81.5 Fahrenheit)
Unfortunately, I don't have any other testers .

 

[Havindier]

Hello again. Thirteen days have passed. Yesterday I put active carbon inside the filter. I'm not sure if it was the right call because afterwards I saw white poop, the swelling hasn't subsided completely and he lays at the bottom of the tank most of the time. What is the best I can do right now?
It is written in the information for use that "the water must be conditioned with sera water conditioners." Do you think it is necessary? Is active carbon not enough?