dropsy

[black angel]

hi all
today i found my betta pale and on closer examination he has dropsy. he went quiet a couple of days ago and didnt come out at all, so i went looking for him today. he is in a community tank. no other fish has any symptoms. any hope?
i have partitioned the tank so he is on his own. the only other tank i have is plastic so i cant put a heater in it.

 

[D Chia]

Hi Black Angel,

Do treat him early and taken all necessary measures to prevent cross infection. The following threads on recent dropsy infections among the members here have some information that you would probably find useful.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=61445

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=60036

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=59815

Take care.

 

[platyperson]

250 mg of chloramphenicol added per gallon of water will usually cure it also add a bit of salt although bettas are not marine fish salt water has lower osmotic pressure so when a fish has dropsy the protective coating wears away so the fish has the trouble of expelling all the extra water goin in to its body. The salt will help keep down the amount of water entering the fishes body therefore it gives your betta more time to recover without having the trouble of expelling all the extra water.
Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic and is usualy dangerous to handle that is why it is better to let a fish vet cure the betta.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[black angel]

thanks to the both of you for the advice. will treat the whole tank with number 6.
hope ive got it early.

 

[f250fisherman]

first thing..remove the betta from the community tank. Dropsy can be very contagious. If it is caused by an internal injury, it is not contagious. If it is caused by an internal bacterial infection..it is very contagious. Put it in the small tank, and move the tank close to a heat source. A light can work good. A heat mat for reptiles works good also. Most Bettas that are cured from dropsy are sterile, and their attitude changes dramatically. Not all, but most. The best treatment I can come up with is to put in a small container and add epsom salts to the water. You change water 100% daily and re apply the epsom salts. I would use 1 level tsp to half a gal of water. Salt baths of any kind are very stressful, and the fish is already stressed. The epsom salts is more a cure or kill treatment, but it can work. Personally, I euthanize any fish that contracts dropsy. It can kill all of your fish very fast. I prefer to lose the one, rather than the many.

 

[D Chia]

thanks to the both of you for the advice. will treat the whole tank with number 6.
hope ive got it early.

No. 6? Were you refering to Interpet No. 6 (which is for White Spots)?

Interpet No. 9 (Anti Internal Bacteria) is recommended for Dropsy.

 

[black angel]

sorry meant number 9. i have added that an hour ago after a big water change. i will now take the male out and put him in the 16 litre tank next to the radiator. he has got his colour back but the scales are out even more and he is sitting on the gravel. hope the treatment will prevent other fish from getting it. thanks again for the help.

 

[black angel]

he died 10 minutes ago. thanks for the help everyone.
http/img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/phi...sh/PA270214.jpg