Is this Dropsy?

[Hurleygirlie19]

I have been keeping an eye on my very pregnant guppy, and today her scales are sticking out. Is this dropsy? Or from her being extremely large?

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Yes, the fish has a bad case of dropsy, which is identified by the scales sticking out from the body.

Dropsy is caused by an internal infection and when it's at this stage there is not normally anything that can be done except to euthanise the fish. The quickest way to do this is wrap it in a couple of paper towels and hit it on the head with a solid object. It will be messy so stand back when you do it.

 

[FishGuest5123]

It does appear to have a severe case of dropsy. Sometimes Furan-2 and Kanaplex will treat dropsy but I have to agree with Colin_T that this is an advanced stage. If you want to try to get her to hang on until delivery, you may try giving her Epsom salt baths. Place her in a gallon of dechlorinated water with1 teaspoon of dissolved Epsom salt and leave her for 3 minutes. Then remove her. You can do this 3 times a day. She may go into labor. The salt pulls fluid off. That’s all I can suggest in her condition. If you weren’t planning to keep the fry then she should be euthanized although I use Clove oil.

 

[FishGuest5123]

It does appear to have a severe case of dropsy. Sometimes Furan-2 and Kanaplex will treat dropsy but I have to agree with Colin_T that this is an advanced stage. If you want to try to get her to hang on until delivery, you may try giving her Epsom salt baths. Place her in a gallon of dechlorinated water with1 teaspoon of dissolved Epsom salt and leave her for 3 minutes. Then remove her. You can do this 3 times a day. She may go into labor. The salt pulls fluid off. That’s all I can suggest in her condition. If you weren’t planning to keep the fry then she should be euthanized although I use Clove oil.

 

[Hurleygirlie19]

Thank you.