What is dropsy?

[pmoyniha]

I have seen a couple people on here say that their fish have dropsy. What exactly is it?

I have a couple fish swimming at a slight angle. Their dorsal fin is about 10 degrees off of centre. Other than that they seem ok. But I am not 100% sure. My head and tail lights are pretty lazy, but my rasoboras (the first fish I noticed this in) are pretty active. My water paramaters are as follows:

pH ~7.4
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10ppm
Ammonia: 0
KH:16 degrees
Temp: 25 C

It appears that there is a slightly high level of organics in the tank as bubbles do not pop straight away once they hit the surface of the water and I can see a slight oil on the top. I think this is the food I am using though.

Any help would be great.
Thanks
Pat

 

[pmoyniha]

I posted 3 times on accident. I kept getting an error message telling me this could not be posted. Could someone remove the second and third post for me please?
Thanks
pat

 

[CFC]

Dropsy is a bacterial infection that cause the fishes abdomen to swell to the point where all the fishes scales stand up making the fish look like a pine cone. It is most common in cyprinids and has no known cure, infected fish must be destroyed to try to prevent its spread through the tank.

 

[Feline]

Can't it be treated with antibiotics?

 

[smb]

Can't it be treated with antibiotics?

Yes, it can. Quarantine and treat with an anti-bacterial med.

 

[pmoyniha]

Ok, but are the symptoms I described with my fish that? or something else. He and a couple others swim at a bit of an angle and only he (a Harelquin Rasbora) has a greying effect with his colour. Although with the H&T light Tetras it is hard to tell.
Thanks
Pat

 

[smb]

IMO, it doesn't sound like dropsy unless it's in it's infancy stages. With dropsy, fish aren't active and usually don't eat but you're there and have a better idea what it could be than I. Could it possibly be a swim bladder problem?

 

[pmoyniha]

Possible, but it doesn't seem to effect him otherwise. He swims normally, eats normally has dull colour compared to his companions and is otherwise healthy from what I can tell. I noticed the angle in a few tetras too. I am not sure if it is normal or what?

Maybe I should just adjust my head to the angle when i look at him?

 

[fishgeek]

dropsy is a desriptive term not a diagnosis
there are many reasons for fish to look as they do when described as having dropsy from tumours to low blood protien to kidney or gill disease

for more lenghty replies please look at the response's in other dropsy posts today

andrew

 

[pmoyniha]

Yeah I've been reading them. I am pretty sure that that is not it. But if you have any other ideas as to what is causeing it im open to suggestions.
Thanks
Pat

 

[fishgeek]

abnormal bouyancy
categorised in too much positive ie going up
too much negative ie going down
listing as you describe ie leaning to one side
and finally abnormal pitch

listing can b associated with lots of things and often also positiv or negative bouyancy probs(hence the previous swim bladder suggestion)

all these things are related to gas distribution in the fishes body

gas in the gut or wind sometimes brine shrimp can act as a bit of a laxative
fecal examination long and stringy or mucoid may suggest protozoal involvement although these usally are just less hungry

certain infections bacterial can ferment and cause gas accumulations

i have little knowledge for this maybe a web search of listing may help find sme answers
andrew