I have had dropsy before with freshwater fish and tried every possible antibiotics without sucess. It is very hard to treat and yes it was dropsy. No possible mistake as all the scales on his body were raised and he looked like a pine cone. Even the eyes were poping out a little or looked swelled.
He was maybe at the end if his life at around 2 1/2 year old or so? I could have helped him with hyposalinity maybe but I could not catch it until he was on his last leg.
I was just surprised because I thoutht it was a rare disease in saltwater...oh well...
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Originally Posted by Myka
That's unfortunate. If it was in fact Dropsy it is extremely difficult to treat.
Freshwater treatment would obviously be much different, but thinking you may have some sort of interest here's a story. I treated a 4" Red Bellied Piranha for Dropsy once. I believe the saving factor was that the fish continued to eat - strangely enough. The treatment was complicated...tank was kept at 76 degrees to slow infection, air stone added, and Instant Ocean salt was used 1 tbsp per 5 gallons to help relieve the pressure. Maracyn II as per label instructions which I believe was 5 or 7 days. Carbon and a big water change after that, then a second round with the Maracyn II. Dropsy receded and Piranha broke out with Ich. Temperature was raised to 86 degrees, and the salt was doubled. The Piranha recovered fully, and is still alive today (6-7 years later).
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