24mech Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hi there this is my first time asking for help :-? I have several tetras in my tank and one of them has something wrong with it. It looks as though its put a fin in the plug socket all its scales are standing on end and its eyes are bulging its not eating either. Does anyone here know what might be wrong with it and are my other fish at risk please help me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 remove it asap to a quarentine tank. if its slightly swollen its most likely dropsy, the 'pinecone' look at bulging eyes are a sign of dropsy but they are often swollen around the belly area too. it can be contagious apparently (i think its after the fish dies though). sadly if it is dropsy it may be best to euthanaise it humanely, there isnt any known cure- only stories every now and again of people curing it with a gazzillion different medications/methods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I would think from your description that it has dropsy. Looks like a pinecone from above looking down at it, the fish swells up as its organs shut down and it retains fluid. This causes the scales and then eyes to bulge. Dropsy is pretty much fatal. A good idea to isolate the fish or if you can bear to, euthanase? it. You can try salt baths to draw the fluid out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Sorry to repeat pretty much what you have said Sharn. I was typing out my reply and when I submitted it yours was there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hehe, i do it all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24mech Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Are my other fish at risk? What causes this do i need to medicate my tank now? Thanks for the advice ppl I have already taken him out if the tank and will put him out of his missery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I don't know what causes it. If you look it up on some of the sites like I did when it first happened and read the info you will probably panic - I did. Suggestions range from fish tb (highly infectious) - parasites. The internal organs of the fish shut down so fluid is retained. Thought I was going to lose all my fish. All I can say is from my observations if it happens it usually happens in 2's or 3's but not necessarily fish all from the same tank. The other thing I have noticed with my fish is that if I feed a lot of frozen bloodworms and live microworms the incidence is higher but that won't necessarily be the case for others. I now feed these infrequently - just for breeding conditioning - and haven't had any in many months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I had a danio get dropsy. Only one, none of the other fish got it, and I don't know why it did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 i don't think it could be caused by fish tb adoge.... i know of tanks with fish tb and the fish have all been fine.... its just if the tb gets passed to humans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 4, 2007 Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 Na, I did wonder when I read it on a site somewhere. Really did have a panic, but I don't think dropsy is infectious, like passes from a fish with it, to another fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.