What causes dropsy in a fish?

Dropsy is a condition in fish caused by the buildup of fluid inside the body cavity or tissues. As a symptom rather than a disease in its own right, it can indicate a number of underlying diseases, including bacterial infections, parasitic infections, or liver dysfunction.

What parasites cause dropsy?

Swollen belly/Dropsy: see p. 148 (Ill. 551-558) Cause: usually Pseudomonas fluorescens This disease occurs among fish that are weakened by stress, contamination, age or occasionally also after a skin or gill flukes infection.

What can I use for dropsy?

Treatment. Dropsy is not easily cured. Treatment is geared toward correcting the underlying problem and providing supportive care to the sick fish. A broad spectrum antibiotic specifically formulated for gram-negative bacteria is recommended, like Mardel Maracyn® 2.

What happens to a goldfish with dropsy disease?

Dropsy causes the Goldfish to become bloated and its scales to be distended. The kidney shuts down and the fish retains fluid. This fluid retention causes the fish to bloat and the scales to distend as fluid builds up underneath them. The first symptoms of the disease start to show when the fish appears bloated or scales behind the head distend.

What causes a goldfish to become bloated and distended?

Dropsy causes the Goldfish to become bloated and its scales to be distended. Goldfish with advanced dropsy disease. Dropsy disease symptoms are caused by kidney failure. The kidney shuts down and the fish retains fluid. This fluid retention causes the fish to bloat and the scales to distend as fluid builds up underneath them.

Why does my Pearlscale goldfish have dropsy?

A Pearlscale goldfish likely only has dropsy if its scales are far more raised than usual. Once a goldfish has reached this change it is usually not savable. However, it doesn’t hurt to treat the symptoms and try to cure the underlying disease. Isolate the sick goldfish.

What should the water temperature be for a goldfish with dropsy?

This will prevent the goldfish from going into shock in its new environment. Slowly raise the water temperature. The ideal water temperature for a goldfish with dropsy is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A relatively high water temperature will prevent bacteria from multiplying.

How does dropsy disease affect a goldfish scale?

The scales on Goldfish with dropsy have a fluid sac under each scale which pushes the scale away from the body giving it the characteristic opened pine cone appearance. The disease doesn’t spread to other fish in an aquarium environment.

Why does my Goldfish have drops in its water?

Remember to slowly increase the temperature and add salt to the new water. Realize dropsy has many causes. Dropsy is a symptom of many goldfish diseases. It can be caused by bacterial infections, parasitical infections, toxins, and kidney cysts. There is no way to know the cause of a particular goldfish’s dropsy.

Is it necessary to quarantine goldfish with dropsy?

Dropsy isn’t contagious which means it’s not necessary to treat all the goldfish in the tank. In the quarantine tank, add 2 teaspoons per ten gallons of epsom salt to help draw out excess fluids in the goldfish.

What kind of disease does a goldfish have?

Dropsy is one of the worst diseases goldfish can come down with. It’s usually fatal. I hope this description of one goldfish that survived a bout of dropsy will help someone to save their fish. Fish are said to have the disease “dropsy” when they swell up and their scales stand out all over like a pinecone.