Medication / Cure for Goldfish Dropsy

DROPSY: Bacterial disease that attacks the fish's internal organs, causing a concentration of fluids in the body tissues or cavities, resulting in a general swelling of the abdomen, thus causing the scales to protrude from the body.

I made this video to share my success in treating Dropsy on my goldfish. I've rescued a number of goldfish from our LFS that also had dropsy and SUCCESSFULLY treated them. In the past, I've lost some of my prized goldfish to Dropsy and wish someone had given me the right advise. But after extensive research online, I finally figured a treatment that works for my fish. Results may vary with yours depending on how far advanced the infection is and if you catch it early. Hopefully this video helps a fish keeper out there. Google "dropsy goldfish" to learn more about this disease.

4 MAIN THINGS NEEDED AS SOON AS YOU SEE DROPSY:
Epsom Salt $2-5 at any drugstore
Heater + Air Pump
Kanaplex $8-10 online

FOR BEST RESULTS:
Feed with Metro-Med or Medi-Gold *Dropsy Antibiotic Food $20 at goldfishconnection.com
or Romet Medicated Fish Food $15 at ‪http://tinyurl.com/4pyrcg3‬

USE AS NEEDED:
CrystalClear Wipeout Oxolinic Acid Powder $10 or OXOLIUM powder: For Lesions, Hemorrhaging, Fin Rot & Septicemia.
Garlic Xtreme $6-8 on Amazon: For Appetite Stimulation
If fish is still not eating - feed with LIVE BABY BRINE SHRIMP.
PS: Please be careful when using medication. Do not overdose, always read usage instructions. Over-medicating and combining the wrong meds can damage the goldfish's kidneys. Isolate your fish so as not to infect other fish.

Feed only medicated food for 15-30 days. Change 50%-100% of the water every 36 hours. Replenish epsom salts every time you do a water change. You can stop using epsom salt when the fluid buildup is gone and scales are back to normal. Do not return fish to the main tank until after 30 days.

If dropsy has not alleviated after 3 doses, continue using Kanamycin/Kanaplex upto 3 - 4 more doses. If your goldfish is under 3 inches, do not go over 5 doses so as not to damage his kidneys. The medicated food should help with the infection.

UPDATE: Jan 14, 2012 Mochi is doing really well :) He's grown 3 inches bigger since this video (now 11 inches long from head to tail) and he's a happy boy!
PPS: Congratulations to those who have contacted me and successfully treated their fish.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Medical
• Treatment
• Cure
• Goldfish
• Betta
• Dropsy
• Bloating
• Swollen
• Bloated
• Infected
• Sick
• Healed
• Medication
• Pineconing
• Dying
• Healing
• Raised
• Scales
• Edema
• Fluid
• Infection

[toushida]

:( my betta fish wont eat and has grey marks under his fins what happend to my betta fish? :( respond pls

[huntawunta]

@toushida I don't own a betta - all I can advise for loss of appetite is try feeding with Live Baby Brine Shrimp. As for the lesions/fin rot, treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Check your water parameters - this could be ammonia burn.

[bluuraydisc]

Really sad because my most beloved goldfish died today.. especially sad because it's the goldfish I have raised for the longest time... I don't think it is because of dropsy or ammonia, and I think it was a swim bladder problem.. does Epsom salt work for that too? And does crushing up pellet food also help with their digestion? I would like some help, maybe some advice for the next time this happens. I am overwhelmed with sadness right now.. ;(

[huntawunta]

@bluuraydisc Took awhile to respond to this because I honestly haven't figured out the best cure for bouyancy / swim bladder disease - I have 2 fish that also suffer from this either from genetic deformity or a nitrate spike. Epsom helps as well as crushed green peas if its a matter of food compaction. Avoid floating pellets or flakes. Also google Quartz+Implant+Goldfish. Also google Doc+Johnson+Health+Seminar+fis­h+quartz. PM me for more questions.

[huntawunta]

@bluuraydisc Forgot to mention a laxative bath remedy used by Japanese Ranchu Breeders for swim bladder disease: 1g PURE cocoa powder unsweetened to 10L dechlorinated water (or 1tsp to 30L) strictly for 2-3days. I heard its effective & might actually try this. You can search youtube for the video "転覆病の金魚　ココア浴中". They do this 1x month as preventive. 

[zipperhead53]

So it's been two days since I commented, I followed your video advice and used epsom salt. However I didn't have access to Kanaplex, but found Maracyn Two which also said it was for Dropsy. My betta isn't nearly as swollen and is moving around much easier!

[huntawunta]

@zipperhead53 Sounds great! The epsom salt is effective in removing excess fluid in swollen tissues. Maracyn Two which contains Minocycline is a gram positive treatment and may have addressed what is ailing your fish. Just remember that 95% of infections are gram negative. This is why Kanamycin is specific to dropsy. I hope your betta keeps improving. Good luck!

[zipperhead53]

Thank you for making this video! I honestly didn't know that using aquarium salt with my betta was making him worse. I've switched him over to the epsom salt now, hopefully he will at least feel better even if he doesn't make it.

[zipperhead53]

Thank you for making this video! I honestly didn't know that using aquarium salt with my betta was making him worse. I've switched him over to the epsom salt now, hopefully he will at least feel better even if he doesn't make it.

[huntawunta]

@yes4roblox Thanks! Hope your gf never gets dropsy :)