Fish Disease Dropsy
Many factors can cause Fish Disease Dropsy that can affect fish in an aquarium. You must treat the tank quickly in order for most disease to be stopped. The list below might help you determine what disease your fish has.
When your fish seem to have Fish Disease Dropsy, see if they also have tiny white spots like salt - This is probably Ich (Ichthyophthirius), a parasite which is rather common. This disease can be caused by poor water and is easily contracted by fish whose immune system is weak. If caught in time, it can be treated with medication that you buy in the pet store.
If you see that your fish have Grayish cottony patches on their skin or gills, this is probably a fungus caused by decaying matter in the tank. If you haven’t cleaned your tank in a while and there is lots of food and fish waste on the bottom this may be the cause. Easily cured if caught in time, you can buy a remedy for this at the local store or online – and of course you should clean out your tank!
Sometimes the cause of a disease also causes another, the Fish Disease Dropsy might also happen in fish with rotting fins. This tropical fish disease is probably caused by bacteria attacking the fins and is likely to happen where there is poor water quality and / or the fish are stressed. If only a few fish are affected, you can isolate them to prevent spread of the bacteria. This can be treated with medicine purchased at the pet store specifically for this type of disease. You should check your fish daily to insure their fins are in good condition as this requires immediate treatment.
If you notice your fish scraping against the bottom then he may have flukes. Flukes are a parasite that attach the gills and skin of the fish – once again poor water quality can be to blame. This disease is difficult to get rid of and the tank should be treated at the first sign of outbreak.
Are your fish fish gasping for air? Perhaps your tank does not have enough oxygen? Try adding a airstone that will add oxygen to the water through air bubbles. Plus it looks neat in the tank!
When you treat your tank for Fish Disease Dropsy, remover to follow the directions on the label and only add the amount specified. Keeping a routine of water changes and tank cleaning will be your best bet to prevent any future outbreak of disease.