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Dropsy | 4 comments (4 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Dropsy??? (none / 0) (#1)
by guppygirl on Sun Jan 04, 2004 at 01:52:09 PM PST

Hi wtw1940, I looked this up in one of my books, and found that, "Dropsy itself is not a disease.  Rather, it is a sign of various diseases in which the abdominal cavity fills with fluid."

The author, Wilfred Whitern, suggests using the "furan derivatives" that are very effective since they are able to be absorbed through both the skin and gills.

I'm sure uncle scott will jump in here, I hope, with a reading from his new book.
(I don't have a clue what "furan derivatives" are,
I'm not the expert in the meds. department).

What did the other fish that passed look like?
Have you noticed any worms?
Sometimes constipated, or egg-bound fish are often treated for dropsy, so increasing their fiber with some brine shrimp wouldn't hurt.

Only certain kinds of dropsical conditions are  contagious, according to the author, yet he doesn't say which ones they are.

If it is possible to set up the 10 gal., I would definitely get it going.  My thought would be to put the two that are showing signs in and treat them.

Then do a thourough cleaning of your other tank,
and increase your water changes and vacuuming.
Also, keep a close eye on all your fish for signs of illness.

That's about all the help I can be, sorry.
(Knock Wood <REALLY HARD> ) But I haven't needed to use many meds. on my fish. :-)

gg
:-)



Dropsy (none / 0) (#4)
by Lady Draig on Wed Jan 14, 2004 at 01:36:07 AM PST

I have a tank of Orandas-some from as far away as china...Dropsy was diagnosed a few days ago by a marine biologist that I know.  Fish is now quaranteened due to original tank size--he has told me that it shouldnt be spreading to other fish, that it is an interanl disease and is very tuff to cure--I have maracyn-two manufactured by virbac.(1800-338-3659 m-f 8am-5pm) It is what the marine lab uses where he works.  If not cured or getting better by 5 days of active treatment, he says it wont be cured...

Good luck! hope this helps.

[ Parent ]



If dropsy can be cured that is truly good news. (none / 0) (#2)
by unclescott on Mon Jan 05, 2004 at 06:33:24 PM PST

Usually it can't, partly because the fish are infected with all sorts of internal wee beasties (which may be impossible to identify without operating on the fish!) They may be pretty far gone by the time the problem is recognized. Also, most of the time, fish with dropsy are considered contagious.

Traditional advice has been to isolate and euthanize the fish as mercifully as possible. If several of your fish are getting it, you need to be doing partial (20% plus or minus) water changes with "seasoned water" for every day or two for at least a week. Your tank has gotten pretty funky. Sorry. :(

GG's analysis is what i'd go with too.

Now furan derivatives probably relate to a medicine call Furanace, also called Nifurpirinol. It is used for treating internal bacterial infections.

The following 3 recommendations are all taken from Burgess, Bailey and Excell's book. They suggest:
1. A short bath: 1-10 mg of the medicine per liter of water. There's 3.785 liters in an American gallon. Keep in mind that American tanks are seldom the size advertised - even without considering air space, gravel and decorations.

The bath would be best done in a tank other than the regular aquarium.

2. Long term bath: 0.01-1 mg per liter for several days. (I would recommend not chilling the fish. Don't feed them much, if at all, during the bath.)

3. Orally: a diet of only medicated food for five days.
...........
If the bactericide is put in the tank and if it kills the "bad guy" bacteria, it will probably also kill the "good" bacteria and pretty much trash your nitrogen cycle.

If it is one or two small fish you are treating, you might take a clean, soapless wide mouth gallon pickle jar. Mix the water and a proper amount of water. Adjust your guppy to that water and dump him/her in.

Perhaps float it in a tank so as to keep the temperature stable. Don't feed it much.

Don't put it in a tank with a power filter. ;)

When medication is done, gently lift the fish(es) out and return it (them) to the home tank. Without slopping, dump all the bath water down the toilet.

Leave the jar outside to freeze any bad bacteria out of business. (That is the one handy thing about winter and keeping fish.)

All the best! uncle scott

[ Parent ]



The manufacture of Maracin II is Mardel (none / 0) (#3)
by unclescott on Tue Jan 06, 2004 at 08:19:44 PM PST

Laboratories, which used to be in the western suburbs of Chicago. One town was where I hailed from (not to blame Mardel though.) Evidentally they were purchased and moved to CA.

http://www.mardel-labs.com/mardel/f_ff.html

is the company homepage. They don't have a dealer list of local shops which is what was being looked for there.

If you type the name of the product you are looking for into Google, you will get a bunch of on-line venders.

[ Parent ]



Dropsy | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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