Snowflake has dropsy :( HELP

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

I just got home for the weekend and found that Snowflake has dropsy. Pineconing, popeye, not acting right, white poop. I'm picking up a hospital tank right now, so this post is on the go. I have MMs. Ive never dealt with dropsy before. What should I do??

[Helen 8,511]

I am sorry to read this Laura

if you do not have Epsom salt at hand, please buy some of that too.

a spare heater, airstone and airpump is all that's required other than the tank/tub..

I will revisit when you return with your QT equipment & provide all information & photos (top view) as well photos from both sides so that we can see the eyes. is Snowflake still eating?

[yafashelli 9,540]

Get well soon, snowflake. :(

[shellbell4ever 1,381]

Awe I hope you caught it in time and he has a speedy recovery

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

I have a 10gal tank set up with an old 20gal filter because I don't have an air pump. I don't have a spare heater, just the one in my main 60gal. I have Epsom salt. Here's the best photos I could manage. The top view isn't the best because she's hanging out near the bottom, but I can clearly see her scales sticking out.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag7/laurathe3xplora/null_zpsa743a141.jpg

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag7/laurathe3xplora/null_zps94608f65.jpg

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag7/laurathe3xplora/null_zps37ebd143.jpg

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag7/laurathe3xplora/null_zps7ecc800a.jpg

[Mikey 6,780]

Get better snowflake!!

[GoldenSpoiledRotten 6,786]

Laura, are you working on the form from the top of the page? Helen will need all of that information.

I hope Snowflake gets better for you!

[Helen 8,511]

ok hun..

since we're working on a brand new environment (qt tank).. we're just going to start medicating. I hope you are able to weigh your fish.. if so, please begin feeding snowflake MetroMeds at 1% of his bodyweight.

heat up to 80F when you can, are you able to get a heater?

add Epsom salt, the correct dose is 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 gallons, but because there is a lot of swelling and I see some blood smears in between the raised scales & around the eyes, please up the Epsom dose from 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 gallons to 1/2 teaspoon. this is for the next 3 consecutive days and then reduce to 1/4 teaspoon for the next 5 days.

you will need to be doing 100% daily water changes (irrespective of the filter) as the Epsom will draw a lot of the retained fluids out & the heat will increase digestion rapidly and that all needs to be removed & re-dosed..

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Test Results for the Following:

* Ammonia Level(Tank) 0

* Nitrite Level(Tank) 0

* Nitrate level(Tank) 0

* Ammonia Level(Tap) 0-.25

* Nitrite Level(Tap) 0-.25

* Nitrate level(Tap) 0

* Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines) 7.6

* Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines) 7.6-8

Other Required Info:

* Brand of test-kit used and whether strips or drops? API drops

* Water temperature? 72 in main tank, 68-70 in QT

* Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running? 60gal main, 10gal QT

* What is the name and "size of the filter"(s)? 2 AC 70s on main, 20gal whisper on QT

* How often do you change the water and how much? 50-60% once a week

* How many days ago was the last water change and how much did you change?

* How many fish in the tank and their size? Last weekend, doing one today in main tank

* What kind of water additives or conditioners? Prime

* What do you feed your fish and how often? Hikari Lionhead 2x day and a cube of frozen worms

* Any new fish added to the tank? No

* Any medications added to the tank? No

* List entire medication/treatment history for fish and tank. Please include salt, Prazi, PP, etc and the approximate time and duration of treatment. Salt & Prazi when tank was set up

* Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus?

* Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc.? Was hanging near top in main tank, swollen like a pearlscale, pinecone scales, popeye, just looking generally puffy and unhappy Mai Tai was swollen up for a few weeks with a mystery infection or eggs (not sure yet) and is now back to normal.

[Helen 8,511]

hun, do you think the 60 gal heater might be too big for the qt tank? since the temp in both tanks are similar, I am guessing that is room temp stable? if so, would it be worth trying to fit the heater in the 10 gal to get the heat up to and around 80F?

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Thanks so much Helen! I read your first post after I finished my water change. I added 1/2tsp to the QT and I put a media sponge from the main tank in there just in case. I think the big heater would fit if I put it at an angle. Would that be ok? I think my house is pretty stable around 68. 150W is ok for a 10gal right? She doesn't want to eat, but maybe if the swelling goes down she will eat some MMs

[dnalex 13,633]

I'm sorry, Laura. I think that a comb-over of your system is warranted, since this is the second fish that has ballooned up in a short amount of time.

Good luck with Snowflake!

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

I'm sorry, Laura. I think that a comb-over of your system is warranted, since this is the second fish that has ballooned up in a short amount of time.

Good luck with Snowflake!

I did a big water change and cleaned out my filters. What else should I do?

And thank you! She is my oldest and sickest fish, I'm not sure she will make it

[4prettyfish 2,702]

I'm so sorry Laura Snowflake is not doing good.

[dnalex 13,633]

How is she doing? Has she been eating Metro-Meds? How much of it daily?

[shellbell4ever 1,381]

so sorry she's not feeling well I see your in excellent hands and I hope she has a speedy recovery

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Last I heard, my mom was trying to get her to eat by tempting her with the regular pellets and crunching up the MMs (she has sort of a deformed mouth so she takes little bites). I wrote down at home how many she -should- be having a day

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

She's supposed to get 7-8 a day, but my mom has to trick her into eating them by mixing with the regular pellets. Sometimes she'll go back at night and eat the soggy pellets off the bottom

[dnalex 13,633]

It's really important that she only eats the medicated pellets. Doing otherwise reduces the meds' effectiveness, as well as her general appetite.

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

It's really important that she only eats the medicated pellets. Doing otherwise reduces the meds' effectiveness, as well as her general appetite.

Ok, I will make sure she only gets the MMs

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Update: my mom tells me that Snowflake is essentially back to normal! She's not pineconed anymore and is looking great. She sort of came back from the dead I guess, because my mom almost pulled her out of the tank because she turned gray and looked dead I guess she has 9 lives! How much longer should she stay on the MMs?

[dnalex 13,633]

How long has it been?

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Well she's been on MMs since 9/21 but she's been apparently looking normal since maybe 10/1? I wasn't sure how long after looking normal she should stay on the meds. So happy she made it!!!

[dnalex 13,633]

Stop the meds, on 10/6 please

[LauraThe3xplora 75]

Sorry to bring this topic up out of the archives, but it was bothering me that I never followed up with everyone who helped me with Snowflake. She pulled through! She's back to normal and is happy in the main tank again I will be ordering my own MMs to have on hand for her (THANK YOU to CindiL for sharing hers with me!!). Here's a blurry pic of her from this weekend....not puffy anymore!