Well, I know what's wrong with poor Bernard now (see earlier post Help - sick neon tetra): he has dropsy. His little tummy is swollen and his scales are sticking out, he won't eat, he doesn't want to swim and he's constantly gasping.

Is there the slightest chance that he can be pulled through this, or is it pretty much hopeless? Should I euthanise him now to spare him more suffering? If it was a goldie then there'd be no question about treating rather than euthanising, but neons seem so fragile.

So far, I have salted the tank to 2 tsps per gallon. The temp is at 80F and params are perfect. I can't move him to the hospital tank because Augustus is already in it (until his fins grow back properly) and I haven't the space - or the money - to set up yet another tank and equipment. There are 2 other neons in the tank with Bernard though....

I have no meds here except some anti-bacterial stuff which I have never found to be of the slightest use before. I have virtually run out of Mara and Mara 2, and he wouldn't eat Medigold even if I had some.

Please please advise!

I'm sorry to hear that Emmahj.
Dropsy is rarely curable and depending on the cause it can be infectious as well. About the only thing I know of to do is to add about 1 tablespoon of epsom salt per about 10 gallons of water. This will help the fish get rid of some of the fluid build up in it's abdomen.
Since there is no other tank for the poor little guy to go in right now it might just be best to euthanize him. If he's carrying parasites or a bacterial cause for the dropsy it can spread to the other fish.

Again, sorry to hear about the fish and HTH.

Well, poor little Bernard didn't make it. I euthanised him this evening.

I did try to treat him (just about managed to scrape together enough Mara and Mara 2 for a 5 day treatment) but by the 3rd day - today - he was hanging at the surface gasping and looking so wretched I couldn't let him go on any longer.

Thanks for your advice Troy, much appreciated.