Hi everyone...I need some help with my Oranda!!
I have one Oranda and one calico fancy in a 20 gallon tank.
I do water changes about once a week, and ph, nitrates, etc. seem to be fine.
I feed shelled peas every other day and soaked flakes.

So, my problem is, this morning, I came to feed the fish, and I noticed my oranda was swollen, and his scales are sticking out on his sides. He almost looks as if he is going to burst. Last week, I treated him for swim bladder and/or constipation in a shallow hospital tank..I fasted him for 2 days, then fed him only peas, and he seemed to be doing much better and was able to swim down to the bottom again. He was fine until this morning when I noticed his scales. He just sits at the top of the tank with part of his back actually out of the water. He did eat some of his peas though, and isn't totally lathargic.
Could this be a bloating/swim bladder problem? Or are the sticking out scales a totally seperate issue? Please help me!! Thanks!

This is called "dropsy". I shall see if I can find you a link to the best help I know. Koko has had luck with curing dropsy, but it can be difficult to deal with.

Is your fish still in the shallow iso tank?

Hi Daryl!
I just found a good link for dropsy..thank you!
Now, my question is, if I put the epsom salt in the tank with both fish, will it hurt my healthy calico? And, is this regular epsom salt like you by at the store? How much should I put in, and should I buy any meds as well? Thanks for you help!

To answer your question, I don't have him in the shallow tank anymore..he is back in the big tank with the other fish.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12658

Koko has also posted a very informative thread about dropsy and treatment of it.

The epsom salts are exactly the ones you get in the drug store. The dose is.....(than you Emma!)

To make a .3% of salt it is 3 Tablespoons of salt to 5 gallons of water.

For a 20 gallon tank, then, for a .1% solution use 4 Tablespoons of salt or for an .3% solution, you need 12 Tablespoons of salt.

I am assuming this is the same with epsom salts as it is with regular salt!

Edit: According to RanchuGirl it is 1/8 tsp per 5 gallons for EPSOM salt. I was WRONG.

I would definately look into antibiotics. I have had tremendous luck curing fish with the help of antibiotics. Since time is of the essence here, though I think I would start the salt ASAP, adding it over a matter of hours instead of all at once. The very best antibiotic I have had for internal bacterial infection is MediGold from the goldfish connection.

It will not hurt the fish that is sharing the tank. It is probably far better to have the sick fish in a bigger amount of water than in a smaller iso tank anyway! Since they are together, they have both been exposed to the nasty bacteria.

Good luck, FonatainesMom! I have lost a couple of fish to this . . . just had no luck treating it. I hope he improves quickly!

Thanks everybody!
I just got back from the pet store and walgreens. I got Marycn 2 and some epsom salt. So, I am going to warm up the water (thats what that web site about Dropsy says to do) and slowly put in salt, but start the meds immediatley. I hope Fontaine can pull through! Thanks again for all your help..I will keep you posted!