I have been merrily treating Belle for Dropsy...and another of my fish who seemed to be hanging out in the center of my tank more than normal yesterday, now has popeye....
Interesting, but she is in different tank than was Belle, so I can only assume this is relaed to some nasty bacteria hiding in my gravel resulting from my hubby's failure to gravel vac like he promised... (now that was a run-on sentence!!).
So, have read all about how to treat...fear I have probably made a HUGE GRIEVIOUS error...put B.O.F. in with Belle since they are getting the same treatment. I didn't really have another option...kid in bed, hubby at work...couldn't run out to the lfs.
So, wish me luck.

good luck, i hope they get better soon!
what are you treating with?
don't forget to keep the water quality in perfect condition, this will help alot!

Oh, I am sorry, no one can read my cybermind about treatment. (long day at work). I am using Maracyn 2, epsom salts for the Dropsy one. I started Baytril injections on the dropsy fish Monday, have not yet on little miss Popeye. Partly because she is rather a giant fish and still powerful so I didn't want to stress he with massive restraint, and partially because I haven't gotten up the energy yet!!! Maybe once I finish my beer.
So far my water params are dead on, although at the beginning of the illnesses, my nitrates were BAD, so red that Ididn't try to figure out the magnitude. Now are under 40.
So, for now...watching the quality of the water..offering yummy food, medicating..oh and increased the water temp too. My shipment of medicated food went out Tuesday.
Thanks for the support!! A

well, sounds good (i don't know about drinking and then injecting a fish though) LOL..just kidding!
-How long have they been sickly?
I hope the treatment starts to work soon!!

Well, as long as I don't inject the fish with the beer...should go okay.
As for illness..noted the swollen fish Sundaywhen I returned from a 14 day trip. Husband hadn't notice the comet fish looking like a pearlscale, so don't know how long she had signs of dropsy, started working on her that nith.
B.O.F. (Big orange fish) seemed a bit off yesterday, sitting on the bottom a bit more, tonight after work, same spot and puffy donuts around her eyes.
From what I have read, dropsy tends to carry a worse prognosis than popeye...we shall see.
The rest of the fish seem to be fine SO FAR!!!! (ominous music plays in the background).
I am getting a bit silly, the beer is working. I am a light weight!! A

Amy goodness sakes. Poor little BOF. Are you sure it is Popeye? That is why my thread was called Popeye. I thought it might be but it just didn't look like it. As it turned out that was one of the early symptoms of the dropsy.
Take a look at my thread there are pictures of what popeye looks like and a description of Sapphire's eye.

Good luck

Laurie,
In answer to yor query...nope, not sure. Looks like Popeye..but you are right early signs of Dropsy would be edema around the eye...AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!
Good news is that the treatment is pretty similar and since I was forced (albeit partially by laziness...not trips to nnnnnn for me at 10:00 Pm), I put the two sickies in the same hospital tank, so they are receiving the same treatment. Increased temp, Maracyn 2, epsom salts...and medicated food if it will ever come..curse the post office!!!
I haven't started B.O.F. on injectable yet, but will today..she's just a lot more powerful and hearty than Belle and I fear the wrestlemania necessary will be too stressful. B.O.F. is 6 inches without her tail, so she has some power.
Both fishies are doing some independent swimming and a little eating, can't say I notice any change in their appearances. But alive is good.
Of course, I am steppingup water changes in my other two tanks..and watching those guys with a careful eye. The way I am going, my 60 gallon will become my hospital tank if I have any more afflicted. Belle seems to enjoy the company since I added B.O.F., hang out together.
So, the saga continues..wish I could do more. Should I add Melafix, or would that just be silliness?

yea, I think melafix would be silliness.
So is Baytril compatable with erythomycin (that's the drug MII right)?
and is medigold compatable with MII?

Amy I don't think I would do the Melafix either. To much meds may be overwhelming and who knows if they would react.

Even though it is tough to have 2 sick fish, I'm glad Belle has company. Once Sapphire started getting better she is constantly looking for something to do. The hosp tank is bare and she seems bored and lonely. When anyone goes into the kitchen she is at the side wiggleing her little butt off. It is quite cute, but I know she is lonely. It is something I hate about the quarantine tank.

Good news. Both Belle and B.O.F. are much more active tonight and the dropsy belly is about 2/3 the size of yesterday and the eyes on little miss popeye are about half the size of yesterday.
Hurrah!!! Hopefully things continue to improve.
Betty--maracyn 2 is minocycline, plain old maracyn is the erythromycin. Baytril is compatible with the minocycline....and is compatible with metronidazole which is in the metrogold...which is what I bought. I couldn't find on the website, the contents of medigold...so decided not to buy it. Metronidazole has good activity against some gram negative bacteria and is often added in with baytril as is get the anerobes that baytil misses.
But..doing better. Hurrah!!!

Thanks all for your support and help. You guys are the best!!!!!

Sad update. I euthanized the cropsied Belle last night. I knew the end was at hand, and when I came home from work looked in to see her with multiple little transparent little bubbles extruded from her body where scales had been lost. Bizarre..didn't get a photo as I really just needed to end her life...no battery for the dig camera.
Up note, B.O.F. seems well on the mend!! Eats metrogold like it is delicious, despite the fact that metronidazole, the antibiotic in it is notoriously bitter and awful tasting!!

I wanted to thank all of you for your help. I was too late for Belle, but with your help, I still have B.O.F.
Amy

Awwww. sorry to hear about Belle. How'd the necropsy go? I did that with a little goldie who died on me in QT, but it was so small it was difficult at best. I really wished I'd tried metronidazole on that one.

Medigold contains: Romet (Ormetoprim & Sulfadimethoxine), Kanamycin and Oxolinic Acid.

Glad to hear B.O.F.'s doing better.

OH no I am sorry to hear about Belle. I was so hoping to hear a good update.
I'm glad that BOF is doing better. I bet he is missing his friend.
Sounds as if Belle had some nasty things starting to happen. I hope that BOF will continue to improve.

Hi.. i'm a new user.. I joined cos i desperately need help!!

I didnt know what was the problem with my lionhead, i tot the bag around its eyes were normal, like some kinda thing they grow with age.. (i'm sorry!! but i really did!!) And now, when its scales begin to stick out, it worries me.. Looking at the photos and stuff on this site, YES, i can confirm that my beloved has popeye and not full-blown dropsy. Thing is, i HAVEN'T a CLUE how to save it! It's been with me for just under 2 years.. and i really would love to have it for longer!!!!! I admit i have been neglecting the regular cleanings.. but now i just want to save it!! Please tell me how?? i tot someone from this thread might be able to help me, seeing its on the same problem.. Where do i get like MediGold and stuff? I'm from Singapore; if you know where exactly i can get the stuff, that would greatly help!

Please!! i'm desperate!!