HELP!!!!!

2 days ago I noticed that Sylvia, my goldfish's eyes were beginning to bulge out of her head (Looks like popeye).

She is in a 46 gallon tank, with an emperor 400 over the back filter. Her tank mates include two ranchus (both smaller than she is). I tested the water yesterday and the Ammonia is 0, the nitrites are 0 (unsure of the nitrates because I do not have a test kit) pH is between 7.4-7.8. 1/3 water change will be done this upcoming weekend

Anyway, yesterday I went to petsmart and got a bacterial medication from Aquarium pharmeceuticals that is supposed to combat dropsy, ulcers and other bacterial infections (i figured if she has pop-eye this will help). I added the medicine yesterday afternoon.

Last night, I noticed her eyes seemed to be going down but her body was swelling and she was getting the porcupine look that people descripe with dropsy.

I also want to note that lately i have noticed large quantities of brownish stuff on the fake plants and tank ornaments ( I assume its algae). Anyway, while i was at petsmart i got these tablets called tank buddies (one for algae killing and the other for clear water - also use activated carbon in the filter). I have not used either of these products as I am afraid that they will interfere with the medicine.

My questions are:
1) Is there anything I can do to help my fish? I dont want her to die. She is very active and she is eating like usual (once a day, goldfish pellets, except I gave the fish peas yesterday (which were devoured)). I also do not have a heater so raising the tank temperature is not possible.

2) What could have caused the problems my fish is having and how can I prevent this in the future?

3) Is the brown algae(?) bad for my fish? I agree it is unsightly but my concern is
for my fish. Do these tank buddies work?

Please any advice or help that can be offered will be greatly appreciated.

I am just getting started with Goldfish, so take what I say with a grain of salt, until someone with more experience agrees, or appropriatly corrects me.

If your adding medication to your tank, you have to remove the charcoal from the filter, otherwise the medication is simnply being absorded by the charcoal and not getting to the fish to help with the problem.

What seems to be the most reccommended anti-bacterial medication that I have heard of, is Maracyn-2 (I picked up some from a local pet store, since Pet's Mart where I live didn't have any.)

I have also heard that MediGold is supposed to be very good for bacterial infections.

I am using Maracyn-2 right now on a fantail goldfish that we think has septecima, but have not had a chance to see how well it works. I have not tried the MediGold yet either. I have some on order though.

Good Luck!!!

Hi Ranchlover, and welcome to the board!
Sorry to hear that your fishie has dropsy. There are quite a few things that can bring out dropsy, which is not an illness itself, rather a symptom to different things that can be wrong. It could be kidney problems, or something as simple as sensitivity to water temperature. Some fish, including one of mine, is sensitive to water temps during a water change, and react by getting dropsy.
What medicine exactly is it that you put in the tank? The other things that you can do to help your fish along involves raising the temperature up to 86 degrees (sorry, thats what you will need the heater for), at a rate of around 2 degrees per hour. You also should add 1/8 teaspoon ESPOM Salt ( no other salt) per 5 gl of water to the tank. A medication called Maracyn is also helpful for the fishie. And if you could get your hands on some medicated food like Medigold from Goldfishconnection.com, that would be the last ingredient.
Remember to aerate the water really good during the treatment, since the higher temperature carries less oxygen for your fish.
Here is a picture of a fish before and after the above mentioned treatment -
http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/puregol...ase/dropsy.html

Brown algae is not really harmful to your fish, just not too pretty to look at. And with enough lighting going, it will turn green eventually.
Never heard of TankBuddies, but I wouldnt recommend putting anything in the tank to destroy the algae. Goldies like to nibble on the algae, and it carries a ton of good bacteria with it that helps keep your tank in check.

Good luck!

The medicine that I have is called "Anti-Bacteria" Bacterial Infection Treatment. It is made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and its supposed to be used for "Fast, reliable treatment for ulcers, dropsy, & internal bacterial infections."

I used it per the directions, I removed the carbon from my filter and the directions say "If symptoms persist past 4 days, then repeat the treatment."

As I said earlier, her eyes have gone down probably by half but her body hasnt seemed to change at all. Shes swimmig great and shes eating well. I just havent seen her go to the bathroom.

Is it possible to get dropsy from constipation? and if that is true, how can I get her unconstipated? I tried feeding all three fish peas, which they liked alot but still no change with Sylvia,the sick fish.

I am also concerned because petsmart only carried the medication I am using, and i am afraid that she will get sicker before I can get her any other medication.