Ammonia- .25
Nitrite- .3
Nitrate- 80
Ph- 7.5
Ph out of tap- 7.5

It’s a 5.5 gallon tank (I know too small) with 1 black moor in it that has been set up for a few years. I do around 30-40% water change every other day since I noticed him sick, before that I did around 25-30% a week. This was the first time I tested the water in a while and I didn’t know that it was as bad as it is so I’m gonna start doing around 50% water changes every day if I can. Its really my fish but my mom thinks its hers and she has it in the kitchen on top of something that she doesn’t think will be able to hold the weight of a bigger tank that’s why its still in that small of a tank but now that its sick I’m trying to convince her to get at least a 10 gal.

He has what I think is dropsy, he’s bloated and his scales are kinda sticking out. Since he is a black moor I can’t tell if he has pop eye or not. The thing is he is as active as he normally is and eats just as much as he always has and I thought when they get dropsy they become sluggish and don’t eat. I have been giving him Jungle Anti- Bacteria food and have Epsom salt, there‘s no heater but the temp is around 80F. Its been almost a week since he has been on the food and only a couple days since I got the Epsom salt to put in there, he doesn’t look any worse but he doesn’t look any better either. I tried to get Maracyn 2 but the store that I went to only had 2 boxes and both expired last month and I didn’t want to spend $8 on something that was old and may not work anymore.

I know I NEED to get the water better before he stands a chance of survival but other then water changes what else can I do until I can convince my mom into getting a bigger tank? The only thing I ever do to the filter (Whisper 10) is rinse the cartridge in old water and since it doesn’t look like its cycled should I do complete water changes? Is it not cycled cause maybe I bumped it by doing more then usually water changes? Does the salt or the food do anything to the cycle? And how long can he live like this?

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to get everything in there and if you need any more info just ask away. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me

Sorry to hear your fish is having a problem. You can read up on dropsy in my pinned thread at the top of this forum or the 911 (I can't remember which one it is).
Anyway you will absolutly need to get the params under control or nothing you do will help.
You need to do water changes to bring down those nitrates and get rid of the other 2. Nitrates should be no higher than 20. With nitrates that high you are cycled, but probably because the tank is so small and could you be overfeeding???? Is causing the polution in the tank to rise and the nitrates can't keep it is check.

You will need the following to treat dropsy succesfully.
At least a 10 gal tank.
A heater.
Test the water everyday (2 times if nesassary).
Epsom salt.
Maracyn 2 and then Maracyn
Metromed food from goldfish connection.

After you read the dropsy thread post back and we'll see if we can help further.

Thanks Laurie

I did read your pinned thread already, thats why I have the epsom salt in there and knew to try and get a hold of some maracyn 2. I think I finally talked my mom into getting a 10 gal but she cant get out to get it until sometime next week. Oh and I do think she may be over feeding him a little hoping that if he gets more of the medicated food in him he will get better, I'm gonna tell her to cut it back a little. We got him over 6 years ago and my mom has pretty much been the one to take care of him and now shes so worried that he isn't gonna make it. I'll see if I can get to a different pet store to find some Maracyn 2 if not when my mom goes to get the tank I'll have her look there.

Oh and do you think I should put a heater on it even though the temp is around 80? I have one that I have for my guppy tank that I can use.

IT is hard to say about the heater. The thing you don't want is the temp fluctuating at all. This will reek havoc with the fish causing extreme stress and compound the illness. So it is up to you.

While we think getting enough food (or med food) in them will help, if the fish doesn't eat it all, or Poops more then it is bad because it contaminates the water, causing further problems. So it is best to just feed a tiny bit 2-3 times daily.

We got the 10 gallon today and it was on sale... $1 off . I'll test the water tomorrow and see if its any better. It looks so different in the kitchen now but its nice to see him have more room.

I told my mom to stop giving him so much food, hopefully she listened. I tried to explain to her what its doing to the water but she doesn't really understand all that stuff. I decided to hold off putting the heater on until it starts to get a little cooler out, its still in the mid to high 80s and I dont want the heater to make the water too high if I'm not watching it.

He still doesn't look any better or any worse so I'm hoping thats a good sign and now that his water should get better he should hopefully start getting better

Sounds good. I would be afraid also that the heater would get to high if you are not there to watch it.

Often with dropsy they maintain a while before showing improvement.

[attachmentid=7371]

There he is, I know I call him a black moor and hes not black anymore but he was when I got him and he always will be to me

Thats from around a month ago before he had any problems, sorry for the bad pic but it was taken with a cheapy webcam. I will try to get one of him in his new home.

Very cute. I hope he makes it.

There is he in his new home

I just tested the water, its been set up for almost 24 hours and I used everything that was in the old tank

Ammonia=0-.25 (kinda looked in between)
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=40

I had a question about the medicated food. Since I've have Jungle Anti-bacteria food and it says to use to 5-10 days, its been that but he is still sick so should I stop giving him that for a few days then start it again or should I continue to give him that until he gets better?

Sorry I have another question, do I need to disinfect his old tank? I could use it as a fry grow out tank for my guppies but I dont want them to get anything that he had. And if so do I have to use bleach or is there something else I can use?

I don't know if this is helpful Courtnie but if you can't find the Maracyn and the Maracyn Two locally, I did find that Drs Foster & Smith does have it, if you can order online...


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavR...m?N=2004+113521

He is a really nice looking moore. I wish you all the luck in getting him well

I would feed the medicated food for 3 weeks. And as far as breaking down the other tank, well it depends on what caused the dropsy. If that is a contagious thing then yes, if not then no.

Connie, I figured I would have to get it online. Thanks for the link

Laurie, Ok Ill continue to give him the food. His old tank is sitting empty right now but to be safe I'll disinfect it before I set it up for the guppies, thanks

Can I give him peas? I think he may be a little constipated but I dont know if I can give him peas when he should only be eating the medicated food

Really he should only be gettting the med food. How much are you feeding him?
How big is he?

Try giving very small meals, 2-3 times a day. Sapphy was about 5 inches and I gave her only 2-3 pellets 2-3 times daily for 2 weeks. I didn't want her to become constipated.

He is around 4" without tail and my mom gives him she said 7-8 pellets a day. He usually poops fine but since being on the food its been really long like 2 or so inches.

Update on my big guy, after the round of Maracyn 2 he is almost completely better His scales are just barely raised and the red he was getting on his belly is all gone. His poo isn't as long anymore but sometimes its black (or really dark brown) and sometimes it looks normal so I dont know whats up with that.

I just started him on the Maracyn 1 so hopefully after that it will be like nothing was ever wrong

I am glad to hear he is improving. Keep us updated.

I thought I had updated but I guess not

After the Maracyn he is almost completely back to normal. The only thing that is different now is that he has a wee bit of a floaty problem, when he sleeps his butt kinda sticks out of the water. He always sleeps in front of the outflow of the filter though so the water goes right over him and keeps that little bit of an area wet, and when he is awake he has no problem swimming normal

Thank you Laurie for helping me

You are welcome!!! I am glad to hear he is doing better. Yay!!! You are now a dropsy consultant, scary I know but this condition needs all the experts it can get.
Tell the little fishy I said congrats on having a good fishy mom.