floaty needs major help...

10gal tank been running for 6months, 1 redcap 2"including tail, 50gal-aquaclear filter with biomax and foam. using Prime, API salt. Airmaster 3000 air pump from marineland. temp @ 80' with Visi-Therm Stealth.
Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, all 0 (i believe it was cycled and maybe bio is good enough for nitrate to not get high within a week) Change 70% water every 3-7days, depending on water clarity, since nothing ever raise anymore.

he had dropsy a few days after my last post... then i gave him Maracyn2, salt, and hand fed metromeds... that was his diet for 10 days... he got better with 2 rounds of Maracyn2, i stopped metromeds because floaty became even more floating than before... then i fast him for a day, gave him oranges, he was a lot better... dropsy was gone, and the red spot on his tummy was gone also... a few more days went by, the blood red spot returned, i fed him more oranges... then gave him 1 dose of Parasite Clear, that fixed everything. then a few more days went by, red spot returned, I gave him Maracyn2, Maracyn & salt, because he had white stringy around the red spot on his tummy. and now 5 days treatment is up, other than the white stringy looking thing is gone, nothing changed. I dont know if i should give him another round of Maracyn2? since i dont know if the red spot is caused by bacteria or exposure to air?
he still has appetite, i fasted him for 2 days, then gave him peas, he's eatting upside down, pooping upside down... so everything takes longer... he lost function of one of his fin underneath his tummy, possibly from being out of the water for too long... so when it's his good day, he swims in spiral...

I'm in desparate need of help for floaty. he's my favorite and been with me for over a year...
please tell me what i should do.

I have school and work these days, so i cant go hold him down every hour in the water to get his red spot in water... I'll be gone for a week in May, and a fish sitter will come feed him by hand... the best person i could find, but i doubt it wont be all that floaty needs, i wish to have him in better shape before i had to leave...

these are floaty and his red sore as of tonight.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amymememe/130636239/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amymememe/130636240/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amymememe/130636241/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amymememe/130636243/


scales are gone around his red sore, and his exposing fin shrunk and clamped...

Sorry that no one has responded to your call for help.

I do hope that things are better, but if not here are my thoughts.

That is a nasty sore. First thing I would do is start the fish on Metromed from Goldfish connection. (if you are in the states).
Next is keep the water absolutly perfect. With using the Maracyns it could be out of whack. So if you could post those results that will give us a better indication of the water.
Next is put a Neosporin on the sore. Make sure not to get any around the gills or face.
Post back soon.

Unfortunetly as bad as this is, the only thing that may help it is a vet that does injections of an antibotic.

I agree with what's been said allready,however I do want to mention that when two of my Oranda's were dealing with swim bladder both fish had parts of them out of the water,where they became red just as yours has done. I did treat them with Neosporin myself/kept up with the perfect params,etc.,and both these fish went back to swimming normal in a week to 14 days.I also have a small Oranda that got stuck in between a filter.She floated for almost a month like that ,and has since sunk ,and that's where she stays now.It's really sad because she has to scoot to the side to get anywhere. I think that her insides were damaged from the accident,and that she'll probably never swim normal again,but other than that she's quite healthy/growing,so I can't bring myself to put her down. I think my point in mentioning this is that there are just times when permanent damage may be done and irreversible. Poor water quality can be a factor to it,as some sort of injury,or infection.The fish could have even been born with some sort of defects. I'm not saying to give up,but I do want you to know that sometimes there are reasons out of our control.
I would at least stick with the medicated food.If you see any other signs ,then you may have to go with the Antibiotic's again.Good luck-I really hope the little guy makes out okay.

That is good that you have had them make it Sharon, gives more hope!!!

thanks for both of your replies...

Floaty is getting worse... his popeye is back, all donut around his eyes and seems like sign of dropsy is returning also... he's starting to ballon up.

I tried to put some neosporin on him, but it wont stick to his skin, i think only a thin layer got on... he shakes a little out of pain/ discomfort, but did not fight me, when i put it on him... like how little kids cry, they have that shaky breathing... breaks my heart to see him like this.

Floaty still have his appetite, he's still excited to see anyone passing by his tank, so his spirit is still good at this stage, but he does have a hard time keeping food in, he spit and i feed him again... do this for 2 hours each day.

the ammonia in his water raised alittle today, between 0-.25ppm. i did a 50% water change and added some salt for him. added some stability, hoping it does some good. everything else is still 0.

I think deep down i'm starting to think floaty will keep getting sick and suffering, he's been sick for a long time, and it's been getting worse for the past 2 months... no vet around where i live would have stuff for goldfish, and i can't afford it either... but everyday, I just wish he can get better and be back to his happy self again. I guess it's self-fish of me to want to keep him around, when he's in such pain.

I dont think he'll live past these few weeks before i had to leave... but i just can't get myself to end his pain... I just can't do it. i'm very conflicting with myself in what i should do for him or not to do.

Other then keeping water clean, neosporin... anything else could ease his pain for the last few weeks he might have?

and from you guys' experience, is it resonable to let floaty go? have many fish actually survive dropsy, be in floaty's possition and returns to health?

what would everyone's opinion be? keep giving floaty maracyn2? (it'll be the 4th rounds of maracyn2 in the past 5 months) or does this means it's floaty's time to go?

anyways, thanks for everything.

This is so sad I guess I can only say what I would do and that's remedicate with Maracyn II. Plus I would try to get my hands on some maracyn I as well primarily because each Maracyn treats different strains of bacteria (ie. gram negative and gram positive) which is why so many have success when the meds are combined.

Together they may work well to rid him of whatever bacteria is ailing him, it's certainly worth a try

It is hard to decide when to end an animals suffereing. I deal with clients asking me this question everyday. Only you know in your heart. But what I tell people is this. Euthanasia is the last act of love you can do for your pet. Whether it is a dog or a fish.
It really isn't fair to them to keep them around in pain just to "have" them here. Your gut will tell you........your heart may want to fight it. But I am sure you are doing all you can. If you really believe that he is suffering then it is probably time.
Let us know if we can be of any other help for you.

thanks for all the input...
i put neosporin on floaty, and he is less red now... but i felt a very soft area on his tummy, i hope his insides are recovering...
i gave him maracyn & maracyn2, tomorrow will the hte 5th day of treatment... his scales are not sticking out anymore, but he still looks ballon up.... should i give him another rounds of maracyns? should i try parasite clear? (i'm not sure if he has parasite inside of him?)
he still spit food out, if i spend an hour or so, giving him back what he spit out, he could ususally hold the food in... what dos the spitting means?
thanks!