Hi guys

My 5 year old calico fantail Tiger has been suffering from swim bladder for about 6 months. Tonight I noticed a few of his scales starting to pinecone and it is very very slight...and since this is my first experience with dropsy I would like a little guidance. Tiger has been through a lot. He is tough and I have high hopes for him but to be sure, here is my plan on treating him and it would be much appreciated if anyone has further advice.

p.s. I purchased epsom salt tonight but I'm not sure if epsom or aquarium salt is better for dropsy?

1. I am doing a 50% water change
2. Salting the aquarium (the proper amount unsure/epsom vs. aquarium salt)
3. I'm adding a heater and will raise temp to 78-80
4. Begin feeding Metro-Meds for 2 weeks
5. Continue water changes (about 30% a day and re-salting appropriate amount)
6. Will keep the temp in the high 70s from now on

Please let me know if this is the best possible plan for treating Tiger in these early signs of Dropsy. Thanks so much.

Here is the rest of the information needed to advise...

Ammonia Level? 0 according to the ammonia alert card pinned inside the tank
Nitrite Level? will post soon
Nitrate level? will post soon
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? will post soon
Ph Level out of the Tap? will post soon
Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? 10 gallons
How often do you change the water and how much? 30% water change weekly
How many fish in the tank and their size? 1 fish, about 3 inches long including tail
What kind of water additives or conditioners? Aquasafe
Any medications added to the tank? no
Add any new fish to the tank? no
What do you feed your fish? pro-gold, peas, freeze dried shrimp from goldfish connection
Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt"? no
bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? no
Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, ect..? very floaty, lethargic, kind of hangs around the top not moving much

Hey Cuckoo. Just tonight, I lost my sweet little pearlscale after a long fight with dropsy. But, considering the advice I received from the kind, helpful people on here, it sounds like you are planning to do what I was advised to do. My difference was that I didn't get the advice soon enough. With regard to epsom vs. aquarium salt, you want to use epsom salt because it helps draw the salts and fluids out of the fish, which is part of the reason it is swelling. Adding aquarium salt (think about what we, as humans are advised) will make the fish retain salt and fluids. So, use epsom salt. I was advised 1/4 tsp. per 5 gallons of water. Also, I was advised that raising the temperature will actually increase the likelihood of more bacteria unless you are using Maracyn-2 as well. If you don't use meds for the water, they suggested not raising the temperature. Keep a close, close eye on your ammonia levels. The daily water changes will definitely check that, but test just so you know you are where you need to be. I wish the most of luck to you and Tiger.

Excellent plan!

1. Water as close to perfect is absolutely essential. Constant water changes are a must.
2. Use Epsom salt. Make sure you replace what you take out when you do water changes.
3. Yes gradually get the temp up to 80 F.
4. This stuff works phenomenally for intial stages of dropsy. Feed exclusively and continuously for 30 days regardless of the fact that the scales return to normal.

I may add a Maracyn 2 treatment also or even a back to back Maracyn/Maracyn 2 treatment.

Since you have started treatment with Metromed at the initial stages of dropsy just when the scales start not being flush, you should see results in only a few days and your fish should fully recover.

Thank you Jack and Lynda for the great advice. I am so sorry about your little fish Lynda. I appreciate you using your experience to help another in trouble...that is truly selfless.

I will do as advised...To clarify, I need to add 1/2 tsp of epsom salt to the 10 gallon aquarium and no heater until I add maracyn 2?

Make sure there are no salt in the tank to begin with.
Dissolve 1/4 tsp in a container of tank water and pour into the 10 gallon tank.
Wait 12 hours and do the same. In another 12 hours, repeat. So a total of 3 doses of 1/4 tsp. Do not add anymore salt after that. Make sure you do put back in the salt you take out when you do the water changes.

Yes get Maracyn 2 and increase the tank temp by 2 degrees/hour until you reach 80 F.

Jack already corrected me, but I just wanted to correct myself because what I typed didn't look right. I wanted to go back and check my thread for the correct dosage that I was given just to make sure that I gave you the correct information and I wasn't quite right. It's 1/4 tsp. per 10 gallons. Now that is correct.

I'm just wondering if Maracyn as well as MetroMeds is overkill. MMeds is the best possible treatment for beginning dropsy and has the advantage of not affecting the cycle, so I'm not sure that Maracyn as well is necessary.
JackoH - what do you think?
And to clarify Lynda's earlier advice: adding a heater is not dependant on having Maracyn - it's adding a heater without any antibiotics which can be a problem because it risks escalting the infection. But as you already have MetroMeds you can go ahead with the heater straight away.
I hope you will be lucky in catching this early enough.

When my oranda Sash developed popeye which turned into dropsy, I did back to back Maracyn & Maracyn 2, Metromed, Epsom Salt, & temp to 80 F. Sash's scales returned to normal after only a few days. I continued to use the Metromed exclusively for a total of 30 days. Two years later, he is still healthy and has grown to almost 9 inches including his long tail.

The Maracyn did not mess up my cycle. I would go for it. LaurieP told me back then that with nasty stuff like dropsy, you treat it early and you hit it hard!

Perfect water params and the metromed are our main weapons against dropsy. The epsom salt, high temp, & Maracyn are just extra ammos available in the toolbox. I would use it.

That's interesting to know, JoH. And amazing to know how well Sash has done.
I think you are right about hitting it hard and fast. It just goes to prove that vets who insist Dropsy is untreatable are not always right.

Sorry Pixie! I shouldn't have been so specific as to infer Maracyn was the only med to be used when uping the temperature. I did mean antibiotics, but I guess, as a newcomer, Maracyn is about all I've ever used. I'm learning, not only in the questions that I ask, but also in the questions that I read and participate in. When I respond to other's questions, mostly I just want to give support and let people know that there is someone out here who understands the frustration of not knowing how to fix our little friends' problems and to just let them know an understanding ear is here.