Columnaris or Dropsy?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

jmf

Candiru
MFK Member
Jul 2, 2017
208
47
46
44
Hi

One of my guppies this morning had what to me first appeared as raised scales only on one side. I thought it was dropsy and moved her to a qt tank with Epsom salts. Once in there it now looks a little different, maybe Columnaris.

Here are some pics (sorry for the quality again)

If you guys can work it out, what do you think?
 
I have posted slightly better pics if anyone can help? I'm worried I make have infected all 11 tanks :-(

I forgot to mention, for some reason I'm also getting ammonia readings from that tank. It's been running for over a year.
 
Last edited:
Looks like dropsy. Add some kanamycin. Hope it survives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
I agree the raised scales and floated appearance do look like traditional symptoms of dropsy.
Dropsy is also a gram negative bacterial infection, similar to columnaris so an antibiotic that targets gram negative bacteria would be effective in case you have either.
If you have the heater cranked to a temp above 82"F, the first thing I would do is turn it down, many bacteria (such as columnaris ) love a raised temp.
You may consider this drastic but.... if I had that fish, I'd euthanize it, and bleach the net it was caught in (I'd tear down, and bleach the hospital tank) and treat the community it came from.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kno4te
We can't get kanamycin in Australia :-(
If you can’t get an abx that has broad coverage or gran neg coverage then as Duanes suggested. Best of luck.

Maracyn 2 would be another usually available med here in the states not sure about Australia.
 
IMO, looks like Columnaris. It's displaying the "Saddleback" white growth on the body. I'm in agreement with Duane, better to Euthanize the fish. It's also important to conduct a big WC, concentrating on a thorough gravel vac, to give the remaining fish a better chance for survival.
 
I heard Solid Gold once say that dropsy is pretty much a death sentence, but I had a goldfish survive it once. Yes, I know... dropsy is a symptom, not a disease...
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com