Dropsy or not? Butterfly Fish - Thoughts?

dr exum

dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Sep 29, 2007
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Have you tested your water?
No
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
10
If I did not test my water...
...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
51-60%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
i had a run of dropsy in 3 - siamese alge eaters....

these guys shared a tank for a while or had a common tank mate (congo jewel)

the siamese died...

1/3 looks to have a swollen abdomen - no increased respiration’s currently -

moved them to a 10g to QT -

came from my 75g mini african grow out tank....

treated both tanks with kanaplex.

does it look dropsy?

thanks!

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Kolton13

Kolton13

Redtail Catfish
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Oct 3, 2019
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kno4te kno4te the one pic could be a reflection,
But it looks like they’re floating maybe tos sw bladder disease?
 
kno4te

kno4te

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I’m not convinced it’s dropsy. The butterfly should be staying up top. It’s their normal area of swimming.
 
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Kolton13

Kolton13

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Oct 3, 2019
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kno4te said:
I’m not convinced it’s dropsy. The butterfly should be staying up top. It’s their normal area of swimming.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know they stay towards the top. in the 2nd pic it could be a reflection but it looks like it's on its side
 
Magnus_Bane

Magnus_Bane

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To me it looks like a light case of bloat. If I was you I wouldn't feed em for the next few days and see if that does anything. It could also be a pregnancy as well. I know when I had 1, 7-8 years ago, it ended up being a pregnant female and actually gave birth about 3 weeks of having her. Least to say I wasn't prepared for the addition of babies to the tank and the mollies I had, atm, ate them.

Also I would make sure to add a few areas of floating plants to the top. I noticed with mine she really loved to be underneath fake floating plants, I assume it was for safety/hunting purposes. Mine would also exhibit some strange hunting tactics when it came to live food as well. She would launch herself out of the water and body slam the prey before going in for the kill. Very strange hunting tactic in my mind since I don't think I've seen any other trap-jaw specie doing this.
 
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dr exum

dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
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Sep 29, 2007
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Northwest
Magnus_Bane said:
To me it looks like a light case of bloat. If I was you I wouldn't feed em for the next few days and see if that does anything. It could also be a pregnancy as well. I know when I had 1, 7-8 years ago, it ended up being a pregnant female and actually gave birth about 3 weeks of having her. Least to say I wasn't prepared for the addition of babies to the tank and the mollies I had, atm, ate them.

Also I would make sure to add a few areas of floating plants to the top. I noticed with mine she really loved to be underneath fake floating plants, I assume it was for safety/hunting purposes. Mine would also exhibit some strange hunting tactics when it came to live food as well. She would launch herself out of the water and body slam the prey before going in for the kill. Very strange hunting tactic in my mind since I don't think I've seen any other trap-jaw specie doing this.
Click to expand...
i’ve got the floating water lettuce plants in their main tank, this 10g’s got nuthin...

i only removed them to QT after suspect dropsy (had 3 other fish die from this already)

looks like my kanaplex for dose 2 does not get here until friday -

i’m mainly concerned as i have fish that are growing out that we’re sharing a tank with them that are ready to move into my main african bio tope tank... don’t wanna infect them...
 
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Magnus_Bane

Magnus_Bane

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dr exum said:
i’ve got the floating water lettuce plants in their main tank, this 10g’s got nuthin...

i only removed them to QT after suspect dropsy (had 3 other fish die from this already)

looks like my kanaplex for dose 2 does not get here until friday -

i’m mainly concerned as i have fish that are growing out that we’re sharing a tank with them that are ready to move into my main african bio tope tank... don’t wanna infect them...
Click to expand...
If your already quarentining, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'd just keep an eye on em, continue treatment and not feed for a few days. If they get better within a few days I would imagine it to be just bloat. If the bloating gets worse and ya see the scales poping out and looking more like a pinecone then I would say it's dropsy.

Hopefully this all just turns out to be just bloat or a random pregnancy rather then it being dropsy. Wish ya the best of luck on all of this.
 
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