Help!! I think my Oscar has dropsy! :(

[fayful1]

Hi- i realize that i am a newbie and i am sorry to just barge in like this but i am DESPERATE! I just noticed tonight that my3 yr old Oscar ( Nemo) is acting funny- He is laying on the bottom of the tank and his tummy is swollen! From what info i have read it looks like he may have dropsy- What do i do? My hubby says to put about a tsp of salt in the tank . Will this help? What will it do to his tank mate my beloved 15 yr old plecostomus ( Hercy)?
I also read something about raising the water temp to 86 degrees? What will that do? If Nemo has dropsy can Hercy get it? They live in a 55 gallon tank so they are both pretty big fish. Sorry if i am just babbling on here but i am just typing this in tears. I really do * Love* my fish! Thanks for your help!

 

[south coast nelly]

iam not up on dieseases but my oscars done similar before...have you moved things around in tank..there great sulkers.....try feeding it some desheeled peas as it could jsut be constipated

 

[fayful1]

Thanks for taking the time to leave me a suggestion.
I am sad to say that my fish died last night.
Now i have noticed little white things swimming in the tank. Could it be fish Lice?

 

[south coast nelly]

could well be...what else is in there>?if its just the plec,temp rehome him and fully disinfect the tank and ALL equipment......use bleach and ensure its all cleaned thoughly...so sorry to hear of the loss...

 

[rtc]

Use Acriflavine in combination with aquarium salt every water changing...

Change 25% water every day....

Be Patient, the treatment process may take long, could be a month or longer.... and once a fish got dropsy, the disease may return, please be careful in feeding.....

I have my own experience with my Flower Horn.....