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Post by ladyqpid on Jan 30, 2006 19:32:13 GMT 10
I purchased him/her about 6 weeks ago with another slightly larger one. They are both extremely active, all over the tank, no external signs of problems that i can see. Except that the smaller of the two, over the last 4 days, has grown as wide as it is long...well almost. It looks like an extremely pregnant guppy. I have looked all over the net trying to find out what it could be. As egglayers I don't think they should get quite so big, and also if it was that surely it would be a slow growth not just an explosion. Honestly, he/she looks as if she is going to explode and it is quite scary. I don't know what to do?? Any suggestions??? Please! I don't want to loose him/her if I can help it, but I also don't want to put the inhabitants of my tank in danger.
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Post by Bumblebee on Jan 30, 2006 21:47:41 GMT 10
Unfortunatley it may be dropsy, which is usually fatal. It is a kidney problem that stops the fish passing water out of its body so it starts swelling up. This can be caused by several things : bacterial infection, usually from high temps, overfeeding sometimes from scavenging dead fish, also from high nitrite, even nitrate causing damage to the kidneys slowly over a long time. Algae eaters are prone to dropsy if they have too much protein in their diet. I also notice a lot of fish get infected from cheap frozen foods that give off a lot of fluid that quickly decomposes in the water. about the only thing you can do is a few water-changes, check temp is around 24 and feed a little less. sorry there is no real good news with this problem
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Post by ladyqpid on Jan 31, 2006 17:47:57 GMT 10
Bumblebee thanks for the information. I just did a 40% water change so hopefully that will help. The tank temperature is fine, i don't get much fluctuation even in the heat because the tank is in an airconditioned area so I doubt that is the problem. Are there any other symptoms I can look for to confirm dropsy? You mentioned high nitrate and I remember reading of someone who was measuring the nitrate level. How do you do that? What is a 'good' nitrate level for a community tank. Boy I don't remember going through all of this when i had my tank years ago.... laughs. Back then it was just put the water in and hope the fish survive. We didn't even bother with PH testing and I never had issues. That was about 15 years ago though, maybe the water was less poluted with chemicals back then. If he dies in the tank and the fish get to him before I do can they get infected??? Should i just send him on his way on the Great Waterway before he can cause any damage???
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Post by sammigold on Jan 31, 2006 20:54:03 GMT 10
you can buy nitrate tests at aquariums... the instructions will tell you acceptable levels and also optimum levels. Other signs of dropsy can be a "pinecone" effect where the scales of the fish sort of stick out like a pinecone...(you know if you see it... it is unmissable) also redness in areas of body and sometimes cloudiness of the eyes.... Dropsy can be weird I think there are two types.. one that is contagious to other fish and another that can just hit one fish and no others.... (I think stress can make some fish more susceptible than others) HTH.
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Post by Bumblebee on Feb 1, 2006 11:21:15 GMT 10
Lost two beloved betta overnight to dropsy. The only thing different in that particular tank was the rise in heat to around 30c from the heat in the last week
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Post by sammigold on Feb 1, 2006 13:40:06 GMT 10
Oh Im so sorry to hear that.....It must be the heat wave... I think it has stressed some of our fish a little too much.... Hope you dont have anymore losses.
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