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Dropsy is caused from a bacterial infection of the kidneys, causing fluid accumulation or renal failure. The main Symptoms to dropsy are bloating of the body and protruding scales. To be accurate Dropsy isn't a disease itself, but actually a symptom of another underlying disease in the fish. Dropsy in fish is somewhat contagious, it almost never can be healed and most afflicted fishes are either put down or isolated and allowed to live the remainder of their lives in quarantine. Sometimes it's not contagious, but sick fish should be isolated, Fish may recover with no treatment and may die despite it, fish which do recover will see full improvement in under a week. Possible causes to dropsy: 1- High nitrates or internal bacterial infections - fish is absorbing water faster than it can eliminate- bloating of the body 2- Kidney damage- overuse of medicines, inappropriate nutrition- bloating of the body and then Scales may be forced outward. Dropsy treatment: There are medicines against dropsy that you can add to the tank water but to be honest those are not so effective. My favorite treatment is to give the fish medicated food. Make a 1% mixture of an antibiotic such as Chloromycetin or tetracycline and fish food (any type). Based on weight, 1% equals to add 100 mg antibiotics to 10g fish food. It is recomended to starve the fish before (for about to days) feeding them medicated food to make sure that they eat properly.If the fish became sick but still eating medicated fish food can help on rare occasions. Dropsy Prevention: 1- Poor water conditions can be a major catalyst to the dropsy disease, perform water changes on a regular basis. 2- Check your water condition from time to time especially nitrate and ammonia. 3- Selecting the right fish food is obviously important to the health of your fish. Fish foods normally contain nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep your fish in good health, these elements are essential so don’t underestimate the importance of purchase the right fish food.
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