black moor swollen looks like dropsy but...

Question
my black moor has been sweeling gradually since about wednesday the 9th of sept. It is now sunday the 13th. It was gradual till about yesterday where it just blew up to where it's sides are wider than it's head. I looked up fish dsieases and it looks like dropsy, the only thing is that it's really hungry and acts like nothing is wrong other than it's been resting on the bottom of the tank because it's so heavy. THere are two other fish in the tank and one has been losing scales in the same line along it's sides on both sides of it's belly. The third fish is totally unafected by anything. I tested the levels in the water and the nitriate levels are dangerous and I can't seem to get them down to a safe level. I need ot knwo what to use for doing that. The one fish who is swelled does have the scales protruding like dropsy but has had severe constipation one other time before this about a month ago. I have over fed them I believe. I have fed them a diet of wardleys gold fish food intermittently with yellow squash and cucumber and peas. This last month they have had pretty much nothing other than rmoaine lettuce and the wardley's pellets. The other two fish have been pooping like crazy and I have not fed any of them for a whole day now, the swollen fish is not passing feces like the other two, instead there seems to be an orange colored plug in it's rectum. Last nite I fed the fish a granule of epsom salt which made it pass two really huge sized poops about a  centimeter long and they were bright green. Since then nothing as far as I can see has come out. Five hours later I gave the fish another granule of epsom salt and still nothing. Please help as I have no way to pay for a vet. I really have to help this fish!

Answer
Hello Xotzin-

Fish off, try to separate the swollen fish. The other fish (who is losing scales) probably has a different disease and will need to be treated separately.

As for the fish with dropsy...most affected fish can live very long and seem perfectly normal up until the day they pass on. I had a female betta who lived months with dropsy and seemed normal right until she died.

There's really only one treatment for dropsy, which is what you've been doing - Epsom salts. Add them to the water, and hopefully it will reduce the swelling caused by retention of fluids. A diet of peas may also help reduce the swelling. There really isn't a cure, I'm afraid, but you can try treating the symptoms.

Melafix and QuickCure are the two medicines I recommend to most people, you can try using them, but your best bet is medicated food, which is (unfortunately) expensive.

For the fish with missing scales, I would use Melafix. It promotes regrowth and stimulates the fish's body to fight off infections.

To reduce nitrates, adding a mangrove plant to the tank is the most natural way to go about it. It will clear up the water quickly, and will also provide a food source.

Hope this is helpful...
-Amber Worman