Goldfish dropsy

Question
Dear Ron,

My goldfish is probably about 2 1/2 years old.I've had him for 2 years. He is about 3 inches long including tail. He is the kind that has a long flowing tail and a little cap on his head with long eyebrows, orange and white. I kept him in a 2 gallon bowl with a little aereator ball for two years with no problems except occasional constipation. I found he did well on tubiflex worms and occasional peas. Last week I broke the bowl accidentally while rinsing it and I transferred him to a 1 gallon bowl. He started to look lethargic and now is floating upside down most of the time. He looks very sick. The local pet store was out of larger bowls and I think I waited too long. I checked the PH in his bowl  which was about 7.2 and the ammonia level which was about .25.  

I have since read that he should be in a 10 gallon tank, which I set up two days ago.  In the new tank the ammonia is at 0. And PH about 7.2. I have dechlorinated it, have an external filter running, added something called "cycle" to the water, and added some aquarium salts (2 TBSP). I put him in the new tank yesterday and he has not improved. I fear it is too late to save him. I also read that he could be given antibiotics or bathed in an epsom salt solution.

He has the rough slightly pine cone look, but he is not really all that bloated. He's actually looking a little wasted. He does respond to me when I come near his tank but he can't move much. He is very weak and floating on his side. Is there anything at all to do for this fish? How long can a fish go on like this?

Thanks for your help.
Judith  

Answer
Hi Judith,
 That is puzzling.  You did the right thing by getting him a larger tank.  The ammonia buildup in a small bowl can be really hard on a fish.  I wouldn't give up on him yet ... he may still recover.   Personally, I would not put anymore medicine in the tank -- I would just give him time to see if he gets better.  Often times too many chemicals can cause more problems than they solve with fish.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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