scales sticking out

Question
My tank has been set up for 18 months.
The size is about 18 inches high, wide and tall.
They are cold water fish, goldfish type and a couple of smaller stripey ones, cannot re-call the names. Water recently tested and normal.

Question; One of the smaller fish is looking swolen all over and has it's scales are sticking out.
Can you please offer an explanation and possibly a cure?


Answer
Hi Clare;

The condition is known as "dropsy". It isn't a disease in itself, but a symptom of another problem. Organ failure from cancer, internal infection or injury is one major cause of dropsy. Unfortunately, byt the time they show the 'pinecone' look they usually don't recover. You could try epsom salt treatments, but the prognosis is really not good. Here are links to info about it;

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article24.html
http://www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illness%20Diagonsis/dropsy.html
http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#dropsy

Even though two of the sites are referring to certain types of fish the treatment is the same. Maintaining good water quality (25% water change weekly) and avoiding overcrowding and overfeeding are also important in preventing future outbreaks of problems that cause dropsy.

I hope he feels better soon....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins