• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bettas 101
    • Acclimation
    • All About Water
      • Nitrogen Cycle
      • Ph & Ammonia
      • Water Changes
    • Betta Fish Anatomy
    • Betta Vases
    • Choosing a Tank
    • Feeding Bettas
      • Food Myths
      • Frozen & Live Betta Food
    • Tankmates for Bettas
      • African Dwarf Frogs & Bettas
      • Apple Snails & Bettas
      • Neon Tetras & Bettas
      • Otocinclus Catfish & Bettas
      • Quarantine New Fish
    • Plakat Betta
    • Rosetail Betta
    • Veil-tail Betta
  • Sick Betta
    • Diseases and Treatment
    • Aging Bettas
    • Bloating and Constipation
    • Cotton Wool Disease
    • Dropsy
    • Fin Rot and Fin Loss
    • First Steps
    • Gill Hyperplasia
    • Ich
    • Popeye
    • Septicemia (Infection)
    • Swim Bladder Disorder
    • Sick Betta Symptom Checker
    • Velvet Disease
    • Wounded Betta
    • Fish Tank Granuloma
  • Behavior
    • Bubble Nests
    • Skittish Bettas
    • Tail Biting
  • Breeding Bettas
  • Equipment
  • Q & A
  • Other fish
  • Contact

Fish Care

Everything You Need to Know About Betta Fish

You are here: Home / Sick Betta / Dropsy

Dropsy

Common Name: Dropsy
Scientific Name: varies by cause
Description: Symptom of infection
Symptoms: body swelling, pineconing scales, lethargy, color loss, loss of appetite
Cause: bacterial, viral or parasitic
Medications: Maracyn, Maracyn-Two combined for bacterial infecitons
Ingredients: Erythromycin, Minocycline
Notes: Dropsy is nearly always fatal and some aqurist may prefer to not treat it

Severe Abdominal Bloating from Dropsy

Photo by Johnston DJ

Dropsy in itself is not a disease but a symptom of one. Dropsy describes the severe organ failure leading to the swelling and pineconing of the scales we sometimes see in our bettas. Part of the reason it is so difficult to treat is because several things including internal bacterial infections, viruses, and parasitic infestations, all of which have different methods for treatment, can cause it. Even if the source is determined it is not uncommon for the fish to later die from the irreversible effects of kidney failure or damage to the other organs. Once the disease has progressed to the point of abdominal swelling it is rarely treatable. Additional symptoms of Dropsy include lethargy, dulled color and loss of appetite. Dropsy is sometimes confused with the abdominal swelling associated with constipation. Viewing from above can identify differences. When Dropsy occurs the swelling shows obvious protrusions when looking down on the fish. Bloating caused by constipation is usually only obvious when viewing your fish from the side. Pineconing does not occur in a constipated betta.

Dropsy is not considered contagious but the infection that caused it could be so it is advised that sick fish be quarantined in a hospital tank. It is also wise to sanitize any shared equipment like nets, siphons, or measuring spoons with a solution suitable for cleaning aquarium equipment.

Because the success rate is so low it is entirely up to you to treat this illness. In many cases the treatment is so potent that medicine can cause even more damage to the kidneys. If you are sure of the cause then treat accordingly using the proper fish medication. In most circumstances the cause is not obvious. In these cases it is recommended to use a broad-spectrum antibiotic or a combination of a gram-positive and gram-negative antibiotics. This will cover a variety of common bacterial infections. I recommend a combination of Mardel’s Maracyn and Maracyn-Two. Kanacyn is also a very good antibiotic but is quite strong and may or may not cause additional damage. If your fish is still eating it will be more effective to soak some pellet food in a mixture of tank water and antibiotic and feed it to him. This will allow the medicine to take effect more quickly. This can be done in addition to the package directions.

Whether or not you choose to treat Dropsy it is important to make your fish as comfortable as possible. Lowing the tank water level and placing plants in the tank will allow him easier access to the surface for air. Some aquarists will fashion a sling out of netting and place it just below the water’s surface allowing the betta to always stay near his air supply. Many medications cause dissolved oxygen levels to drop so adding an air stone may help replace lost oxygen. Rapid gill movement and gasping are signs of depleted oxygen levels.

To relieve the discomfort of bloating add 1/2 tsp aquarium salt per gallon of water. This will help to draw some of the fluids out and relieve pressure. Epsom salt baths are not recommended because of inconsistencies in their success rate. As always never use table salt in a fish tank. Aquarium salt can be purchased at your local fish store. Most importantly, keep your tank water clean and stable and your temperature at a comfortable 78˚F [25.5˚C].

Use caution when selecting a medication for your betta. Avoid any herbal tonics or remedies that contain Melaleuca like Melafix or Bettafix. These medications are mostly antiseptics and may not be appropriate for serious infections. If your betta is sick enough to need a real antibiotic then give him one.

  • Antibiotic resistance is a problem facing aquarists all over the world. This occurs when bacteria evolve to make newer, stronger strains that cannot be combated by available antibiotics. To avoid creating tougher strains of bacteria be sure to carefully follow the directions on the medicine package and to never stop or change medications part way through treatment unless your betta is having a dangerous reaction to them. As with any disease, remove your sick fish from the community tank and isolate him for treatment in a hospital tank. Never medicate healthy fish.

Pineconing in Betta with Dropsy

Pineconing in Betta with Dropsy

Post Rating
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (7 votes, average: 4.14 out of 5)
Loading...

Primary Sidebar

Search


Recent Posts

  • Cool Betta Fish Tank Ideas
  • How Long Do Betta Fish Live For? – 5 Helpful Tips For a Long and Happy Life
  • 3 Gallon Fish Tank for Betta
  • 10 Gallon Aquarium Stands and Cabinets
  • How Much Do Betta Fish Cost to Buy and Care For?

NippyFish Facebook Page

Visit the NippyFish Facebook Page

Featured Posts

Complete Guide to Betta Fish Diseases and Treatment

This complete guide on Betta fish illnesses and diseases from A-Z will help you pinpoint what is wrong with your Betta and how to treat it.

The 4 Most Common Signs of Illness in Betta Fish

This article focuses on the 4 most common signs of illness in Betta fish.

Betta Fish Tank Setup – A Detailed Guide For Beginners

This article will be providing a detailed beginners guide on how to setup a tank for your Betta fish.

Top 12 Betta Fish Toys

This article has a list of some of our favorite Betta fish toys. Don’t have a bored Betta.

Setup an Aquatic Plant Environment For Your Betta

Having a healthy plant in your tank will help to improve the water quality by filtering out waste and removing some of the CO2 that’s produced by your fish.

Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved | NippyFish | Privacy Policy

Nippyfish.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.