Is it the dreaded Dropsey or am I over reacting (pics included)

[Lukenasia]

Heya,

Was feeding my fish today and as I watched them I noticed that both of my young Firemouths were looking abit "too" plump. After monitoring both of them for a few hours it definately looks like their stomachs are bulging. I feed them a variety of foods that include Flake, pellets and frozen.

I last did a water change last weekend, though I did introduce some fish the day before hand of which I took back the day after, and did a 50% water change when I got home to mostly prevent any risk of infection. Though these fish did not show any symptoms of disease. During this I cleaned the gravel and the gravel underneath the ornaments.

My water params are as follows;

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 20-30ppm
pH 6.8ish

They are housed in a 160 Litre Aquarium that has been going for years.

Pictures of the larger of the two Firemouths;

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8064/1021173.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/162/1021176.jpg

Pictures don't show the bulge as much as it looks without a camera, but am I over reacting or is it my worst fears.

Thanks for reading

[jay2487]

Doesn't really look like dropsy to me, are the scales sticking out any?

[annageckos]

I can't tell from the pics. Does it look like the fishs' scales are sticking up? If so than that is dropsy. Drosy is not a disease but a symptom. There are many things that can cause dropsy, so unless you know the underlieing reason for it it can be nearly imposible to treat. Why did you return the fish the day after you got them? Unfortantly doing that 50% water change wouldn't have helped if the fish had something contagous. I think I have heard before that a quick drop in temp can bring on dropsy. Sorry I couldn't be more help. If your fish do have dropsy it is not good. Survival rates are low.

[Lukenasia]

Well for now they aren't did try and take a close look and the skin (scales) looked flat to me, I also wandered if it was just constapation. But after reading the article, I am using all the right measures to prevent it.

[Lukenasia]

Oh and I returned them because one died over night and I decided not to keep any of them. Hence why I did the water change, maybe I did take alittle bit too much out though, was one of those major once in a while cleans.

[little hawaii]

These fish just look to be in typical condition - overfeed,fat

[Lukenasia]

I do tend to spoil them abit :/ Well thanks anyway guys, I'll keep you guys posted even if nothing develops, and as far as last feeding time this morning they were still eating and trying to protect the algae wafers from the Flying Foxes hehe.

[Scrup]

dropsy looks like a pinecone. Agreed they just look like fatty fatkids.

http://www.flippersandfins.net/Images/dropsy2.JPG

[jay2487]

lol fatty fatkids, I love it

[Lukenasia]

I can now confirm that he was just constapated. Sorry for detail but saw him trying to push out a large one earlier and now he is reduced in size alot more. But now I know he was fat to begin with as hes still alittle 'festively plump' thumbs2:

Thanks for the help guys, I'd rather be safe than sorry :19:

[teddscau]

Try giving your fish peas once in a while to prevent constipation.