Ryukin with dropsy-help!

[hikarishadow]

Hi all,
I've been keeping fancy goldfish for almost two years now and I've just run into a problem I don't know how to fix.

My young ryukin has come down with dropsy in the last few hours. His eyes are also extremely swollen-I wasn't sure if this is usually associated with dropsy.

The tank is a a 90 gallon tank heavily planted with an oversized eheim canister filter, and pressurized CO2. There are 5 other goldfish in the tank of a similar size, but none of them are showing any ill signs. However, the water is just slightly less clear than normal, but all params are in check.

I can treat the ryukin with maracyn two.
Should I treat the other fish as well? If so, how should I go about this? I only have a spare 10 gallon tank and 6 goldfish can't hope to all sit in there happily without 100% water changes every 15 minutes.

If I treat a few of the others at a time with the bad ryukin should I worry about it being a parasite and jumping onto the others?
I'm sorry to ask so many dumb questions, but I lost my favorite fish back in August and don't want to lose any more.

Thank you in advance for any help! I appreciate it so much.

[marlin08]

I am so sorry to hear about your fish!
In order for the people here to determine the best course of treatment, it would be very helpful if you could answer these questions from the "sticky" at the top of the Goldfish clinic forum.

What is Ammonia Level?
What is Nitrite Level?
What is Nitrate level?
What is Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH)?
What is Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH)?
What is the brand of test-kit used(strips or drops)?
What is your water temperature?
What is the size of the tank (how many gals.) and how long has it been set up?
What is the name and size of the filter(s)?
Is there any substrate in the tank? If so how deep? and what kind (sand, gravel)?
How often do you change the water and how much?
How many fish in the tank and their size?
Do you use water conditioner(if so, what kind)?
What do you feed your fish and how often?
Is there any new fish/plant added to the tank? if so how long is the quarantine period?
Is there any medications added to the tank?
Describe the problems you are seeing: example grains of salt on body, bloddy streaks, frayed fins, fungus, staying at bottom, not eating, etc?

[suphi]

Are you sure it's dropsy or just swollen eyes. Dropsy means total body swelling with scales sticking out.

In any case, that fish needs to be isolated and treated. Although primary cause may not be identifiable, you could lose the fish if you don't act fast. Put it in your 10G with an airstone, daily WC at least 50%. I would use antibiotic but I'd only use 3rd generation quinolones for this (oxolinic acid or baytril) because it's that much better in terms of bacteria coverage and relatively safe. You'll have to redose the drug everyday.

I think the main tank also deserves a large amount of water change (near 100% if possible), and the other fish should be observed closely.

[zph2k]

I had that problem with my fish sometimes I had a good experience with Metro-Meds from Goldfish Connection.

[sc569]

Usually, fish that come down with buoyancy problems never get over it.

Sorry to hear about it. If you have the heart, you should euthanize it. It is nearly impossible for fish to recover from this.

[SeaWitch]

Dropsy is a symptom of something else that has gone wrong with the fish, not a disease itself. May I ask what the temps in your tank are? Dropsy can be caused by many things, including bacterial infection, poor water quality, and low tank temps, if the fish are still eating and the water is too cold for them to process the food.

Popeye can be a symptom of dropsy, too.

I have had great success with Metro-Meds from www.goldfishconnection.com They are very safe and will not mess with your cycle in the tank. Also a little bit of dissolved Epsom salt can help with any swelling. If you need the dosage for the Epsom, just let us know.