Prognosis for Fish With Dropsy
The disease or infection that is causing dropsy is not easily cured
. Some experts recommend that all affected fish be euthanized to prevent the spread of the infection to healthy fish.
Are Bettas prone to dropsy?
The immune system of your betta fish may be damaged as a result of a poor diet and stress. Finally,
long-term transit can cause dropsy
, which is why it's so common in fish imported from pet stores.
How long will a fish live with dropsy?
This is why use of drugs to “cure” the problem meets with limited and unpredictable success. As often as not, the fish will live or die irrespective of drug treatment.
Most often a fish with dropsy dies. Perhaps not immediately, but within several months
.
Can dropsy go away on its own?
Treatment.
Dropsy is not easily cured
. Treatment is geared toward correcting the underlying problem and providing supportive care to the sick fish. A broad spectrum antibiotic specifically formulated for gram-negative bacteria is recommended, like Mardel Maracyn® 2.
Should you feed a fish with dropsy?
How do you euthanize a betta fish?
What are the symptoms of dropsy in fish?
- Swelling of the abdomen.
- Eyes that are beginning to swell and bulge.
- Scales that starting to point outward instead of lying flush with their body giving a “pinecone” appearance.
- A loss of color in their gills.
- Clamping of the fins.
- A curve developing in their spine.
- Pale feces.
- Swelling near their anus.
How do I know if my betta fish is suffering?
A healthy betta fish is always fluttering around and flaring its fins and gills. Once it succumbs to illness,
it becomes less active and may even have its fins clamped
. You may have noticed that, once it is in terrible pain, they rarely move around and often time, they are found at the bottom of the aquarium.
How do you know if a betta fish is dying?
Other signs that offer a clue to knowing when a betta fish is about to die include
discoloration along the fish's body, such as white or brown spots
. Strange swimming movements or a shortening / eating away of the fins can also point to severe illnesses.
Do betta fish feel pain?
Fish have the correct anatomy to receive pain signals
, they produce the same natural chemical painkillers that mammals do, and they consciously choose to avoid painful stimuli. They also experience emotions with which we humans can identify.
How do you treat a sick betta fish?
How do you euthanize a betta with clove oil?
Around 0.4ml of clove oil per litre of aquarium water is sufficient to cause death in exposed fish
. The clove oil should be mixed with a little warm water first before slowly adding it to the aquarium water containing the fish. Do not add all at once as fish get excited – add the clove oil mix over a 5 minute period.
Can betta fish feel love?
Betta fish may not “love” their owners in the way that a dog or cat would show affection
, but they will show a clear interest and affiliation with their owners.
