it looks very bloated, and its scales are all popping outward, like fur attracted to electricity. is it sick? and if it is, what do i do? oh and it still eats like the rest of them, thanks
2007-01-27 13:54:36 · 3 answers · asked by meow 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Yes, the fish is very sick with a form of bloat. Sometimes called pinecone disease because of the way the scales stick out this is a serious infection that is very difficult to treat. While not caused by poor water conditions, they are usually what weakens the fish enough to catch a disease, so begin good water change practices and keep the filter clean as well and that will help a lot in the long run. It's impossibe to tell exactly what bacteria is causing the problem without a very nice lab and that's part of the problem in treating it. This problem can often be transmitted to the other fish when your sick one dies so I would strongly recommend you remove the sick fish and humanely kill it. Put it in a little water and into the freezer, that's usually the best way. Yes, you lose the fish, but it protects all the others in the tank.
Sorry about the sick fish
2007-01-27 14:03:42 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It has dropsy, you need to treat aggressively with antibiotics and possibly medicated food. The only reason you need a seperate it is because the treatment will kill off the good bacteria in your filter. Change your tank water and have it tested. Dropsy is not contagious, but it is from bad water conditions, and any fish in that water can get it.
Dropsy is certainly not impossible to cure. Aggressive treatment works. Some fish even recover spontaniously. I haven't lost a fish to dropsy in years.
2007-01-27 22:02:40 · answer #2 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
a more humane way to euthanize a sick fish is clove oil, it "puts them to sleep"gently, Put some tank water in a little glad sandwich container and add between 4-6 drops of clove oil mix well, place your fish gently in the container... much more humane than bursting every cell in thier body with ice crystals. Dropsy is nigh unto impossible to cure, it is best to let him go gently into the good night...I am sorry for your loss.
2007-01-27 22:44:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋