Is fish Dropsy a disease or a symptom of multiple diseases?

Question

I keep reading that it's a disease but people always tell me that it's only the pine-coning that's called dropsy...
I'm confused...

Answer 1

Dropsy refers to the fluid accumulation in the fishes abdomen and the swelling and pineconing that accompany it. There are several different diseases that all can cause these symptoms including bacteria and parasitic problems. So yes, dropsy is the symptoms of disease, not the actual disease it's self.

However, even people that are completely aware of this often say a fish has dropsy as if referring to a specific disease. That's because over 90% of the time the actual disease is bacterial and could be any one of over a dozen different diseases, but they all have the same basic treatment. Further, it's impossible for a hobbyist to tell one of these diseases from another and usually the only way to tell is through lab tests.

MM

Answer 2

It is a symptom of disease, but I have heard it referred to as a disease itself. Usually it is brought abuot by a bacterial infection and subsequent kidney failure. I had one fish with dropsy - I've heard it is quite contagious, but swift preventative treatment saved the rest of the tank - all are still alive and well:)

Answer 3

Dropsy is tough, very almost impossible to therapy, and with swim bladder and pa eye to boot, i do no longer think of your fish will stay to tell the tale :( i hit upon pills are much less powerful. they're in basic terms form of "international treatments" that could or won't help including your particular subject. Maracyn or Maracyn-2 are the ideal drugs, I even have stumbled on. as a replace of treating the ailment, you may desire to seem on the reason. Dropsy and Swimbladder are in many situations led to by potential of destructive water situations. What length tank are you goldfish in? Fancy goldfish require 20 gallons of water each, and different styles of goldfish like commons, comets and shubunkins extremely could desire to circulate in ponds or 2 hundred-300gallon tanks. Goldfish are poop machines. They consume plenty and that they produce a great form of poisonous ammonia. Small tanks are in basic terms no longer sufficient to maintain healty goldfish. i can't presume to comprehend what you preserve your fish in ultimate now, even regardless of the undeniable fact that it may desire to which you may desire to enhance to a minimum of a few thing larger, with extra desirable filtrations. in the mean time, save up with weekly water changes and save the water pristine.