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Library > Diseases and Medications > Internal Problems > Bloat, Dropsy, Popeye
Bloat, Dropsy, Popeye
Ardan Huck May 24, 2002

The picture below was used with permission from "Handbook of Fish Diseases" by TFH Publications, Inc.

Photo 1: Symphysondon discus with dropsy. Swollen body, popeyes and blisters along the lateral line.

Bloat can be caused by several things. Overeating, internal parasites, or internal bacterial infection. The first course of action is to use Epsom Salt at a rate of 1 to 2 tablespoons/10 gallons aquarium water for a 24 hour period. This may relieve a bowel obstruction due to overeating. If internal parasites are suspected, they are covered in the Internal Problems section of the library.






Photo 2: Internal bacterial infection is suspected if the fish is not eating, has a swollen abdomen, and may have "popeye" where the eye bulges outward. In late stages the spine can curve. Often times they stay at the back of the tank. Looking at factors before the onset may help with diagnosis (bad food, foul water conditions). Treatment is not always successful. (Untergasser1989)


Source:
Handbook of Fish Diseases by Dieter Untergasser, TFH Publications, Inc 1989.




Treatment consists of:
  1. Lower temps (80 to 82 degrees F. for discus)

  2. Antibiotics with an internal effect (such as Kanacyn) (use as directed, if improvement is noted, continue through a second course of treatments)

  3. Do not change water until day 5 in the treatment, before the third dose of antibiotic (fresh water helps the bacteria more than it helps the fish) (at that time do a 50% water change)

  4. Epsom salt, 1 to 2 tablespoons/10 gallons aquarium water

  5. Lowering pH will inhibit bacteria (6.0 range) (also will prevent any ammonia from becoming toxic if the bio filter is affected, which means less stress for fish)

  6. If the fish starts eating, a medicine such as Discomed may be added to the food

more ...


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