Its not contagious, but its generally poor water quality that causes it so I'd recommend changing about 60-70 percent of the water so your other fishes wouldn't catch dropsy for the same reason.
Sounds like maybe dropsy to me. http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hddropsy.htm If it is, is pretty much of a death sentence unless treated early. On the upside, is not perticklerly Contagious. Sounds like maybe dropsy to me. http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hddropsy.htm If it is, is pretty much of a death sentence unless treated early. On the upside, is not perticklerly Contagious.
To my knowedge there is no proven cure for dropsy. Some pet shops carry medications that 'claim' to cure almost every disease and problem including dropsy but I have never heard of them working successfully on dropsy. I would euthanase the fish.
Dropsy is the former name for oedema
In a fish, dropsy is fluid buildup. This fluid retention can be a symptom of a serious problem, such as a type of infection.
Most types of fish can get dropsy, although in my experience, it is more common in live bearers and tetras.
Dropsy
Dropsy
swelling or edema
Jean Baptiste Emile Dropsy was an Art Nuveau jewely engraver....died in 1928. His work was exquiste!
Dropsy isn't a disease in itself. It is a symptom of another problem. The only thing you can do for dropsy is treat with a strong medication. I would use Maracyn I and Maracyn II in combination and keep the water very clean. That is your best bet.
By the time you notice dropsy it's too late. There is little you can do. The signs of dropsy typically include, sitting at the bottom of the tank and/or difficulty swimming. Fish will not eat. But perhaps the most shocking sign of dropsy and easiest to spot, is your fishes belly will be swollen. In most cases it will be swollen to the point that the fishes scales will stick out from it's skin, and it will almost look like a pine cone. Dropsy is rarely ever the primary disease that a fish contracts. It is usually a secondary infection to another disease that the fish gets because it is already stressed from fighting another infection. It can be caused by bacteria, stress, organ failure, and in some cases it can be a symptom of old age which caused the organ failure that is causing the dropsy. By the time you have noticed dropsy it is usually fatal and the fish will not recover.
No."Dropsy" is an old term for what we now call congestive heart failure. Fluid back up into the lungs causing swelling of the legs and shortness of breath.