Philip Lewis
February 23rd 04, 04:54 AM
Just picked up an albino mollie from a local pet store. (well... a
week ago) and it seems to have come down with some weird form of
dropsy. (not sure of the return policy, and can't find the receipt
anyway)
Just the tail has the "pinecone" look... the front half of the fish
looks normal. on thursday or friday when i noticed this, I moved
him/her to a quarantine tank.
S/he (can't sex due to swelling) eats regularly, and can maneuver
about to get the food, but kind of hovers at a 30 degree angle (tail
down) the rest of the time.
From what I understand of dropsy, it's a symptom of several possible
diseases, usually a bacterial infection of an interior organ causing
fluid retention resulting in swelling.
My first question is, what organs lie behind the "gut". I saw the
fish excreting today, and it was in front of the swelling. Are the
reproductive organs further back?
I've read conflicting advice on salting the tank. I understand
mollies can take the salt (to the point of being convertible to
marine, IIRC) but the tank has some plants in it, and i'd rather not
have to take them out. How about magnesium sulfate(ite?)-- epsom
salts. Would that be bad for the plants? (I've seen it used in some
fertilizers/hydroponic setups but am not sure of the dosage rate)
What about helping draw out the fluid? If I understand correctly,
what about sugar? that should help raise the osmatic pressure of the
surrounding water, and still be metabolized by microfauna in the tank.
Most of what i've read says that there is little hope... but s/he has
lived for several days now and seems to not be getting worse. If it's
bacterial, it might be something brought on by the strees of
introducing her to the tank, and can be fought off with time and a
little care.
Any opinions/advice?
--
be safe.
flip
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week ago) and it seems to have come down with some weird form of
dropsy. (not sure of the return policy, and can't find the receipt
anyway)
Just the tail has the "pinecone" look... the front half of the fish
looks normal. on thursday or friday when i noticed this, I moved
him/her to a quarantine tank.
S/he (can't sex due to swelling) eats regularly, and can maneuver
about to get the food, but kind of hovers at a 30 degree angle (tail
down) the rest of the time.
From what I understand of dropsy, it's a symptom of several possible
diseases, usually a bacterial infection of an interior organ causing
fluid retention resulting in swelling.
My first question is, what organs lie behind the "gut". I saw the
fish excreting today, and it was in front of the swelling. Are the
reproductive organs further back?
I've read conflicting advice on salting the tank. I understand
mollies can take the salt (to the point of being convertible to
marine, IIRC) but the tank has some plants in it, and i'd rather not
have to take them out. How about magnesium sulfate(ite?)-- epsom
salts. Would that be bad for the plants? (I've seen it used in some
fertilizers/hydroponic setups but am not sure of the dosage rate)
What about helping draw out the fluid? If I understand correctly,
what about sugar? that should help raise the osmatic pressure of the
surrounding water, and still be metabolized by microfauna in the tank.
Most of what i've read says that there is little hope... but s/he has
lived for several days now and seems to not be getting worse. If it's
bacterial, it might be something brought on by the strees of
introducing her to the tank, and can be fought off with time and a
little care.
Any opinions/advice?
--
be safe.
flip
Verso l'esterno! Verso l'esterno! Deamons di ignoranza.
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")