IDzine01 wrote:
I have had 100% loss in all my Betta splendens dropsy cases. The best I
have done is to have it go away and then come back again a few
weeks/months later. My understanding is that Dropsy is a symptom not a
disease and its cause can be bacterial, parasitic or viral in nature.
Obviously antibiotics only work on certain bacteria so Maracyn-Two may
help if the cause is a gram-negative bacteria. To throw a wrench into
things, the antibiotics can also cause further degradation of the
already stressed internal organs. Many folks believe that the swelling
is caused by kidney failure. The state of the kidneys, already being
stressed, could worsen if made to metabolize potent antibiotics.

So, long story short, I have little advice having never "cured" a Betta
from Dropsy but thought I would share what I have learned.

Are you sure it is Dropsy? If she isn't pineconing could she just be
full of eggs?

CarlRS- Are the Aquarium Pharm studies on PimaFix available online? I
would love to see this. PimaFix is so mild that I am surprised it could
do anything for it. Plus, I thought it was similar to Melafix in that
it is a useful antiseptic but makes a pretty lousy antibiotic. If this
isn't the case, it would be fantastic news for other Betta obsessed
folks like myself. Although, there is only so much weight we can put
on AP's study, since it IS their product afterall. ;-)

Let me know what you can.
Thanks!




As for dropsy, yes it is a symptom, which what I basically said in my
above post about "different causes". Also when Dropsey is caught, it is
often too late for any treatment
I have snip of the study on line at:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Pimafix.html
But Pimafix is NOT Melafix, it is made from Pimenta extract, which from
my studies has much more antimicrobial abilities than Melafix (Melafix
does work on certain bacteria such as aeromonas). Neither are
antibiotics, they are both more fit the description of antimicrobials.
Your point about further degradation of the already stressed internal
organs is well taken, which why many true antibiotics do not work. But
I have had success with bacterial Dropsy with Furacyn and Kanamyacin
(even mixed), but Chloramphenicol worked best.
Back to Pimafix, I have had much better results with Pimafix over
Melafix in many bacterial treatments, partly because what many blame on
fungus is actually Columnaris, and Pimafix can be effective here. But
in Dropsy treatment I have not used it much, so I am more going on
others studies and word, which is why I did not whole hardily recommend
it. This is also the reason I did not recommend Usnea lichen as a
treatment, even though I have been successful in treating a case of
Dropsey (most likely bacterial) and in several stubborn bacterial
diseases. Any honest recommendation of Usnea is months or even years of
true results away.

Carl