"NetMax" wrote in message ...
I suppose 4" is a teenager ;~), but it's much younger than I've seen
Oscars get it. Mark probably has more experience on this, and on how
long they take to die. It depends on so many factors. If the internal
organs are ok, and they continue eating, then it might go on for a long
time (weeks, months). Without eating, they would probably starve in the
6 to 8 week range. When an organ completely fails then it is quick.

Generally I find that the smaller the fish, the quicker it dies from
dropsy (or most any diseases). If it were me, as soon as I determine
there is no chance for recovery, I put them in a fishbag with a bit of
clove oil in the water (ratio of 2ml per gallon). IIRC Mark also has an
article on euthanasia on his site which covered more options. The clove
oil is what has worked best for me so far.

It's difficult to define 'suffering' as their nervous system and
emotional capacity are not comparable. While they continue to eat &
behave normally, you can assume that the disease is not incapacitating
them, but beyond that....?
--
www.NetMax.tk


Because Dropsy (the swelling of internal organs) can be caused by
anything, it's impossible to say how long this poor fish will last.
One thing, though, is that "suffering" is easier to "diagnose" in an
Oscar because they respond in very predictable ways to stress. If an
Oscar is eating and swimming around in the tank, then it's pretty
certain that he's comfortable; at the slightest sign of pain or stress
(or fear), he's lost his color, stopped eating, and glued himself to
the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Such is Oscar nature.

But I'd like to ask a question. I think it's unusual that an Oscar has
developed Dropsy and yet continues to eat and act normally. I wonder
if he's been mis-diagnosed and perhaps the swelling is being caused by
something else? Anybody have any thoughts on this possibility? --Mark