Pet Forum / Aquaria / Goldfish / September 2007

Not much change in the past couple days.
 Still very bloated with  pineconing.

But she is still eating and pooping.
   Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates still ok.
  Still using mayacyn 2 antibiotic in the water, but that will end in
another 2-3 days.
   Never did find any romet B medicated food.  You would think that
_someone_  would carry it.
    Still keeping the water temp at 85-87 degrees.

    She is perky at times, and lethargic at other times.  Not hiding.
Usually swims out to see me when I get near.

   First symptoms (popeye and red spots & streaks, hiding and not
eating) appeared in mid-August.  See 8-22-07 post.

   Those started clearing up quite well.  

    Full-blown dropsy appeared on  9-5. (bloating and pineconing.)
These occurred very quickly, overnight.

    Got rid of  salt in water  and quarentined her in her own tank.

    Added epsom salt and mayacyn-2 antibiotic.  Increased aeration.
Bought a heater  and raised temp of water to 85-87 degrees.  (It was
74-78 in original tank,  with major fluctuations as house temp
changed.  Ranged from high 60's  to high 70's.  No  heater in original
tank.)

   Currently, water changes and constant monitoring of ammonia,
nitrite and nitrates.

    Possible causes:   dropsy can be caused by __many__  things,
including parasites, bacterial,  __ bad water__ , major water temp
changes, and more.
   
   Probable cause:  my  fault in not doing water changes often
enough.  Tank had very high nitrate, although nitrites and ammonia
were both zero.  I did not realize nitrates were so dangerous.  Now I
do.

    If anyone new to  goldfish-keeping reads this, please be very
aware that  ammonia, nitrites   _AND_   nitrates can all kill.  And
use a water heater set at a constant temp, so that there are no major
water temp changes
    Good bio filtering gets rid of ammonia and nitrites, but
apparently the best way to get rid of nitrates  is through water
changes.  Don't neglect them!

    Finally,  __thank you__    Dr. Solo.   Your information has kept
goldie alive so far.   Its now been about a month.  Whether she pulls
through or not, she has given it all she has.

    Now,   _where_    can I find romet B antibiotic food?

                                      Dave123  (still learning)