Dropsy - Help!

[fyl]

Hi all,

Need your advice... I have been rearing goldfish for more than a year now but non of them have survived more than 5 -6 months. 10 of 10 died of dropsy. I don't understand why they all develop this disease eventually. Usually one at a time. Can someone enlighten me ?

I have like usually keep about 5-6 gold fishes (2" - 3") ranchu/lionhead in a 2.5' tank (100liters).

Change 1/3 water about once a week. Adds about 2 tablespoon of salt per 20l of water at every change.

I feed them mixture of pellets (hikari saki/lionhead/wheatgerm). My goldfish also prone to floating. After feeding .. even sinking pellets, will float.

Non seem to have survived once they get the disease.... Please advise if you have any possible solutions...

Cheers

fy

[CnT]

Too many fishes in too small a tank. Just imagine 5 people living in an apartment the size of a bedroom without toilet. Sure got problems.

Keep an extreme max of 1 gf per 1 cubic feet of water. ie ur tank size best to keep only 2 gfs. I hv 12 gfs in a 6'x3'x2' FGT.

Wat filter u using? n how much u feed? Tis will dictate how much & how often need to change water. I feed alot, i change 50% twice a week, using multiple filters.

Take good care of ur water, n the gfs will take care of themselves.

Happy rearing water

[fyl]

Really ah ? Hmm ... Guess I will get down to 2 fishes pretty soon then. How about size ? 2 goldfish of what sizes ?

I usually feed twice a day last time but noawadays just once a day or once in 2 days since they swim better when they are not eating.

[kflai]

Originally Posted by fyl

Hi all,

Need your advice... I have been rearing goldfish for more than a year now but non of them have survived more than 5 -6 months. 10 of 10 died of dropsy. I don't understand why they all develop this disease eventually. Usually one at a time. Can someone enlighten me ?

I have like usually keep about 5-6 gold fishes (2" - 3") ranchu/lionhead in a 2.5' tank (100liters).

Change 1/3 water about once a week. Adds about 2 tablespoon of salt per 20l of water at every change.

I feed them mixture of pellets (hikari saki/lionhead/wheatgerm). My goldfish also prone to floating. After feeding .. even sinking pellets, will float.

Non seem to have survived once they get the disease.... Please advise if you have any possible solutions...

Cheers

fy

Hi fyl,

Dropsy is usually due to poor water quality. Like CnT said, your tank is overcrowded. 1 fish per feet is a standard guideline. 1/3 water change per week is not enough for your case. 100% per week is an ideal. Have you heard about nitrogen cycle?
I suggest you don't add salt into the tank when you do water change. Do it when you give treatment to sick fish.

[CnT]

Doesnt matter wat size coz we all want to keep healthy gfs growing to biggest potential. So plan using large size as a guide. Also gfs grow very fast.

I feed 2 or 3 times a day. If prone to floating then its a water issue too. Wat filter u using?

Agree with kflai on adding salt only when treating for sickness. But some people do recommend adding a little, maybe 0.1% or less?

Happy gfishing

[fyl]

Originally Posted by CnT

Doesnt matter wat size coz we all want to keep healthy gfs growing to biggest potential. So plan using large size as a guide. Also gfs grow very fast.

I feed 2 or 3 times a day. If prone to floating then its a water issue too. Wat filter u using?

Agree with kflai on adding salt only when treating for sickness. But some people do recommend adding a little, maybe 0.1% or less?

Happy gfishing

Thanks guys. Yes I got a lionhead that always float after feeding. After a few hours, he is ok again and don't float so easily.

Ok. I will stop with the salt at the next change of water. I usually only add about 2 teaspoon per pail of 20 litre water anyway.

100% per week means i have to change 50% half week ... wow .thats a lot of water for 2-3 small goldfishes. Anyway, i will take your advice and see if that prolongs my gf's life. Nothing to loose anyway heh.

Btw, I have a set of water test kit and each time I test, the readings are good with just 30% water change. Yes I have read bout the nitrogen cycle and when I first started the aquarium, the chemical levels did swing about for a few weeks and then it stabilised. thats why I am quite baffled when my gf's keep dying one every few months.

Anyway, I use overhead filter. Half is sponge like filter, the other half is Ocean's ceramic bead type filter. In the tank I have a some corals in a economy rice plastic container.

Thanks guys. By the way how much is actually 0.1% or less ?