The Dropsy Disease of Betta Fish
The dropsy disease of betta fish is mainly characterized by the scales of the fish sticking out and standing upright, or the abdomen of the fish swelling. This symptom is usually caused by edema resulting from a bacterial infection in the kidneys. Further, it may lead to kidney failure, hydronephrosis, and abdominal swelling.
Causes of the Disease
The main cause of dropsy disease is a bacterial infection in the kidneys. Poor water quality, betta fish eating unclean food, or being infected by other pathogens can all lead to this disease.
Symptoms
In addition to the scales sticking out and the abdomen swelling, sick fish may also show symptoms such as sluggish swimming, difficulty breathing, body tilting, and the abdomen facing upward. In severe cases, it may lead to death.
Treatment Methods
Improve Water Quality: Keeping the water clean is the key to treatment. Use special salt for ornamental fish for a salt bath. The concentration should be about five parts per thousand, and heat the water to above 30°C. There will be obvious improvement after three days.
Drug Treatment: Water-soluble antibiotics such as penicillin and chlortetracycline can be used. Add 10,000 to 20,000 units of antibiotics per liter of water. At the same time, raise the water temperature by 2 to 3°C, which also has a certain curative effect.
Stop Feeding and Medicated Bath: Stop feeding the fish and carry out medicated bath treatment. For example, use oxytetracycline for a 40-minute medicated bath and observe the effect for several consecutive days.
Preventive Measures
Change Water Regularly: Keep the water clean, change the water regularly, and control the reproduction rate of bacteria.
Control the Quality of Feed: Avoid using unclean or untreated food. It is recommended to use safe feeds such as sterilized frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.