How do you treat dropsy?
Table of Contents
Dropsy is not easily cured….Treatment is geared toward correcting the underlying problem and providing supportive care to the sick fish.
- Move sick fish to a hospital tank.
- Add salt to the hospital tank, 1 tsp per gallon.
- Feed fresh, high-quality foods.
- Treat with antibiotics.
How is velvet disease treated?
Treatment

- Raise water temperature.
- Dim lights for several days.
- Add aquarium salt.
- Treat with copper sulfate for ten days.
- Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment.
Why does dropsy happen?
Low levels of salt in the water aid in the osmotic balance of the fish by making the water salinity closer to the fish’s blood salinity. That helps the fish get rid of excess water accumulating in the body, causing dropsy.
How does Epsom salt cure fish?
It is absorbed by the bacteria, fungus, or parasite infesting your fish. Once absorbed, the aquarium salt leeches the water out of these organisms, causing them to die. Epsom salt for Betta fish is used as a laxative as well. The treated water is absorbed into the fish and helps it to expel wastes.
What does velvet disease look like?

Perhaps the most telltale symptom is the appearance of a velvety film on the skin that resembles gold- or rust-colored dust. The film may be difficult to see but can be more easily detected by directing a beam of a flashlight on the fish in a darkened room. The parasite is most often seen on the fins and gills.
How long does Epsom salt take to work on fish?
15 to 30 minutes
To give your fish an Epsom salt bath, pour half of the tank’s water into a clean container. Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for every 1 gallon of water. Have the fish swim in the solution for 15 to 30 minutes.
Is there such a thing as a gold barb?
The gold-colored, captive-bred variant is highly popular in the aquarium trade, giving rise to the name gold barb, by which it is commonly sold. It is a flashy, peaceful fish for a community tank, but in the wild, this man-made shiny coloring would make it quick prey for predators.
What do Gold barbs need to survive?
Gold barbs, just like any freshwater aquarium fish, need a variety of food to stay at peak health. A healthy, well-fed fish will have more vibrant color, move more, and live longer than a fish kept on off-the-shelf flakes alone. As with most barbs, the gold barb is an easy keeper in terms of food, too.
What is a gold barbed lineatus?
They’re best described as “semi-aggressive” and should be mixed with other similarly sized fish that are short-finned and fast. While Schuberti barbs are the ones most commonly referred to as “gold barbs,” several others—such as this Lineatus—may be labeled as gold barbs in stores
Are gold barbs dangerous to fish?
Compared to other barbs (e.g. tiger barbs or rosy barbs) that often show signs of aggression, gold barbs are the more peaceful. Having said that, they may still nip at the fins of some tank companions that have long flowing fins (e.g. angelfish or bettas ), so keep an eye on them, or house them with species they’re 100% compatible with.