Care library / Health

Health guide, not a diagnosis · Serious

Dropsy

Also called pinecone disease, bloat

Signs

Swollen belly
Scales sticking out like a pinecone
Bulging eyes

Cause

A symptom of internal infection or organ failure, usually after long stress or poor water.

What to do

Move the fish to a hospital tank, add Epsom salt (1 teaspoon per 20 L) and use an antibacterial food or medicine. Often fatal.

If a fish is badly ill, talk to an aquatic vet.

Prevention

Stable, clean water and a varied diet.

Medicines used for it

Always read the label first

Antibacterial treatmentsAntibacterial

Epsom saltSalt & water care

Species often affected

136 species

White cloud mountain minnowTanichthys albonubes

Easy4 cm14–22 °C

BettaBetta splendens

Easy6.5 cm24–28 °C

Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna

Easy5.5 cm22–27 °C

Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii

Easy12 cm24–28 °C

Three-spot gouramiTrichopodus trichopterus

Easy15 cm24–30 °C

Kissing gouramiHelostoma temminckii

Moderate30 cm22–30 °C

Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila

Easy4 cm24–28 °C

Giant gouramiOsphronemus goramy

Moderate70 cm22–28 °C

Paradise fishMacropodus opercularis

Moderate6.7 cm10–22 °C

Electric yellow cichlidLabidochromis caeruleus

Easy10 cm24–28 °C

Peacock cichlidAulonocara stuartgranti

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

FrontosaCyphotilapia frontosa

Hard33 cm24–27 °C

Fancy goldfishCarassius auratus

Easy20 cm10–24 °C

Comet goldfishCarassius auratus

Easy30 cm10–24 °C

KoiCyprinus rubrofuscus

Moderate70 cm4–25 °C

MedakaOryzias latipes

Easy4 cm16–22 °C

Cobalt blue zebraMaylandia callainos

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Red zebraMaylandia estherae

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Kenyi cichlidMaylandia lombardoi

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Rusty cichlidIodotropheus sprengerae

Easy10 cm25–29 °C

Demasoni cichlidChindongo demasoni

Moderate8 cm24–28 °C

Powder blueChindongo socolofi

Easy12 cm24–28 °C

Yellow-tail aceiPseudotropheus sp. 'acei'

Easy15 cm24–28 °C

Saulosi cichlidChindongo saulosi

Moderate8.6 cm23–27 °C

Elongatus mbunaChindongo elongatus

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Johanni cichlidPseudotropheus johannii

Moderate10 cm23–27 °C

Auratus cichlidMelanochromis auratus

Moderate11 cm24–28 °C

Maingano cichlidPseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos

Moderate7.5 cm24–28 °C

Hongi cichlidLabidochromis sp. 'Hongi'

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

CobueCynotilapia afra

Moderate10 cm25–29 °C

Red cheek mbunaTropheops sp. 'red cheek'

Trewavas' mbunaLabeotropheus trewavasae

Moderate11.7 cm24–28 °C

Fuelleborn's mbunaLabeotropheus fuelleborni

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Greshake's zebraMaylandia greshakei

Moderate13.4 cm24–28 °C

Zebra mbunaMaylandia zebra

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

Sunshine peacockAulonocara baenschi

Moderate13 cm25–29 °C

Freiberg's peacockAulonocara jacobfreibergi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Emperor peacockAulonocara nyassae

Sulphur-head peacockAulonocara maylandi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Kadango red-finCopadichromis borleyi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Jackson's hapCopadichromis jacksoni

Moderate18 cm24–28 °C

Red empressProtomelas taeniolatus

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Livingstoni cichlidNimbochromis livingstonii

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Venustus cichlidNimbochromis venustus

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Polystigma hapNimbochromis polystigma

Moderate23 cm24–28 °C

Malawi eye-biterDimidiochromis compressiceps

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Electric blue hapSciaenochromis fryeri

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Hap mdoka white lipsPlacidochromis phenochilus

Moderate16 cm24–28 °C

Deepwater hapPlacidochromis electra

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Pelican cichlidFossorochromis rostratus

Moderate24.4 cm25–29 °C

Blue dolphin cichlidCyrtocara moorii

Moderate20 cm25–29 °C

Tropheus mooriiTropheus moorii

Hard14.5 cm24–27 °C

Duboisi cichlidTropheus duboisi

Hard12 cm24–27 °C

Princess of BurundiNeolamprologus brichardi

Easy9 cm23–26 °C

Multi shell dwellerNeolamprologus multifasciatus

Easy4 cm24–27 °C

Similis shell dwellerNeolamprologus similis

Moderate5 cm24–27 °C

Brevis shell dwellerNeolamprologus brevis

Easy5.5 cm24–27 °C

Lemon cichlidNeolamprologus leleupi

Moderate10 cm24–27 °C

Five-bar cichlidNeolamprologus tretocephalus

Moderate15 cm24–27 °C

Black pearlAltolamprologus calvus

Moderate14 cm24–27 °C