Dropsy - Crosshatch trigger

eland

New member
I have a male crosshatch that I suspect has dropsy. I have seen alot of articles with freshwater fish but not many concerning saltwater. His stomach is swollen and he can't control his swimming. I can feel the scales on the back half of his body are raised just a little. He started this a week ago Friday and I have had him QT since although I keep replacing half of the water with new saltwatwer I don't know what else to do. I have placed a large piece of rock in the QT so he can at least stay upright. He does take a couple of bites from a silverside when I offer it to him. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
eland,

There wasn't anything you could have done for it anyways. Dropsy is just a symptom of kidney failure, and you can't treat that. I wonder though, you mention that the fish couldn't control its swimming - and THAT can be a symptom of gas bladder infection. That come sometimes be treated with antibiotics.

Next time though, when you have a question about a fish that is ADR (ain't doing right) - post right away, better to jump the gun than to post when the fish is hours away from death.


Jay
 
I really want to thank you again for pointing out the swim bladder disease. After going back and reading more about the disorder I think this was the problem.
 
Swim bladder issues are very common with deeper water fish like crosshatch triggers due to improper decompression and/or pinning of the swim bladder.

Was this a fairly new fish?
 
Swim bladder issues are very common with deeper water fish like crosshatch triggers due to improper decompression and/or pinning of the swim bladder.

Was this a fairly new fish?

I bought the pair from a local reefer about 2 weeks ago. The male was about 8" and the female is about 7". I have since bought another pair about the same size and I am keeping them in a 8' x 4' x 16" tank do you see a problem with only a depth of 16".
 
If these were a pair from a person that had them for a while no chance of it being decpression issues. How long did the people have the fish?
 
If these were a pair from a person that had them for a while no chance of it being decpression issues. How long did the people have the fish?

At least a couple of months that I know of. I also remember that he said all he fed them were frozen shrimp from the supermarket. I feed my fish NLS pellets and supplement with silversides, clams on the half shell, chopped squid and PE mysis.
 
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