Pregnant/fat/constipated or sick?

[loyxl]

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[Guppendler]

It's sick, suffering from dropsy or bloated

[loyxl]

It's sick, suffering from dropsy or bloated

thank you Guppendler for the prompt response. I did some searching online and found the following symptoms of dropsy:

• Grossly swollen belly
• Scales stand out (pinecone appearance)
• Eyes bulge
• Gills become pale
• Anus becomes red and swollen
• Feces pale and stringy
• Ulcers form on the body along the lateral line
• Spine may become curved
• Fish clamps fins
• Fish becomes lethargic
• Fish stops eating
• Fish hangs near the surface

my cardinal tetra seems to satisfy 2 criteria which is the "Grossly swollen belly" and "Spine may become curved". Is this 2 symptoms enough to conclude it has dropsy? Also what course of action should I take now?

[CowBoYReX]

You can use Epsom salt and feed mashed peas

[Guppendler]

The pine cone appearance may not necessarily be obvious. At this stage there is no cure possible, dropsy is difficult to treat. Best isolate the fish from the rest, it will not last very long. If the fish is in great discomfort, maybe consider euthanizing it.