Internal bacterial infection

Bacterial and/or viral infections, also metabolic or nutritional disorders

loss of appetite Avoidance of other fish Bloating of the body Scales sticking out like a pine cone Bulging eyes General swelling

Dropsy is a bacterial infection of your fish's internal organs. Being internal, it is difficult to diagnose and is often not treated early enough to save the host fish. It attacks fish that have been weakened due to excess stress resulting from poor water conditions, un-kept aquariums, overcrowding or being moved. It causes excess body fluids to build up making the fish appear bloated or make its scales stick out. Early stages of this infection may present themselves as pop-eye as excess fluid causes the eyes to bulge.

Treatment