"Pine-Cone" Syndrone

[SOULJAA]

What is the name of the ailment in which the scales of a fish will stick out (away from the fish's body) like a pine cone? I think it maybe called "Dropsy", but I'm not sure.

What causes it, and how can it be treated/cured?

[armthehomeless]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

To treat dropsy (and that is what it sounds like) I raise the tmperature of the water and add salt. They sell stuff specifically to treat it at the LFSs. The one made by Jungle Labs has had good feedback.

I think it is a bacterial infection... isolate the fish in a quarantine tank if you have one. If not, come by my place and I'll give you a loaner.

[armthehomeless]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

What type of fish is this happening on? Livebearer? Cichlid? Goldfish?

[Zulaab]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

Try this website.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm

Scroll down to the section on dropsy and see if that fits what is going on with your fish.  It will also tell you how to resolve your issue.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

Clout,salt,heat, aeration works but most likely its a goner.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

DROPSY – raised scales – caused by fluid buildup due to kidney failure.  Sometimes associated with live food (black worms)

TREATMENT –   Isolate infected fish.   Kidney failure is almost always fatal (death in 5 days).  The bacterium that causes kidney failure is very contagious.  Treat any live food & all remaining fish with, clean water, salt, kanamycin or tetracycline.

[SOULJAA]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

It's cichlids...SA.

Being that they all are rather agressive, they are always getting at each other. So I just thought that it was some nics from the constant scuffling. But apparently, the "wounds" (which were more vertical in orientation the last I seen - I'm out of town for 2 wks for work) has enlarged some...thus says my nephew. So I thought dropsy wouldn't show up on 1 side...more less on both.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

It could be inflammation from a wound... I would QT it at least.

[jklntx]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

Do all the scales on the body stick out? I am familiar with that symptom as dropsy.

Or are there a few that surround a wound? That is not a symptom of  dropsy.

[SOULJAA]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

No, the scales doesn't (or at least wasn't) stick all out. It was more or less those around the wound. So I'm thinking it could be a combo of stress and fighting.

[Mzungu]

Re: "Pine-Cone" Syndrone

I would have to agree. If the whole body of the fish is not bloated, and all of the scales are not sticking out, then it's (luckily) probably not dropsy. Especially if the scales are just sticking out around the site of a wound.

I also agree that you should probably isolate the fish, as that can help with the healing process. That way you can monitor the fish more closely and do water changes and/or treatments accordingly.