Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hey everyone, just a quick question - is Dropsy, or Malawi bloat, something that can be passed on to other fish?

Dropsy is a symptom, not a disease. It's a sign that something's wrong with your fish, but it's not the actual problem. Think of it like a fever - the fever isn't the illness, it's just a symptom of the illness.

When a fish has dropsy, it means there's fluid building up in its body. This can be caused by a bunch of different things, like a bacterial infection or a parasite. So, to treat dropsy, you need to figure out what's causing it and then tackle that underlying issue.

I found a pretty helpful article about dropsy on The Spruce Pets website. It's got some good info on the causes, treatment, and prevention of dropsy.

I've always thought of Malawi Bloat as being linked to diet, particularly with mbuna and low fibre foods. But, in reality, the causes of bloating or dropsy are more complex and varied. While some of these causes may be contagious, it's worth noting that this is relatively rare.