Dropsy is a strange diease which is unpleasant in apperearance and usually fatal unless caught at a very early stage. the fish becomes puffed and the scales stand out on an angle. There is some debate amongst people as to whether the diease is contagious or is due to poor diet and water conditions. I am of the belief that it is diet and water condition related which weakens the immune system and allows the bacteria "Aeromonas punctata" to take hold. It affects the kidneys and other internal organs upsetting water balance. Death occurs usually between one to thre week