I don't recall what was wrong the last time, but Melafix is a completely natural product. It won't hurt your fish to use it (even if there's nothing wrong with it). I don't know what's up with the horizontal stipes. He may have had them all along, but they weren't pronounced until today. It sounds like he may have a case of gill disease. I have a link for you below. Both of my bettas died from it, as it is often too late to save them once you see them acting strange. I am guessing it is gill disease because my female betta did what you're describing minus the horizontal stripes and the swimming issues. He may have a slight case of swim bladder disorder as well. In order to treat that you can just give him a frozen pea or two. It will not hurt him to eat them if this is not the case. Is he eating still? As long as he keeps eating he may make it through.

FYI when you are reading the article below, if you don't know some of the terms I've defined them for you here:
operculum = gill covering (the part you see when he breathes). most people call it the gills, but it simply covers the gills.


Also, I would not do the recommended treatment listed on the site below. Those can actually stress your fish out more than he is already. I would add an air stone if you don't have one already. That will help his gills pick up oxygen. I would also add a little bit of salt. I am not sure at the moment how much. I would stop by the fish chat tonight at about 7-8 EST. Koi will be able to answer that question. I think it's a tsp per gallon. Check with Koi to be sure please. Too much salt would be bad. Other than that, that's all you can do really (for gill disease). To check to see his gills, you can show him a mirror, and when he opens his operculum you should be able to see his gills. Don't do this for too long though, as it will stress him out for extended periods.
Gill disease


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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

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