Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After my last post, Manny's fins started to look ripped so I started using Melafix a week ago. I followed the directions on the bottle and diluted it correctly for use in a one gallon bowl. He seemed okay with it... up until last night. I noticed he stays near the top of his bowl and seems to almost be shaking. When he swims, which isn't much anymore, he only goes backward and it seems as though only one fin is moving. If he's still, he seems to be at almost a diagonal angle. His color is fading and he has horizontal stripes (isn't that a sign of being scared?) down his body all the time. What am I supposed to do? I changed his water today, added everything I usually use for ammonia and chlorine and made sure the temp was right before I added him.... I'm getting frustrated because this is my second betta and he's already acting sick after only alittle over a month.... Could it have been the Melafix? Yesterday made it 7 days of use (which the bottle said to do). What am I doing wrong? What's wrong with Manny and how can I help him? Please give me some advice as I don't want him to die!!! Thanks in advance. (Praying for Manny)

and something else i've noticed.... he seems to be struggling when he swims forward and is kinda wobbly. his gills (not scales) don't appear inflamed or anything, but they do seem to stick out more and not open and close like they used to.... both of these fish i've gotten came from walmart.... could i just be getting fish that aren't really healthy in the first place?

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."