zen

One of my betta fish just underwent a melafix treatment. So far, he's okay. My betta got stucked in one of the decorations and rubbed his fin against it, creating an open sore. I initiated tx right away with the melafix. On the 6th day of tx, I called the API Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and spoke to a lab personnel. I was instructed to continue tx, until he is healed. I did just that. It took a good 11 day period, when the sore was no longer visible. I then removed him from the hospital tank and put him back in my 5 gallon tank. Currently, he seem to look healthy. I thus far, have not observed any ill effects or any type of adverse reaction relating to the melafix tx. He was treated in a 1 gallon tank. I was told to use an air pump to help with water circulation during the tx., do a water change if necessary. According to the instructions in the bottle, do water change after the 7th day of treatment, and to continue tx if necessary. I was kind of doubtful to extend treatment longer than 2 weeks, so I decided to end treatment soon as the healing process took place. After reading the warning about melafix tx on bettas, I am determined not to use it again, despite the successful treatment. Thank you for the wonderful update. Based on the members' input, I find this forum very helpful.

ynaggo

How is this a warning?

Jaysee

There's no warning about using on a betta. Says on the bottle it's safe for the delicate of fish species, which certainly isn't a betta.

On a side note - says it does not harm the biological filter or plants.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore zen..im glad your boy survived the treatment!

jaysee bettas are sensitive...more than most fish...because they are labyrinth fish, and can live in horid conditions because of that, doesnt make them tough...just makes them suffer longer

melafix shouldnt EVER be used on labyrinth fish..which bettas are...please read this link

ALL BETTA OWNERS READ!!!!! MELAFIX ALERT!!!!!! READ!!!! READ!!!! DANGER!!!!

Jaysee

What about non anabantoids that go to the surface, like corys?

peacemaker92

WELCOME TO FISHLORE, Zen!

Glad your boy is recovering and feeling better now. Thanks for sharing and welcome aboard.

Jaysee

Anyone?

Lucy

The Melafix warning is just for labyrinth fish. To our knowledge, it's ok for other fish.

Shawnie

not a fan of meds period myself.especially when MOST things can be cured with more natural ways ....and melafix and pimafix, although been used by others with sucess, to me is too harsh for cories....but again, ive never used meds just from friends who have and reading here

sirdarksol

There are many people who have used Melafix with their bettas and had it work.
Where it becomes a problem is when there's an overdose, which is really easy to do in a betta's tank. In an overdose (or likely in the case of a betta who already has labyrinth problems for one reason or another), the labyrinth organ gets coated to the point that the betta can't breathe.
There have been several bettas on the board who have started recovering from a fairly simple illness (beginning stages of fin rot, for example) only to die inexplicably during the treatment.
Because there are other treatments whose potential side effects are much less than death, many keepers around here choose to use other methods of treating their bettas.

This doesn't mean it's not a viable treatment. I've done quite a bit of looking into it, and if used in proper dosage, it works wonders. There are other forums that suggest halving the dosage and haven't had any unexplained losses in doing so.
I still won't use it. There are other antibiotic/antiparasitic/antifungal treatments to use.

zen

The title of my thread "melafix warning" is referring to the MELAFIX ALERT I just came across and read. My thread is in response to that alert. If you have not read it, do so...

Overdosing can definitely be a problem.....I do not believe anyone is capable of not understanding this.. especially when a little helpless creature is involved. Your thread will help reinforce the subject on the avoidance of overdosing. Also, bear in mind that regardless how viable the treatment is, there are still potential adverse effects. There is also what we call those who are potentially subject to sensitization, meaning could develop a certain allergy after recurrent usage.

Although, despite the success of the melafix treatment, I will not use it again. And you're right, there are other treatments. As for humans, "If Penicillin can not be used due to a specific reason... there are other broad spectrums available in the market"....Right ?

Please read "Melafix Alert" for labyrinth fishes. An ailing fish is usually quarantined in a hospital tank, which usually does not have a biological filter. A tech support from the Melafix supplier advised that it helps to have an aerator while the fish is undergoing a treatment. However, it is smart to have a biological filter (without the carbon of course) in the tank, in case you decide to feed the fish. I was told to feed the fish in a very small quantity every other day and to do a water change more often. The instructions says do a water change after the 7th day which does not apply when feeding the fish during the treatment. I still won't dare use melafix again on my bettas, because of the Melafix Alert.

Jaysee

I don't know about you, but all my quarantine tanks have cycled biological filters. Otherwise, it would be a death tank. It's not only smart, it's the most critical aspect of being a QT.

zen

Just to make myself clear: My 1 gallon quarantine tank for my Betta has a filtration system and an airstone. Unfortunately, smaller tanks like this one does not have a "cycled biological filter". However, just so you are aware, an airstone to agitate the water and a filtration system is sufficient. Without a "cycled biological filter" WILL NOT compromise the fish' recovery such as what you said: "Otherwise, it would be a death tank". This is a very misleading statement to all readers , which I am sure every Aquarist would agree. Go to QT on this website, and you will find that an airstone and a filtration system are included in setting up a quarantine tank. A biological filter is ideal in the sense, so....If you can provide the readers including myself where to buy a 1 gallon tank with a biofilter , I would thank you greatly!!

Jaysee

I am well aware of QT procedures, and not just from reading a link on this site or any other for that matter. Fish ought to be quarantined for 3 weeks or so, and 3 weeks in a tank without a valid biofilter will be counterproductive to the cause. A cycled biofilter is essential to the well being of the fish.

I have 4 QTs ranging in size from 10 - 29 gallons. When a tank is not being used, the biological media is placed in the filter of another tank to preserve the colonies. When I need it, I can just transfer it to the QT filter and that's all there is to it.

Here is a link for the biofilter you seek. In order to make sure it's cycled, leave it running in your main tank. When you have to use it, put it in the QT and you're good to go. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...54&pcatid=3954

EVERY tank NEEDS a cycled biofilter. Uncycled tanks are death tanks - there's nothing misleading about that.

sirdarksol

Be careful when you say "I am sure every aquarist would agree" or make any other absolute statement. There are several people on this site who have kept tiny tanks cycled in order to use them as Q tanks for new fish. Because they not only disagree with you, but have seen evidence to the contrary of your statement, I'm pretty sure that not all aquarists would agree with you.

What makes you think biological filtration is impossible in a 1g tank, anyway? Biological filtration needs two things: surface area and water moving over that surface area. I have a Whisper "i" that is made for tiny tanks, and is ideal for 1-2g tanks. It uses bubbles from an air pump to draw water through filter floss. Just like in bigger tanks, the filter floss hosts nitrifying bacteria.
To be sure, such a small filter wouldn't be able to handle much in the way of bioload, but it would be enough to handle one or two small fish.

Tigerfishy

Wow, heated debate! Read all this and learned some things, so thanks for the posts, always interested to see all the posts about betta treatments in case I ever come up against any of the situations in the future, was surprised to see the Melafix worked for you after what I have seen, but sooo glad it did!
I have previously run new filters in established tanks along with the existing filter, never thought to just keep the media in the tank to preserve bacteria though, great idea!

Jaysee

This is one of the big reasons why I love AC filters - the biomax can be moved so easily without disrupting anything and there's plenty of room to hold extra bags of it (without the carbon pack in there) for preparing a new tank.