Betta Emergency! Pop Eye & Lethargic

HI all I've never seen my betta in a worse shape I'm so worried over him! A few days ago I set up a semI quarantine tank in his 2.5 gallon by removing his rocks, replacing his filter system (I grafted some fabric from the old one into the new), and doing a 50% water change. I intended to treat his (minor) fin rot before moving him into a new 10 gal home I've been setting up. I noticed his face was slightly paler than normal the day after the renovations, but that's normal for him after I mess with his stuff. Last night I checked on him and he had pop eye out of no where ! He was having a little trouble seeing but was overall active. I dosed his tank with an antibacterial/fungal med that has always worked for him and left him alone. This morning I woke up and it's definitely worse. He just sits on the bottom because he can't see very well and he is moving his gills breathing heavy. I led him to the top and fed him just fine but he just sinks right back down. His fins are clamped now too. I checked params (0/0/0), did a small pcw, added stability and stress guard, and left. I just came back and he is acting just the same. Eyes still bulging and I now see what I think is a red spot on his normally black gills. I checked the water again and params are the same! (I attribute 0 nitrates to the filter rebooting). He acts just like he has ammonia poisoning but there's none.. I put a small amount of prime in anyway just in case. his filter is on very low so it can't freak him out if he comes up for air. What else can I do? The pop eye is in both eyes so it's definitely an infection, but he doesn't seem to be responding to my efforts at all. Pics attached please help!!


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Have you given him meds?

 

yep as I mentioned I dosed the tank with an antibacterial/antifungal med from my lfs last night. He usually responds well to it but it didn't seem to help. This morning I added stress guard and stability. I also put an indian almond leaf in there.

 

Idk then because your parameters are fine and nothing in the tank seems to be wrong

 

Idk then because your parameters are fine and nothing in the tank seems to be wrong

I know I don’t understand how this happened so quick :/ I’m not sure if he’ll get through it. Thank you for replying

 

I’ve had similar with guppies.youll come back after like a few hours and they’ll be on the bottom of the tank looking dead.with rapid gill movements.none have made it through it despite meds.

 

Hi, in a cycled tank, there should be some nitrates. In my opinion stop the meds, no need for them and just continue to do 50% daily. And move him to the 10g, it will be easier for him to heal in a bigger tank.

 

Hi, in a cycled tank, there should be some nitrates. In my opinion stop the meds, no need for them and just continue to do 50% daily. And move him to the 10g, it will be easier for him to heal in a bigger tank.

Okay I'll put carbon back in the filter. I have some kanaplex on the way so if he doesn't improve I'll start that. The 10 gallon is just starting to be slow cycled it will not be ready for him for a few weeks at least. This tank was cycled that's why I'm so confused. The new filter has old media in it and I left his plants in so I didn't think it would crash like this.
any other reccommendations for what to do while waiting for the 10 gal?

 

Move all things to the tem gal, filter, decor and substrate. Then you can add him right away.