Sick Betta...Which medication?

HI everyone. My betta has popeye and for 3 weeks it has not gone away. The swelling has gone down a little, but not much. Someone else has recommenced a salt bath and I may try that. I also picked up the following today: Seachem NeoPlex "external fungal and bacterial disease". Seachem Focus "aids in treating internal infections". The Neoplex is added to the water and the Focus is added to the food. Which is better and do you guys have experience with either of these? Is there a different medication I should use? My tank is a 5 gallon divided tank with a betta on each side. The temp is 78 and is filtered. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are 0. I treat the water with salt and stress coat. The betta on the other side is healthy and normal. Lastly is popeye an internal or external disease? Thanks.

 

Popeye is actually less of a direct disease and more of a symptom. I can be caused by an injury, infection, dirty water, etc. Your case I would assume is an internal infection just based on the lack of mentioning anything other than the popeye. I would feed use the Focus on both of your bettas foods.

Also just as a footnote regularly using aquarium salt in freshwater tanks doesn't really do as much good as it says. There have been a lot of people who find it hurts more than it helps but you'd have to research that on your own.

 

My black molly got that once ( totally different fish I know ) But I did daily 25% WC's in my 20 long for a week and it completely went away without any meds. Clean water is always the first defense against fish diseases. Not at all saying your WC schedule isn't good. Just that you didn't mention the frequency you do them.

 

Popeye is actually less of a direct disease and more of a symptom. I can be caused by an injury, infection, dirty water, etc. Your case I would assume is an internal infection just based on the lack of mentioning anything other than the popeye. I would feed use the Focus on both of your bettas foods.

Also just as a footnote regularly using aquarium salt in freshwater tanks doesn't really do as much good as it says. There have been a lot of people who find it hurts more than it helps but you'd have to research that on your own.

Thank you for the information....I'll have to do more research regarding the salt. I've heard good things about it but I'll take your word. If you have time, what negative things have you heard about always using salt?

My black molly got that once ( totally different fish I know ) But I did daily 25% WC's in my 20 long for a week and it completely went away without any meds. Clean water is always the first defense against fish diseases. Not at all saying your WC schedule isn't good. Just that you didn't mention the frequency you do them.

Thanks for the response. The first week I noticed the popeye I did 30% water changes every other day. Then went back to my schedule of 30-40% every week. Maybe I'll go back to the every other day water changes, or at least 2x a week until I notice he's on the right track again.

 

Thank you for the information....I'll have to do more research regarding the salt. I've heard good things about it but I'll take your word. If you have time, what negative things have you heard about always using salt?

From what I understand the main points are;
-many fish are sensitive to it and can become stressed
-will harm a large number of freshwater plants
-can harm or kill inverts
-extremely easy to overdose salt and kill fish due to it not evaporating
etc

Also there's the whole thing of the benefits being pretty minimal unless you're using it to specifically treat something.

 

From what I understand the main points are;
-many fish are sensitive to it and can become stressed
-will harm a large number of freshwater plants
-can harm or kill inverts
-extremely easy to overdose salt and kill fish due to it not evaporating
etc

Also there's the whole thing of the benefits being pretty minimal unless you're using it to specifically treat something.

Okay thanks. I usually only do a 1/4-1/3 of the dosing recommended on the box. I have no live plants in my tank. I also only add it to water removed (not top offs as I know that salt doesn't evaporate). I do have shrimp...so that concerns me. And it stressing the fish of course. I think I'll start using it less than I am now.