Switching medications for betta fish and using Res-Q
May 6, 2021 14:33:08 GMT -5
devonjohnsgard likes this
Post by chantel on May 6, 2021 14:33:08 GMT -5
Thanks for such a great forum and for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Our fish experience has been emotional (odd to say but true!) and your help means so much. We've browsed and already learned so much, but couldn't find the exact guidance for our current situation. Here's where we are at...
We have a blue luna flare betta that has been slowly declining for 3-4 months.
Started with a case of pop-eye in the right eye.
Water tested ok - thought it was an injury.
Changed to a more consistent heater, replaced caves/decorations, added some live plants, no improvement.
In increments over the course of 2 months tried treatments of aquarium salt, melafix, bettafix, added the catapa leaves, tried adding in a tank starter with more beneficial bacteria (none of those at the same time) - no improvments.
Fish remains active and comes to the surface to eat like a piggy.
Tail started to get the white tips (no fuzz, texture, or dots that appear to be ick or fungus) just looks like color loss - then the tips break away, slowly eroding the tail closer to the body over time.
Tried Kanaplex - did a full treatment cycle, waited a couple of weeks, did it again. No improvements to eye or fins.
Fins developed a tear and slowly continue to break away.
We switched tanks from a 5 gallon fluval (water flow was a bit strong for him and sponging up the filter bit didn't seem to oxygenate well enough) - to a 10 gallon TopFin (cheaper tank but water flow seems more his style), added a small bubbler, used RO water only, and added aquarium salt.
We switched to RO water (bought from our PetCo) because our water here is very hard. All the aquarium stores here said not to mess with adjusting it that a betta would adjust - even the RO water shows up as "hard" on a water testing strip.
He's still eating well but will no longer come to the surface or swimming throughout much of his tank - rarely he'll do a "zoomie" and come to the top and then back down to his fav corner.
We also added one feeding of frozen food - so 2 pellets (we have 3 different brands now, but I use the ones that I can crush and sink so I don't have to stick my hand in the tank to feed him)
We tried API Fin and Tail in his tank (not a bath) - he responded poorly after the first day as if he was having trouble getting off the ground.
We followed the instructions and after 48 hours (and second dose) did the 25% water change.
By this time, he had been hiding and hadn't eaten in two days.
After the third dosing, he continued to decline - didn't think he was going to make it - decided the medicine was likely not a match - did a 40% water change and put back in the carbon filter. (so skipped day 4 of the final treatment).
It's been about 5 days since where we left off with the API Fin and Tail.
Once we stopped, he started at least swimming a bit more and being more social again - definitely showing signs the medicine was too much.
Although we did a good size water change and put in carbon filter, his tank water is still discolored from the API Fin and Tail.
From American Aquarium, I now have APP BettaMax and Res-Q in hand.
I'm wondering now if I should have gotten the APP Spectrum.
Looking for guidance on the best way forward considering that his fins are quite erroded at this point and he didn't respond well to the API Fin and Tail.
It seems like a tricky balance between needing a swift solution but not overstressing him.
1. Do I need to do a bigger water change before introducing him to the APP Bettamax? I'm worried about any residual antibiotic from API Fin and Tail since his water still looks like it's present.
2. Is it better to start with a fish bath or a put the APP Bettamax directly into his tank considering his stress levels? Not sure which one will stress him more - a complete tank of antibiotic or a move to a fish bath every day.
3. If we go with a fish bath, how many days should we complete?
4. Should I add the Res-Q to a 25% water change BEFORE adding the APP Bettamax to his tank or doing a Bettamax fish bath? Uncertain of how to dose both products together. His water is currently conditioned with Prime and we've been using only RO.
5. Should I scrap all of the above plan and order the Spectrum product with the mineral shells instead?
We have a blue luna flare betta that has been slowly declining for 3-4 months.
Started with a case of pop-eye in the right eye.
Water tested ok - thought it was an injury.
Changed to a more consistent heater, replaced caves/decorations, added some live plants, no improvement.
In increments over the course of 2 months tried treatments of aquarium salt, melafix, bettafix, added the catapa leaves, tried adding in a tank starter with more beneficial bacteria (none of those at the same time) - no improvments.
Fish remains active and comes to the surface to eat like a piggy.
Tail started to get the white tips (no fuzz, texture, or dots that appear to be ick or fungus) just looks like color loss - then the tips break away, slowly eroding the tail closer to the body over time.
Tried Kanaplex - did a full treatment cycle, waited a couple of weeks, did it again. No improvements to eye or fins.
Fins developed a tear and slowly continue to break away.
We switched tanks from a 5 gallon fluval (water flow was a bit strong for him and sponging up the filter bit didn't seem to oxygenate well enough) - to a 10 gallon TopFin (cheaper tank but water flow seems more his style), added a small bubbler, used RO water only, and added aquarium salt.
We switched to RO water (bought from our PetCo) because our water here is very hard. All the aquarium stores here said not to mess with adjusting it that a betta would adjust - even the RO water shows up as "hard" on a water testing strip.
He's still eating well but will no longer come to the surface or swimming throughout much of his tank - rarely he'll do a "zoomie" and come to the top and then back down to his fav corner.
We also added one feeding of frozen food - so 2 pellets (we have 3 different brands now, but I use the ones that I can crush and sink so I don't have to stick my hand in the tank to feed him)
We tried API Fin and Tail in his tank (not a bath) - he responded poorly after the first day as if he was having trouble getting off the ground.
We followed the instructions and after 48 hours (and second dose) did the 25% water change.
By this time, he had been hiding and hadn't eaten in two days.
After the third dosing, he continued to decline - didn't think he was going to make it - decided the medicine was likely not a match - did a 40% water change and put back in the carbon filter. (so skipped day 4 of the final treatment).
It's been about 5 days since where we left off with the API Fin and Tail.
Once we stopped, he started at least swimming a bit more and being more social again - definitely showing signs the medicine was too much.
Although we did a good size water change and put in carbon filter, his tank water is still discolored from the API Fin and Tail.
From American Aquarium, I now have APP BettaMax and Res-Q in hand.
I'm wondering now if I should have gotten the APP Spectrum.
Looking for guidance on the best way forward considering that his fins are quite erroded at this point and he didn't respond well to the API Fin and Tail.
It seems like a tricky balance between needing a swift solution but not overstressing him.
1. Do I need to do a bigger water change before introducing him to the APP Bettamax? I'm worried about any residual antibiotic from API Fin and Tail since his water still looks like it's present.
2. Is it better to start with a fish bath or a put the APP Bettamax directly into his tank considering his stress levels? Not sure which one will stress him more - a complete tank of antibiotic or a move to a fish bath every day.
3. If we go with a fish bath, how many days should we complete?
4. Should I add the Res-Q to a 25% water change BEFORE adding the APP Bettamax to his tank or doing a Bettamax fish bath? Uncertain of how to dose both products together. His water is currently conditioned with Prime and we've been using only RO.
5. Should I scrap all of the above plan and order the Spectrum product with the mineral shells instead?
