HELP--betta with weird eye problem!!!!

[Ms.Bubbles]

One eye is normal, the other appears to have a white circle around it, and I think it's protruding. He's still eating & swimming as if nothing is wrong.

What do I do? He's in a planted tank that is still cycling (0.6 ammonia, 0.2 nitrites).

[Hannys_Papa]

Sounds like popeye.

I'd do waterchanges - lots of them. Usually popeye occours because of poor water conditions and isnt so much a disease as a sign of an infection that occured because of bad water quality.

Oh and i didnt come up with that myself - just what i read repeatedly on fish disease pages. :)

[Ms.Bubbles]

It's a 10 gallon tank--how much should I change?

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Do a water change and hit it with Maracyn 2...It will fix it up asap.

[Hannys_Papa]

Basically as much as it takes to make ammonia and nitrite disappear. I know it'll be a PITA but depending on the tank setup (you know if you have a lot of plants in it it might not be easy to change 90% at one time) it could mean 50% or even 2x50% now - and more as soon as ammonia/ nitrate show up again.

EDIT: Oh and of course there are always MEDS ! The problem might be that they can/ will damage your cycling process because maracyn kills bacteria. Do you have a hospital tank ?

[Ms.Bubbles]

Does anyone know if Maracyn 2 is safe for plants? If not, I guess I could take him out & put him into an uncycled 3 gallon bowl. I'm afraid I don't have a cycled quarantine tank.

Would salt help? I just read Epsom salt is good...

PS. Thanks both of you for your prompt replies :)

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

You can float the uncycled bowl in the heated tank and just treat the bowl...Do a water change every other day (100 percent) and treat as directed...You should see a dramatic imporvent in 2 days. The important thing is treating immediately before it becomes a real problem.