Hello folks.
My daughter and I have four male bettas. One of the four has come down with, best I can diagnose, a case of popeye. I was keeping him in a planted 10 gallon tank with another male betta (divided of course). I have since his illness quarantined him in hospital tank and began treating him with Maracyn II (I am in day 3). (I went and bought a 2.5 gal tank for quarantine, the medicine, put a plant in it from his display tank with a new small pump and airstone...cost me $40. I love my fish!) As I mentioned before, the ill betta ("Midnight") has a tank mate (King Rainbow), and KR has remained very healthy and active, as have my other two bettas in my second 10 g tank. In my display tanks I have faithfully changed the water (50% every week), used conditioner and aquarium salts as directed, and kept the water temp at 80 degress F with use of tank heaters. I suspect that Midnight had already had a "bug" when I purchased him about 3-4 weeks ago, though he was asymptomatic at the time of purchase. At any rate, he seems to be just very slightly more active since treatment, but I honestly cannot be sure. His eyes remain bulging but this has not appeared to worsen. He is inded extremely lethargic, mostly just floating at the surface in the corner fo the hospital tank. Also, he has not eaten a thing in over four days. The directions on the Maracyn II say to treat I believe for 5 days (I'll be triple checking that). I don't want him to suffer, which I believe he still is at this point in his treatment. So, my question is, should I continue to treat with the full course of the antibiotic and see what happens or, at what point should I consider euthanasia? (I've read the way to do this most humanely would be to put him into a small bowl of water and place in the freezer...feedback?) I have never treated a fish for anything other than ick before but not something this serious. Again, any feedback, general prognosis on treating popeye, other treatments, when to consider euthanasia, etc would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks you all for your time.
Sincerely,
Matt
My daughter and I have four male bettas. One of the four has come down with, best I can diagnose, a case of popeye. I was keeping him in a planted 10 gallon tank with another male betta (divided of course). I have since his illness quarantined him in hospital tank and began treating him with Maracyn II (I am in day 3). (I went and bought a 2.5 gal tank for quarantine, the medicine, put a plant in it from his display tank with a new small pump and airstone...cost me $40. I love my fish!) As I mentioned before, the ill betta ("Midnight") has a tank mate (King Rainbow), and KR has remained very healthy and active, as have my other two bettas in my second 10 g tank. In my display tanks I have faithfully changed the water (50% every week), used conditioner and aquarium salts as directed, and kept the water temp at 80 degress F with use of tank heaters. I suspect that Midnight had already had a "bug" when I purchased him about 3-4 weeks ago, though he was asymptomatic at the time of purchase. At any rate, he seems to be just very slightly more active since treatment, but I honestly cannot be sure. His eyes remain bulging but this has not appeared to worsen. He is inded extremely lethargic, mostly just floating at the surface in the corner fo the hospital tank. Also, he has not eaten a thing in over four days. The directions on the Maracyn II say to treat I believe for 5 days (I'll be triple checking that). I don't want him to suffer, which I believe he still is at this point in his treatment. So, my question is, should I continue to treat with the full course of the antibiotic and see what happens or, at what point should I consider euthanasia? (I've read the way to do this most humanely would be to put him into a small bowl of water and place in the freezer...feedback?) I have never treated a fish for anything other than ick before but not something this serious. Again, any feedback, general prognosis on treating popeye, other treatments, when to consider euthanasia, etc would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks you all for your time.
Sincerely,
Matt