Treatment Question

Alright, if he has a secondary infection, what should I use to treat him? I'm still using the coppersafe, will the other meds react to it? I don't think I can add carbon to this filter to get out the coppersafe. He is more active when there is more coppersafe in the tank- the few times I've forgotten to replace half of the meds when I do a water change, he gets all lethargic again, but he perks back up when the full amount is in the water. Unfortunately I can't raise my tank temperature, but it usually is around 78-80*F. I just did my daily water change today, and Rojo ate this morning (I gave him 3 pellets). He's been hanging around the top of the tank today, and he has seemed more active lately. I keep forgetting to turn the lights out since I'm so used to turning them on in the morning, but I'll keep that in mind for tomorrow.
 
Alright, if he has a secondary infection, what should I use to treat him?

I would recommend combination treatment with Maracyn and Maracyn 2. Those are both made by the same company that makes coppersafe - Mardel. You can use the three together safely.
 
I started treating with the Maracyns last night. He doesn't look any better today physically but he ate again this morning. I remembered to keep his light off today. He looked a little bloated so I gave him a pea, not sure if he actually ate any of it though. He's been hanging out around the top of the tank the yesterday and today (less today though), I think he's just staying close so he can get air when he wants. When can I stop doing the daily water changes? I've been doing them for almost 2 weeks.
 
Hi, Lexi. Sorry I haven't checked in on this. It's been kind of crazy in my life lately. My husband is going to be having surgery, soon, and we've been running here and there seeing doctors and having a lot of presurgical diagnostic testing done.

I think you need to keep up the daily water changes for your Betta. If it is bacterial then pristine water is very important. I know it's a royal pain. I've been through it myself.

How is he today? Did the pea help him look less bloated?
 
Hi, Lexi. Sorry I haven't checked in on this. It's been kind of crazy in my life lately. My husband is going to be having surgery, soon, and we've been running here and there seeing doctors and having a lot of presurgical diagnostic testing done.

I think you need to keep up the daily water changes for your Betta. If it is bacterial then pristine water is very important. I know it's a royal pain. I've been through it myself.

How is he today? Did the pea help him look less bloated?

That's ok, Melody, everyone's life gets a little crazy at times. I hope the surgery isn't too serious and he gets well soon. :)

Ok, I'll keep up with the water changes. He looks better, he's back flaring at his reflection in the thermometer again, and he begs for food when I come to see him. Still no improvement physically, though... he still has all of the velvet spots. His energy has returned. I don't think he ate the pea but I may give him another and see if he eats it now. Luckily I've been remembering to turn the light off, too :) I'll update tomorrow but it's late and I have to go to bed now, lol. ;)
 
melody have you been giving your hubby daily water changes adding salt to his diet and turning up the thermostat ? lol hope he does well all kidding aside.
 
Dang!!! I forgot to add Prime to his water!!!

Thanks for the well wishes. He is going to have some really big surgery on his back.
We've put it off as long as possible and tried everything you can do to help, but he can barely walk and is miserable. We, and the doctors, have wanted to take a conservative approach to his problems for as long as possible, but we've just exhausted all avenues so this is where we are.

The orthopedic man wanted to do what's called a 360: A vascular surgeon opens him up on the front side and moves all the organs out of the way and clears the approach to the spine (lumbar area) for the bone many to do his work.

Then they close him up on the front side, flip him over and go in from the back side and then the bone guy goes to work from that side, too.

I wanted a second opinion and, personally, I prefer a nerve man to do any work around your spine. So we saw a neurosurgeon who said he would prefer to do it all from the back side, but wanted to do a myleogram to get a better view of the issues, then if he agreed with the bone guy he would do a 360 as well. If things look the way he hopes, then he will just do the back side approach.

We'll have to wait to hear on the results of the myelogram that was done today, but I imagine within the next two weeks he'll be having the surgery, one way or another, and I'm going to have to float him in a breeder net, dose him with maracyn and maracyn II and keep the parameters pristine, lol. I'll be sure to watch for any signs of Ich, too.
 
How's the Betta this evening. I hope he ate some pea and had a good clean-out.
Let us know how he's doing. Your last post souded hopeful. Sounded like he was acting like he was feeling better.

Hope he's still hanging in there and showing continued improvement.
 
He looks less gray and more red today (I turned on his light to get a good look at him). The spots are maybe showing a bit of improvement even, and he's nearly back to himself again (begging for food, flaring at thermometer, etc.). I don't think he ate much of the pea still but he looks a bit better so he may have. I'm keeping up with the water changes and meds, and I'll update tomorrow/monday if he looks any better. :)
 
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