Newbie Help with Bettamax recommended dosage

Hello,
I picked up 2 bettas last Wednesday. One is in a 10 gallon, and one is in a 1 gallon. The one in the 1 gallon looks to have some slight fin/tail rot (more on the tail), and hasn't eaten since I've gotten him (I've seen it put a pellet in it's mouth then spit it back out, I even tried freeze dried bloodworms, but no luck).

Anyways, I bought some BettaFix 2 days ago, but no signs of improvement. I heard BettaFix is more of an aid not a med. I also bought Maracyn 2 and some Bettamax. Should I try the BettaMax first?

If so, how much dosage should I do for my 1 gallon? I know the instructions show:

Dose for Aquarium use (1 capsule to each 5 gallons),
Dose for Betta Bowl Water Changes (1 capsule in a 1 quart container, then during water changes add 1 part of tonic to 2 parts freshwater), and to continue treatment for 3 days. (5 days if necessary)

My question is, how often should I change the water, and exactly what measurements is 1 part?

Also, do I have to stop my undergravel filter? It's just a simple undergravel filter connected to an air stone and air pump (but I hear this will cause the good bacteria to die, and release unwanted chemicals?).

Sorry for the newb questions. Thanks very much in advance for any help!

Thanks.

Depending on the extremity of the fin rot, I would use bettamax first

The 1 part is measured by your tank size, so 1 gallon will be 1/3 a gallon of bettamax to 2/3 fresh water. You can change everyday if you want. Every 3 days is only what's recommended.

Welcome to the board

Thanks so much for your help wuvmybetta. I'm new to bettas, and want to make sure they are doing fine!

Yay! The guy with the slight fin/tail rot finally ate today! He ate one pellet, put another one in his mouth and spat it back out, then sniffed another one, then ate a freeze dried blood worm. I'm going to try to "train" him to like the Hikari Betta Bio Pellets, as those bloodworms cost more, and I heard too many freeze dried foods can make him constipated. YAY! I'm SO happy he finally ate!

Hmm... maybe I should keep using the BettaFix for another four more days (they recommend daily doses up to 7 days, and I started on Monday), or should I start going with the BettaMax tomorrow? I just don't want to "overmedicate" if I use BettaMax, and he may/may not need it. If I post a pic of the tail/fin, would someone be able to tell me if it's needed? Also, I notice on his left side, I can see two small dark reddish "veins"...?

Thanks so much for your time.

The bettafix is only a weak solution of melafix. It is more for a torn fin, or to help heal a scratch. It has healing attributes, but is not a medicine. The bettamax has medicinal qualitys and would work better for stopping the spread of disease. I personally only use Neosulfex for finrot. It works far better than any others I have used. When I come up against a tough strain of finrot, I'll combine Neosulfex with Bettamax. It seems they fight a few different types of things, so they seem to stop the finrot . I don't recommend mixing meds, but sometimes things have to be tried in order to get it to work and save the fish. I do daily water changes on all my treated fish.Nasties are hatching and re- attaching to the fish, so if I change the water, they go down the drain. Clean water and re-medicating works best for me. Actually clean water can go a long way in healing some things on a fish anyways.

aznmidnite said:

Yay! The guy with the slight fin/tail rot finally ate today!

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I'm so glad to hear that
I've never tried the Neosulfex that f20 mentioned,but I think I'll give it a try the next time I need it (heaven forbid)

f250fisherman said:

The bettafix is only a weak solution of melafix. It is more for a torn fin, or to help heal a scratch. It has healing attributes, but is not a medicine. The bettamax has medicinal qualitys and would work better for stopping the spread of disease. I personally only use Neosulfex for finrot. It works far better than any others I have used. When I come up against a tough strain of finrot, I'll combine Neosulfex with Bettamax. It seems they fight a few different types of things, so they seem to stop the finrot . I don't recommend mixing meds, but sometimes things have to be tried in order to get it to work and save the fish. I do daily water changes on all my treated fish.Nasties are hatching and re- attaching to the fish, so if I change the water, they go down the drain. Clean water and re-medicating works best for me. Actually clean water can go a long way in healing some things on a fish anyways.

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Hi,
When you say you do water changes daily for the sick fish, is that 100% water changes, or something else?

The constant water changes don't cause too much shock/stress on the fish?

Thanks very much.

As long as the new water is very close in temperature to the old water,it shouldn't stress him much at all

I pour my fish into a cup as I empty the container they are in. They do this 3-4 times a week all their life, so they just swim into the cup. No stress. All my water is aged in the same room, so the temp is the same. Clean water to a sick Betta will do more good than any stress from a water change it is used to getting. I do 100% and re med. I usually put the sick betta in a Beanie, so the water change and amount of medicine is reduced.

Ok, thanks all for your input. I see another hole in his top fin now! I am going to do a full water change now (already had some water prepped), and med him.

Wish me (him) luck!

f250fisherman said:

I pour my fish into a cup as I empty the container they are in. They do this 3-4 times a week all their life, so they just swim into the cup. No stress. All my water is aged in the same room, so the temp is the same. Clean water to a sick Betta will do more good than any stress from a water change it is used to getting. I do 100% and re med. I usually put the sick betta in a Beanie, so the water change and amount of medicine is reduced.

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I just finished with a full water change in my 1 gallon tank (I also removed the undergravel filter, gravel, and the one silk plant I had in there...will that be ok? I just thought it would be easier during the full water changes). 1/3 BettaMax, 2/3 Treated Water. Looks so blueish! Looks like the new hole in his top fin got a little bigger? Is it because the top fin moves around as well?

I think he might have been a little scared during the move to the cup and back, but after putting him back in his tank, he started eating freeze dried bloodworms I offered him in about 15 minutes.

What do you mean you put your sick betta in a Beanie?

Thanks!

Beanies are clear hard plastic containers originally meant for beanie babies. You put the babies in these to preserve them. Mine are 3.75" at the bottom, 4" at the top, and 8 " tall. They hold 56 oz. of water. This is the only pic I have right now. It is set up as a barracks. I just don't have the water system hooked up yet.

Thanks for the info. Btw, so after your male and female have mated, the male puts the eggs into the bubble nest, right? Then you remove the bubble nest with the eggs, and place them in your beanies? How do you remove it from the tank into the beanies?

My other heathy betta started building a bubble nest at the surface of the water amongst the leaves of my live westeria plant. He loves that plant. Ever since I put him in the tank...I think that's his comfort spot!

aznmidnite said:

Thanks for the info. Btw, so after your male and female have mated, the male puts the eggs into the bubble nest, right? Then you remove the bubble nest with the eggs, and place them in your beanies? How do you remove it from the tank into the beanies?

My other heathy betta started building a bubble nest at the surface of the water amongst the leaves of my live westeria plant. He loves that plant. Ever since I put him in the tank...I think that's his comfort spot!

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no you leave the male in with the eggs until they hatch, and then remove the male soon after. I wouldnt mess with the eggs, because the father keeps the eggs clean. I have heard of a few mothers taking care of the nest. I would read the breeding section pinned at the top of the betta forums. It has useful info.

I do want to add , that I try to refrain from using medicines unless it is really needed. When I get fin rot, like I have this week, I treat with some salt and heavy water changes. It does the trick fo rme, and no meds and it also helps make sure my betta has a healthy immune system. not compromised by anti biotics.