Bettas And Melafix

[MewMew42]

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before when i did a water change i added some melafix to my bettas' tank, the recommended dosage to the tank to help with one of my boys tails, it had a little chunk missing, since it is a divided tank i noticed on the one closet to me that he was acting a little dopey and was resting more than usual [this was in a space of about 20 mins]

the first thing i though of was the melafix...i hopped onto google and saw that many people had problems...so i totally freaked out and ive just done a 80% water change

was I right to do that? is melafix harmful to bettas???

 

[silverrabbit]

I've had a bad time with melafix and bettas, think the water change was the best idea

 

[loraxchick]

one of my bettas has a SLIGHT tear in his fins and i used it at recommended dose. dead the next day. an otherwise very healthy fish. the only conclusion was the melafix. now i NEVER recommend its use with bettas-even at lower doseage. not worth it when clean water does the same job!!!
glad you didnt have to learn the hard way and you were attentive enough to notice.
all the best
cheers

 

[BettaCrazy7]

Melafix has been known to damage a betta's laybrinth organ. I've never had success with it.

 

[three-fingers]

Interesting. So it's maybe its not so much that Melafix is toxic to bettas, just the vapour of it above the waters surface? That makes sense, since I've never had a problem using it with bettas before after treating dozens at work, but have heard lots of bad stories.

All the tanks at work filtered using air powered undergravel filters...so the air is being circulated around the surface of the water, the air the bettas breath is fresh drawn from the air compressor. Where as in the average power filtered tank, the air above the water only circulates slowly through diffusion and any slight breezes in the room.

Would be interesting to see if anyones had problems using Melafix with other laybrinth fish?

Would maybe explain why they make a Bettafix? Maybe it has something in it to stop the tea tree oil vaporizing?

 

[stang1]

Interesting though three-fingers. I've also used it with Bettas and never had any problems, although it has been in a tank with a normal internal filter. Seems a lot of people have had bad experiences with it.

 

[BettaCrazy7]

Melafix makes a thick film at the top of the water, which makes it difficult for the bettas to use the laybrinth organ. So in other words, it sufficates the fish. Having a filter should help. I've used it with filters and I still had no success with it.

 

[three-fingers]

Why would a thick film on the surface of the water prevent a fish breathing air above the waters surface?

Unless we're talking so thick that the fish cant push through it with its mouth...but I've never noticed that...

 

[Oscar Betta]

Lots of people say they've had problems with Melafix, but when I used it, it worked fine.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I used it full dose for about 5 days; I read the reviews on here; did a water change and stopped using it. In my experience it did nothing.

My one "thing" is if people are using it on sick fish and the fish dies...blame the melafix.

To be honest I think it's entirely your decision; you can listen to what people have said; I haven't had a negative experience with it but I won't be using it just in case.

 

[Inchworm]

Most people, no matter what kind of fish they have, who have problems with Melafix, have them because they didn't use the product properly. For example, it is based on an ingredient that is an oil and it can coat the surface if not mixed thoroughly into the water when it's added. If you add the product to the tank while in the process of doing a water change, and agitate the water well, you will never have to worry about that happening. This is not a product that can simply be dumped into the water and left to mix itself.

 

[MewMew42]

thanks guys

the fish are fine! I was probably worrying over nothing! I did mix it well and the filter agitates it too, but better be safe than sorry

=]