Is Melafix Bad For Bettas?

[keithp]

I had just read Melafix is dangerous to bettas and other labyrinth fish, in that it can damage the labyrinth organ, is this true?

 

[electropunk06]

hi have a read of this
hope it helps
Lloyd

 

[nmonks]

It's not dangerous, but then it's not particularly useful either. You'll be hard pressed to find many advanced aquarists who recommend the stuff. At best it's a mild antiseptic that prevents secondary infections. But then again, a healthy fish will fend off those infections without medication, so it's hard to know if the Melafix helps. Once fish become infected with fungal and bacterial infections, all, and I mean all, vets and fish healthcare writers recommend using traditional medications and antibiotics. One of the problems that happens a couple of times a week over at Wet Web Media is we'll get messages from someone with a sick fish that has remained sick despite using Melafix. The tragedy is that by the time these people realise Melafix isn't working, it's sometimes too late even for proper medications to help.

Just because something is "natural" doesn't make it safe; cyanide is natural, and so is uranium, but neither are safe. Likewise, just because Aborigines used tea-tree oil for hundreds of years doesn't make it a good medicine; European doctors were prescribing mercury for centuries, but no-one considers that to be a good idea!

Cheers, Neale

I had just read Melafix is dangerous to bettas and other labyrinth fish, in that it can damage the labyrinth organ, is this true?

 

[keithp]

Thanks for the information everyone. I never used it, but had seen it being used here often, so for those who do/did use it this will be a good read for them.

 

[loraxchick]

i never recommend its use. For what it is "prescribed" for (healing fins etc.) nothing some simple waterchanges dont do for the fish. it is not worth the risk of potentially harming the fish.
I like your comparison to mercury/cyanide NMonks! nice analogy (not that is outrightly poisonous but still... kinda sums up my feelings on the matter).
cheers

 

[theshadowinc]

i never recommend its use. For what it is "prescribed" for (healing fins etc.) nothing some simple waterchanges dont do for the fish. it is not worth the risk of potentially harming the fish.
I like your comparison to mercury/cyanide NMonks! nice analogy (not that is outrightly poisonous but still... kinda sums up my feelings on the matter).
cheers

I don't really like the stuff I use to use it all the time but realized there are other methods and products such as an almond leaf that are much better than what melafix does, not only that it has to be used at half the dosage and doesn't really do much for bettas so i have found