TotallyTropical
Fish Crazy
Hello everyone! (wow, I'm back? 
)
After (almost) finishing the first semester of year 2 in my aquaculture studies at Dalhousie, I've found I've learned more about finfish and shellfish than I've bargained for, and a notable subject has crossed my path while caring for my own fish that I have discussed with my friends as well.
I have always heard the old wives' tale of API's Melafix damaging labyrinth organs in bettas, gouramis, etc., but when looking up any sort of evidence on the matter (articles explaining the science behind Melafix or tea tree oil, the main ingredient of Melafix, and it's apparent "adverse effects" on bettas), all that could be found was crude oil affecting bettas' reproductive ability and the safe use of Melafix on clownfish and goldfish. Clove oil can also be found in many experiments and articles, obviously, as it is used as both an anesthetic and for euthanasia for aquarium fish and even in aquaculture, and at lethal doses lesions form on their gills and their blood coagulates; it could be assumed that the same happens at lethal doses of Melafix. Reading a post on another forum, it can be gathered that since oil and water don't mix, there is an emulsifier added to Melafix so that it can easily dissolve in tank water; because of this, it will most likely coat the gills and labyrinth organs of any inhabitants of the treated tank, and decrease it's ability to perform.
So what does all of this mean? It means that if the betta or other anabantoidei are already suffering from an illness that Melafix is already being used to treat the tank with, then making it more difficult for the fish to breathe properly will probably raise the likeliness of mortality. As well, as mentioned before, if the overdosing of clove oil can be compared to the overdosing of Melafix, then some Melafix deaths in bettas could be from overdosing, especially as, unfortunately, many bettas are kept in small tanks (>2.5gal), and recommended dosage for the product is 5mL per 10 gallons (45L). In fact, it can be assumed that Bettafix was created to remedy this issue, as the ingredients are exactly the same, but the dosage instructions are now 9 drops per pint (473 ml), 18 drops per quart (946 ml), or ½ teaspoonful (2.5 ml) per gallon (3.8 L). This pretty much makes it a watered down Melafix.
So does it "destroy" labyrinth organs? No, but it will make it a bit more difficult for the fish to breathe, and this is a temporary issue for long term gains. I can also vouch that many people, including myself and a friend who is just starting out in fish keeping, have dosed their bettas with Melafix with no ill effects. On the flip side, some people have lost their bettas from doing this. I believe that this is from overdosing or the fact that the betta was too weak already to handle the medication as mentioned above, and a good alternative is aquarium salt dips.
What do you guys think? ?
Edit: Someone who worked at API had this to say about Mela/Pima/Bettafix
)After (almost) finishing the first semester of year 2 in my aquaculture studies at Dalhousie, I've found I've learned more about finfish and shellfish than I've bargained for, and a notable subject has crossed my path while caring for my own fish that I have discussed with my friends as well.
I have always heard the old wives' tale of API's Melafix damaging labyrinth organs in bettas, gouramis, etc., but when looking up any sort of evidence on the matter (articles explaining the science behind Melafix or tea tree oil, the main ingredient of Melafix, and it's apparent "adverse effects" on bettas), all that could be found was crude oil affecting bettas' reproductive ability and the safe use of Melafix on clownfish and goldfish. Clove oil can also be found in many experiments and articles, obviously, as it is used as both an anesthetic and for euthanasia for aquarium fish and even in aquaculture, and at lethal doses lesions form on their gills and their blood coagulates; it could be assumed that the same happens at lethal doses of Melafix. Reading a post on another forum, it can be gathered that since oil and water don't mix, there is an emulsifier added to Melafix so that it can easily dissolve in tank water; because of this, it will most likely coat the gills and labyrinth organs of any inhabitants of the treated tank, and decrease it's ability to perform.
So what does all of this mean? It means that if the betta or other anabantoidei are already suffering from an illness that Melafix is already being used to treat the tank with, then making it more difficult for the fish to breathe properly will probably raise the likeliness of mortality. As well, as mentioned before, if the overdosing of clove oil can be compared to the overdosing of Melafix, then some Melafix deaths in bettas could be from overdosing, especially as, unfortunately, many bettas are kept in small tanks (>2.5gal), and recommended dosage for the product is 5mL per 10 gallons (45L). In fact, it can be assumed that Bettafix was created to remedy this issue, as the ingredients are exactly the same, but the dosage instructions are now 9 drops per pint (473 ml), 18 drops per quart (946 ml), or ½ teaspoonful (2.5 ml) per gallon (3.8 L). This pretty much makes it a watered down Melafix.
So does it "destroy" labyrinth organs? No, but it will make it a bit more difficult for the fish to breathe, and this is a temporary issue for long term gains. I can also vouch that many people, including myself and a friend who is just starting out in fish keeping, have dosed their bettas with Melafix with no ill effects. On the flip side, some people have lost their bettas from doing this. I believe that this is from overdosing or the fact that the betta was too weak already to handle the medication as mentioned above, and a good alternative is aquarium salt dips.
What do you guys think? ?
Edit: Someone who worked at API had this to say about Mela/Pima/Bettafix
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