Popeye And Melafix?

[ellena]

I have bought melafix to treat small nicks on my 2 new bettas. I dosed according to the bottle (5ml in 38l) but just read somewhere on here (can't find the post now) that it should be used in smaller doses for bettas? The pinned FAQ post on melafix doesn't mention this though?
My newest betta has just been put into his 3.2 gall, heated, cycled filtered tank today. I had him at home overnight in a tupperware container.
His colour hasn't fully returned to how brilliant it was in the shop. He's had 1 hikari pellet and stats were NH3-0 and NO2-0.
His eyes look a little protruded though. Not sure if they were like this when I bought him. I understand that popeye is very obvious, with big swelling?
If it is popeye, would melafix be the treatment?
Lots of Qs, sorry Thanks for any tips

 

[loraxchick]

i always use half dose with any fish. he will be fine with that. are you sure your not looking for popeye? it is VERY obvious.
if the popeye is a bacterial cause (and not form injury or fluid buildup) melafix can help...just dont panic and over do it.
best of luck.

 

[ellena]

Thanks I don't think it is popeye, they're just protruding more than my other betta's.
Do I have to redose with melafix every day as instructed on the bottle? Or only replace if I do water changes?
Thanks

 

[loraxchick]

you re-dose every day...or after a big waterchange.
if you are only using it for his fin injuries, the BEST method for healing is clean water and good food. melafix can help but clean water is best as there is no confusing instructions for that and you dont run the risk of over medicating.
good luck.

 

[ellena]

Thanks for the advice. I'll dose again tomorrow.
I am checking his stats before and after work and doing water changes as necessary. I was hoping the cycled media would cope straight away, but it looks like I'm going to have a mini cycle.
Stats this morning were a trace of ammonia, so I changed about 30%. 8 hours later, they were 0 ammonia, but 0.5 nitrite, so I did another change and will check again in the morning.
I'm trying to keep feeding to a minumum to reduce amount of waste produced.

 

[Honeythorn]

Melafix is great for healing torn fins or helping with healing after fin rot has been cleared, but it will NOT cure popeye if that is what it turns out to be.

Myaxzin is the best treatment I have found. I had a guppy with popeye once and the Myaxzin cleared it right up.

 

[ellena]

Thanks I can see there's loads of that for sale on eBay, I'll get some in stock anyway. No further popping out today though, so it may just be how his eyes are.

 

[loraxchick]

the treatment sounds perfect! i agree that most likely a mini cycle and hopefully you'll see all zeros tomorrow.
i also agree that if comparing between two bettas, youd definately know if it were popeye. most liekly their eyes just "look" different...some have bigger eyes than others.
cheers

 

[electric yellow]

I always use Melafix and Pimafix for my fishies. It heals real well. Try to keep lighting to a minimun though as it tends to make the water go yucky. But yeah, when you get popeye it WONT cure it. You need Myaxzin as honeythorn said Treat your tank for the dosage length the Melafix bottle suggests. I sometime keep dosing again after that time and do a water change.