Singing the praises of Melafix

[Synirr]

I know some on this forum are kinda afraid to use Melafix, and at one time I was too, but this stuff is absolutely a lifesaver! Miss Plum has been strugglng with columnaris the past few weeks, and wasn't really getting any better. I had been using Maracyn and Maracyn 2 along with salt and daily water changes, and while her behaviour indicated that she felt ok, she lost half her anal fin, a notch out of her caudal, and had patches of infection on her sides. Well I tried my "last resort" medication -- a full dose of Melafix. With just one dose she looks almost completely cured! The patches on her sides are gone and she hasn't lost any more fin. Things are still a little rocky and even though she is currently eating and swimming around just fine I'm not willing to say with 100% certainty that she'll definitely make it... but she certainly looks a lot better than she did! Yay for Melafix!!

(Pic taken before the columnaris)

 

[BettaMomma]

You are all free to do as you wish, but I feel like I *HAVE* to put a word of caution out here.

I have 2 fish that are permanently disfigured from using MF. I used the full dosage. One of Harvey's gills was so badly burned that when he flares only 1 gill raker comes out.

Archie's bottom fin was also burned and now it's completely mangled and wrinkled, and no amount of salt, water changes and colloidal has ever begun to reverse it.

Both of these fish almost died - Archie was gasping for air colorless with a HUGE stripe - which I have never before or since seen of him until I gave him a water change. Harvey was listless and colorless until his water change.

Again - you can all do as you wish, but just PLEASE consider my words of caution.

Synirr - very glad your girly is feeling better.

 

[Synirr]

I have 2 fish that are permanently disfigured from using MF.

Thanks for pointing that out BettaMomma, I should have added a word of caution in my original post.

Melafix is powerful stuff, which is why I use a full dosage as a last resort only. I use about 1/4th doses normally, but Miss Plum wasn't responding to it and something had to be done before she deteriorated past the point of no return. I'm going to give her one or two more full doses (with 100% water change in between) then cut it back down to 1/4th doses until I'm sure she's cured.

 

[BettaMomma]

Good plan.

I think I learned a really hard lesson when my Jack died and nobody else did with the harsh PH swings in their water. Some fish are a lot more fragile than others. Some can tolerate things other fish can't. Which might very well be the case with MelaFix and some fish.

 

[Saucy]

And like you've told me. If it comes to the point where salt and/or heat and some colloidal won't work, Melafix isn't going to fix it. I only use as a last resort, too.