What To Do With Betta?

[M'al-finny]

Hi,

I have a 55 gal community tank in which my betta was happily living. I introduced new fish to increase the stocking level (I had a betta and 3 danios in a 55 gal -- that's a little too ridiculously low!) and Betta came up with popeye, fin rot and what could possibly be dropsy.

I rushed out and bought a 10 gal to serve as a hospital tank. I have a little gravel, one piece of decor and a tank heater. I have no filter or aeration (sp?) and I do a 25% or so water change daily and am medicating the tank with melafix and I have some Prime going in for salts and stress coat.

His popeye has gone back down and, although his belly is still swollen, it is not as gross as it was and his scales are flat unless he's turning. I can't tell if he can see from that eye or not ... it seems like it is no longer cloudy.

Near the end of his hospitalization, I will treat the main tank for 3 days. BUT ... should I try to reintroduce him or keep him separate? The 10 gal is not really set up for long-term occupancy and I won't have a hospital tank if I leave him in there.

The other occupants of the main tank are: 7 danios, 6 black phantoms and 2 corys. WWYD?

 

[liz2]

I think I would keep him separate just in case he re infects the others or vice versa. one of my fish has just had popeye and his eye has gone down and he has started eating again, but his eye looks cloudy. Does your fish look the same?

 

[Amunet]

He could've gotten sick from something one of the new additions brought in.
You should've quarantined those fish first, but lil too late for that.
I'd hold off on putting him back in. Watch the other fish in the main tank, keep an eye on water readings (ammonia and such) and maybe after another week, if everything is ok with the betta and the fish in the 55.. then reintroduce him.

 

[M'al-finny]

Well, after 1 week no other fish in the main tank appear healthy. Betta seems happy and is eating like a little pig, so I'll leave him in the 10 gallon for another week. (All water stats are spot on.)

His eye appears to have full sight. The cloudiness cleared up ... now his left eye (the one which had popped) has a small, white, sticky-outy thing at the bottom ... like a piece of connective tissue might have gotten pinched and remained out. But it is just a dot. His eye rotates and he tracks his food with both eyes and moves forward to attack and consume it.

After this week, should I treat the other tank for 3 days with Melafix before adding him back? Will that kill my filter?