Blondie needs help!

[Heli]

Hello, I’m new to this forum. I have a elephant ear betta that I can’t figure out what is wrong with his eyes. At first I thought it was pop eye but now I’m wondering if it’s diamond eye. I’ve looked at pictures of both conditions and neither look to me like his condition. I’ve been treating him with E.M.erythromycin for about three weeks now and have noticed some change but not what I would call an improvement. He eats good and is active and acts like he can see ok. I want to send some better pics because he is really beautiful! I’m also wondering if he could be a metallic because he is iridescent. Thanks to anyone who could help!

 

[Heli]

Also here are some more pics of him. He is in an old 5 gal hex I’m using for a hospital tank. Just got him a new 10 gal.corner bow front that I’m cyclin. He has a bushy nose albino pleco and a nerite snail for tank mates.

 

[ClownLurch]

I’m sorry I can’t help but I’m sure someone will be along soon...

 

[seangee]

I had something similar on a tetra a few years ago. I did a daily 75% water change. For 10 days there was no change and on day 11 the fish was perfectly normal with no other treatment.

 

[Heli]

Thank you for your response. I’ve tried what you’ve suggested. It did not seem to help. Glad your fish is ok though.

 

[UnknownFishies]

so imma add @Colin_T to this because he’s pretty good with illness and dieseses. i’m pretty sure anyways.

 

[Heli]

Ok thank you.

 

[Colin_T]

It has a bad case of pop-eye. This is usually caused by an infection in the head or eyes. Clean water and salt usually fix the problem but if the fish has been like that for weeks, and anti-biotics didn't work, then it's either a virus or drug resistant bacterial infection that caused it.

 

[Heli]

Thank you Colin for responding. I’ve been so busy changing the water and testing I don’t even have time to respond to these threads! Lol. My ammonia has been high 1.0 ppm I’ve changed the water for the 900th time and put zeolite in the filter. I’m about ready to give up, Blondie seems fine otherwise he’s playful, eats well, wants to see what I’m doing when I walk in the kitchen.. I’ve got a brand new 10 gal all set up that’s been cycling for a week and the ammonia in it is 0.50!! Arrrrrgh!

 

[Colin_T]

If you have an ammonia level in an aquarium with fish, do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day until the level is 0ppm.

If you have an established tank with an established filter, you can simply transfer that filter onto a new tank and the new tank will be cycled. You can then add fish straight away.

 

[Heli]

Thanks again, but that’s what I’ve been doing for like two months now! I’ve removed all the gravel decor and plants from the tank along time ago because it makes it easier to change the water. I don’t know what to do, this is no fun for me and especially for my poor fish! Maybe I’ll put in another filter.

 

[Colin_T]

Don't use Zeolite because it removes ammonia from the water and stops the filter bacteria developing.

Test the gravel by putting some in a container of water. Check the ammonia in the container before adding the gravel. Then test it again a week later. Your gravel might be producing it or something else in the tank might be producing ammonia.

Check your tap water for ammonia too.

 

[Heli]

I planned on just leaving it in there for a day. My gravel in the 10 gal. Is brand new and there is no gravel in the 5 gal. because I took it all out for all the water changes. Could it be coming from my live plants that I transferred to the 10 from the 5? I wondered about the tap water too. I’ll be doing another water change tomorrow so I will test the tap then. Thanks again!

 

[Colin_T]

plants don't cause ammonia unless they are dead or rotting.

new gravel can sometimes release ammonia and other stuff into the water.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

How long have you had the pleco/how large is it?

I've a feeling having a pleco, even a bristlenose, in a five gallon with a betta is not helping with trying to get ammonia under control. They're big waste producers.