MelaFix vs. BettaFix

[cation]

great tip, Inchie! The added benifit of your way is that you can then use it for yourself, too. A little tea tree in lotion is great for dry skin, and it's a super antiseptic.

 

[pnyklr3]

I've used Pimafix and it is safe on scaleless fish, like clown loaches, as well as delicate species, like tetras and discus fry. I'm not sure if it's safe for bettas (I've never used it one mine; and I don't really want to find out the hard way!) but the concentration is 1.0% Pimenta racemosa.

 

[Inchworm]

great tip, Inchie! The added benifit of your way is that you can then use it for yourself, too. A little tea tree in lotion is great for dry skin, and it's a super antiseptic.

Hi cation,

That's a very good thing to know with winter coming on.


Actually, I just like to open the bottle and smell it. Ummmmm )

 

[Cat]

If its just tea tree oil why can't you just buy that to treat the fish be a lot cheaper than melfix?

 

[cation]

There's no reason you can't, Cat! Just make sure that you get the dilution right and you should have no problem. I believe inchworm posted her recipe for "Melafake" on this thread somewhere...

 

[sandro]

I use both Melafix and Pimafix to help out my betta whenever he gets sick. On their own, neither do much more than help out with really minor cases of fin rot. I give him 50% of a dose of melafix, and then add another 50% of the dose of Pimafix ... the two together seeems to be more effective than either on its own. I've tried Bettafix a number of times, never had any success with it at all ... the last time I bothered with Bettafix, my betta died even though I detected the infection right away ... it did nothing whatsoever to help him out.

As for melafix and pimafix, whoever said they're only really effective on lighter illnesses was right - with the serious infections, you need something stronger. In fact, I would say Melafix and Pimafix are more effective at *preventing* sickness ... so ... adding a dose to the water whenever you do a big water change, or move the tank, that kind of thing. In the cases where my betta has been VERY sick I've used triple sulfa, which REALLY works well.

I've come to the conclusion my betta LIKES being sick because it seems that every 2 months I'm rescuing him, even though his tank conditions are perfect, and he even has a 10 gallon all to himself The drug $ I'm spending on him is starting to pile up ...

 

[abby'smom]

Thank you for this thread!
All 3 of my bettas are "fish store bettas", all had finrot when I got them. Someone suggested Melafix when I got my first one for the finrot. It seemed to help at first, then nothing. I used it at 1/2 strength, but! I never knew you were supposed to change the water between dosing. So I was dosing my poor boy everyday! He's still with me, thank God. I hadn't even thought it would be accumulating in the water! Well I guess he lived up to his name- Bruiser. He's got to be tough to live through what I did to him!
Erin

 

[_groove_]

I never knew you were supposed to change the water between dosing. So I was dosing my poor boy everyday!

According to the back of the Bettafix bottle I got at Big Al's last week, "...repeat dose daily for up to 7 days before making a water change" ... is this insane???

I am presently using it in tandem with aquarisol and add it as a preventative to each batch of water I prepare, but I can't believe the manufacturer would go so far as to tell u to dose the water repeatedly before changing it. Imagine the dose getting up to 7x strength and then changing it down to nothing again? Poor fishies

 

[Inchworm]

...According to the back of the Bettafix bottle I got at Big Al's last week, "...repeat dose daily for up to 7 days before making a water change" ... is this insane???

Hi _groove_

Personally, I think you are right. I would never follow these directions and I never advise anyone else to do it either.

One of the most important things when treating fish with bacterial infections is to keep the water clean and fresh. Water changes are essential. So is keeping the temperature low (no higher than 75 F.) and having good aeration. MelaFix is nothing more than a mild anti bacterial agent and, while it might sometimes do the job, it is not a magic cure all. If used in strong concentrations it can burn a fish and so do more harm than good.

Usually, I recommend that people use it for a few days and if it doesn't help, switch to an antibiotic or other preparation made to treat bacterial infections. There is, however, another treatment that I have found to be effective used in combination with MelaFix. That is plain old fashioned salt baths.

By this I do not mean putting salt in the water and leaving it there. I mean using concentrated salt baths for short periods of time. To do this, I use 1 tsp of salt dissolved in one cup of tank water. Put the fish in for 10 to 15 minutes and return to the tank that has had MelaFix added. You can do this up to 4 or 5 times a day if necessary. If the fish looses consciousness and rolls over, return it to the tank immediately.

What happens is that the salt eats away the bacteria and when it is returned to the treated tank, the MelaFix slows its growth and allows the fish to begin healing.

I've used this treatment with both corys and bettas, and I assure you, it does work.

 

[D Chia]

MelaFix (Melaleuca) and PimaFix (Pimenta racemosa) are probably our bettas' version of Herbal or Natural Medicine.

Since they are botanic extracts (like Aloe vera and Terminalia catappa a.k.a. Ketapang Leaf), they probably will not eliminate bacteria or fungus the way conventional chemical-based antibacterial and antifungal medications would.

My guess is that they act by promoting homeostasis; helping the fish to boost its natural resistance to diseases, as well as to recover from illnesses and injuries.

Consider using Melafix and PimaFix for milder conditions (e.g. fin tear, early stages of Mouth Rot and Fin Rot).

For more severe infections, Myxazin can be considered. However, the 5 day course should be completed.

A member of the BCS (Betta Club Singapore) Forum once described Melafix, PimaFix and Myxazin as the "holy trinity" of fish medicine. I can't agree with her more.

Clean water, early detection of disease and prompt treatment will improve the prognosis of fish disease.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi D Chia

I've heard very good things about Myxazin and it's one of the products I recommend to members in the UK. Unfortunately, I don't think it's available in the US. I've never seen it at any of the stores I go to anyway.

If anyone in the US has seen it in their stores, please let me know and I will suggest it as treatment for members here too.

 

[f250fisherman]

Just so you know. You can get a 16 0z bottle of melafix for $6.79 at aquariumpros.com
I use Stresscoat to treat my water. I have used it for as long as I have had fish. I get a gal jug for about 36.00..I always order several things, so the shipping is spread around. My savings usually covers the shipping and I still save money over the lps.

 

[cation]

Bumping, as we have many new members who may not fully understand what BettaFix is. This thread also contains some arguements people have for and against.

 

[SRC]

Personally I find I have had no problems using melafix. It works very well for me. They want too much for that little bottle of Bettafix I think..especially now that I know it's super diluted like that...seems like a waste of $$ personally.

 

[veen]

You do a 100% water change daily and re-apply the melafix at the normal dose. This way, you have clean water, and the proper dose of melafix.

grrrrh! i've been dosing every day since my boys got into a fight, but not doing changes. stupid manufacturer's instructions! i hope i haven't made them worse. but, from now on i will do 100% water changes then add in the melafix.

anyone know how long i can continue adding in melafix for my boys' fins? the instructions say 7 days, but i'm wondering if it's ok to continue longer until i see some serious regrowth of their fins. i've also been salt dipping them nightly for 30 mins each.