My Betta Has Gone Blind

[FishySarah]

About three weeks ago, my betta stopped swimming around. He wasn't bloated, so didn't seem to be constipated. he just seemed listless.

I tried to crank up my water changes, but nothing perked the little guy up. No spots, no signs of fungus. I've only had him for about a year.

Well, about a week and a half ago I noticed that there is a film covering his eyes. They are kind of milky. But it doesn't look like fungus and has not progressed to other parts of his body.

Then I noticed that he can't find his food. When I drop it in, he swims towards it, but if it is as much of an inch away, he can't find it. He noses around blindly right near it. If he bumps into is, he eats it. If not, it sinks to the bottom and I have to scoop it out.

I have been feeding him by dropping the food right on top of him. He still eats, but never swims around, just floats in one place all the time.

He also doesn't react when I put my finger on the tank. My other bettas (and him in the past) used to react to me and to movement, either by following my finger, or by swimming away. But he doesn't seem to see me.

I only had him for a year. So he's not old. But is he suffering? I really don't want to euthanize him, but I wonder if he is living a decent life. All he does is float there in one spot. Is there anything I can do? I thikn I should just care for him the bet I can for the rest of his natural life and if it gets to the point where he stops eating, let nature take its course.

Has anyone had a betta go blind before?

His behavior really contrasts with my other two bettas, who are very active. He is in a 2 1/2 gallon tank.

 

[Netty]

It sounds like he has cloudy eye. You need to keep the water super clean and we've found that treating with Myxazin works very well at clearing it.

 

[newfishy]

you really need to treat him with a good antibacterial med, and the cloudy eye will clear up.

 

[FishySarah]

Really? I'm so glad there is a cure. I will have to get to the pet store ASAP. Thanks.

 

[bronzecat]

you really need to treat him with a good antibacterial med, and the cloudy eye will clear up.

I think OP is in UK, so we're pretty limited to meds. Unlike you lucky peeps over the water

 

[azulfire24]

its probally cloudy eye, and illness can come with age, if you got him from a pet shop he coul be a year or 2 old allready,, and most bettas only get 3 to 5 years.

my first betta a ct male is now close to 4 i think, and he isnt as vigerous as he used to be,
just keep ur buddys water realy clean and use water conditoner to get ridda clorine or metals in the water

and as old age goes sometimes taster food will help their appitate,, try a few blood worms ,, like 3 to 5 in place of his pelets once a week,, or try soaking his peletes in garlic juice and then feeding him them, just be sure to rremove any uneaten food like you have been doing!

 

[ReMz]

keep the water clean as said.

bettafix or melafix (same med, melafix is more suitable for larger tanks) have cleared this right up in the past for me.

 

[Syphoniera]

Actually, if you use Melafix at a half-dose, you're not paying twice as much for half as much stuff...

 

[ReMz]

Actually, if you use Melafix at a half-dose, you're not paying twice as much for half as much stuff...

right. same med. different concentration.

smaller tanks are harder to treat correctly with melafix though. (easy to dilute... was giving the "easy" answer)