Popeye Meds

[mommyof2bettas]

Little Kenni came down with popeye about a week ago. Put him in a 1/2 gallon hospital tank, and trying to treat him. I have stopped treating him with Bettafix and salt because I didn't think it was working. Infact, I think it's getting worse. Bettatalk.com says that Ampycillin will work but since you need a prescription I don't think I'll be able to get it. My mom did find some Amoxicillin and I was wondering if this will work as well. I'm just really desperate for my little guy (he was my first fish). I'm keeping his water really clean, doing water changes every other or third day. I'm wondering if this Amoxicillin will work, or just poison him. Or, if I can do anything else to help him recover.

 

[-germ-]

Difficulty with pop eye is the number of different possible causes;
bacterial, fungal, viral, environmental, nutritional.....
Have you any other fish in the original tank that have suffered an illness?
Or have there been any other symptoms?

 

[mommyof2bettas]

no. He was the only one in that tank when I bought it. I moved him out after a couple of days, but haven't used it for anything else. None of my other fish have shown symptoms before. The only thing that's with him is a malaysian trumpet snail from my community tank. I put it in to clean up any uneaten food. All of the tanks he's been in have been his and nothing except for the mts has been in there before.
I do use a cup for water changes and all my bettas have been in there... but they haven't had popeye before.

 

[finchfarm]

I'm using Maracyn-Two for my Silver Dollars with Cloudy Eye, its supposed to work on Pop Eye too. Might try using that.

 

[-germ-]

I'd go for a broad spectrum treatment in combi with perfect tank conditions (no salt)...
If you keep up good cleanliness and good water, pop-eye should subside by itself within a week to a week and a half.
Just add a general med on the off chance.
It is commonly related to vitamin deficiency... i know you know your stuff, i'm not being rude; do you feed a varied diet?
Could try adding vitamins to his food?

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I try to. He won't take anything besides freeze dried krill and pellets. I'll try to get some other food, if that'll help.

 

[-germ-]

Could do, as i say it could be related to anthing (hence the general med). But IMHO the most common (and oft ignored causes) are poor water conditions and/or poor nutrition.... I'd leave the salt out though.
Another thing to bare in mind is that chlorine in particular can cause eye irritation, so i'd check my dechlor is ok.
Also in UK waterlife do a water born vitamin, while this alone may affect water quality (bad/good not sure) you could always soak his favourite foods (freeze dried foods are ideal for this) in a water/strong liquid vitamin solution before feeding, drain.... Done.
Good luck, Mommy

 

[mommyof2bettas]

Anyone else?
I would like to know if I should put the Amoxicillin in there or not. I'm thinking I might be able to... since it's just penicillin, and penicillin is supposed to work for popeye... but I don't want to end up poisoning him