She developed these white rings around her eyes a few weeks back, so I gave melafix a shot for a week. Didn't really notice a difference, though. Now they seem more noticeable, but honestly, I'm not sure if it's just her natural coloring or not.
She's also been having some weight issues - I don't think it's a health problem since she's super active and acts normal, it's just been tough getting her to slim down for a bit now. Any advice on either of these would be great, thanks!
is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Honestly, I'm no expert, but to me, it sounds like she might be bloated or something.
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
I've been trying to tackle her weight issue with higher quality food, and I've also given fasting a shot for a couple of days at a time. I've even tried giving her a pea to help with digestion, but nothing seems to be working. It's not like I'm overfeeding her, I've been pretty mindful of that. I've done my research and tried a bunch of different things, but nothing's really made a difference. She seems happy and healthy otherwise, so I'm stumped as to what's causing the bloat.
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Can you get some more pics of her tummy area? I think that'd help us get a better look.
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
I managed to get a few more photos, hopefully they're clear enough to help you guys see what's going on.
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Appreciate the thanks, starlite. Now, let's get down to business - tank size and how long it's been running? How often do you change the water and how much do you swap out? What's the feeding schedule like, and what are you feeding her? Also, is she solo in the tank, and have you tested the water recently?
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
The tank is 10 gallons, set up a couple months ago. We've had issues with ammonia, tried cycling it multiple times but it helps for a bit then comes back. I'm not sure why that is. I feed her once a day, 3-4 soaked pellets or some soaked flakes, and sometimes frozen Daphnea or brine shrimp as a treat. She's in the tank with a loach and an algae eater, and multiple snails. We do water changes pretty often because of the ammonia, and everything else was normal last time I checked.
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
I'm curious about the tankmates - what type of loach and algae eater are they? Generally, loaches are schooling fish and need to be in a group of at least 5. Not sure about algae eaters though, can you tell me more about them?
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Bettas are best on their own, to be honest. That ammonia issue, though - it's a big problem that needs sorting ASAP. Your tank isn't cycled, and that's why you're still getting ammonia readings. I'd recommend doing 70% water changes daily until it's all clear - no ammonia, no nitrite. It's a pain, but it's necessary. Fish produce ammonia, so it's always going to be an issue if you haven't got the bacteria in place to deal with it.
What are you feeding her, exactly? Is she pooping normally? And does her poop look like a pinecone - you know, with her scales all sticking out?
What are you feeding her, exactly? Is she pooping normally? And does her poop look like a pinecone - you know, with her scales all sticking out?
Re: is popeye disease affecting my betta?
Hey all, I'm chiming in on HanhandT21's ammonia issue. I keep bettas and nerite snails in my own tanks, and I think it's easy to overlook the waste snails produce, especially if you're feeding them extra food - which you should be, if you have multiple snails like HanhandT21 does. I'm guessing the tank might be overstocked, considering the ammonia problems she's having.