Who Gives A Fish Forums

Things took a turn for the worse pretty quickly...
My white betta was the first to get cloudy eyes, and then the other one started showing the same symptoms.
I've been using melafix for a few days now, but I haven't seen any improvement - I'm starting to think I might be treating the wrong condition altogether.
I'm really attached to these fish, so I figured it's time to ask for some advice... I'm worried that if I don't get it right, I'll end up making things even worse.

I'm getting a bit worried about the situation. Have you checked the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, as well as the pH? What were the results if you did?

It'd be great to know how often you do water changes and gravel cleans, and how much water you change each time.

How long have your betta fish been having cloudy eyes?

Also, what else is in the tank, and are any other fish showing similar symptoms?

I've been doing the same routine for years, to be honest, I've never really thought about testing the water quality. My kits are probably out of date anyway, I'll have to check. I'll test the water tomorrow and let you know the results.

I do regular maintenance, every second week I gravel vac and change about 50% of the water.

The issues started about 2 weeks ago, it was really mild at first, so I increased the water changes. But this past week it's gotten worse.

I've also got some neptunes in the tank, they're sectioned off by a wall with holes, but they seem to be fine.

First things first, give the glass a good wipe to get rid of that biofilm. Then, for the next week, do a 75% water change and a thorough gravel clean every day. Make sure the new water is dechlorinated, we don't want any chlorine or chloramine in there.

See how your bettas respond after a few days of heavy water changes. If they're not showing any improvement by day two and your water quality is good, it might be time to try a broad-spectrum medication from the pet store. Look for something that includes Methylene Blue - just keep in mind that you'll need to do daily water changes while using it, as it can be tough on your filter bacteria. If you do decide to use Methylene Blue, it's probably best to move your bettas to a separate container for treatment, so you don't risk killing off the beneficial bacteria in your main tank's filter.

Are both bettas males, and are they housed together in the same tank? What's the setup with the divider - is it just separating the bettas from the neptunes, or is there something between the bettas as well? Can they see each other, or is the divider blocking their view?

What's the tank size, by the way?

I'm not sure if this is pop-eye or something else, but if you've got two male bettas in close proximity, the stress is going to make recovery tough. Bettas are meant to be alone, they don't need or want tankmates.

Yeah, both males, they're in the same tank but separated by an opaque divider with small slits for water to pass through. They can see each other if they're both at the top or bottom at the same time, but to be honest, 80% of the time they don't take any notice. Occasionally they'll show off to each other if they catch a glimpse, but it's not like they're constantly interacting.

I'm not at home right now so I'm not sure of the exact tank dimensions. I've also got guppies in a third section to the right, but the middle betta doesn't seem to care about them - he's less aggressive than the other one.

I think the white betta might have fluxeonscale, where the scales grow over their eyes. I had one years ago and it was tough to care for. The photo of the white betta seems to show this.

Fluxeonscales are prone to this issue, and there's not much you can do except be extra careful with them. My old betta's eye was completely covered, but the other had a small patch that was clear. I had to keep the decor in the same spot after water changes, and put his food in the same place every time so he could find it. It's a challenge, but it's doable.

The white betta's appearance seems to be that of a fluxeonscale. These bettas have scales that are thicker than usual, which makes them more prone to scaling or pigmentation covering their eyes. The photo of the white betta seems to show this.

I agree with that assessment.

It's interesting that some breeders charge extra for bettas with unique eye features like diamond, dragon, or snake eyes.

One thing to note is that banana leaves can help thin the scales over the eyes, but they also thin the rest of the scales.

Unfortunately, your betta will likely go blind over time. However, this doesn't have to be a major issue. With some adjustments, your betta can still live a happy life.

The key is to maintain a consistent environment. Don't rearrange the tank, ever. Think about it - if you were blind, would you want your surroundings to change every few months?

Train your betta to respond to specific cues. For example, when you click your fingers, it's feeding time. He'll learn to come to the same spot each time. You can also start hand-feeding him now. Wet your finger, stick a pellet to it, and hold it just above the water. Drop it in front of the fish, and he'll quickly get the idea. He won't be afraid if you touch him at feeding time, and you can even put the pellet in his mouth.

Regardless of the fish's breed, be it a fluxeonscale or a regular betta, those bulging eyes are a clear sign of infection - it's a problem that needs attention, and fast.