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My Betta Is Sick2007-11-24 23:34:01

I have had this betta since April and now his eyes are all bugged out and he has this ugly color next to his gills, what is wrong with him? All my other bettas are fine and healthy except him. I clean their tanks every week and they get fed 3 pellets in the morning and 3 pellets at night. What can I do to help him?

Answers:

Common Name: Popeye

Scientific Name: Exophthalmia

Description: Symptom of infection

Symptoms: swelling and protrusion of one or both eyes

Cause: bacterial, viral or parasitic

Medications: Maracyn, Maracyn-Two combined

Ingredients: Erythromycin, Minocycline, Tetracycline

More Information

Popeye, also called exophthalmia is a symptom, not a disease in itself and has many possible causes. Popeye is characteristically diagnosed by the swelling or protrusion of one or both eyes.

Curing popeye can be difficult if the source is unknown. The origin can range from bacterial, viral, parasitic or as an effect of fish tuberculosis. It鈥檚 often impossible to determine which has infected a given fish. Answers may lie in other symptoms. When you first notice popeye it鈥檚 best to observe your sick fish and other tankmates for other signs of disease that may offer a clue. For example, if the popeye is accompanied by redness under the scales you may deduce that the source is bacterial. There is no sure way to determine the cause and your best guess may be all you have.

Generally when the origin is unknown aquarists begin by treating with a broad-spectrum antibiotic like Tetracycline or a combination of gram-positive and gram-negative antibiotics like Mardel鈥檚 Maracyn and Maracyn-Two that contain Erythromycin and Minocycline respectively.