My male betta lives in a 2 1/2 gal tank, water changes 2 per week. Has fungus, how to use salt for treatment?

Question

Pet smart told me to use Maroxy, 5 drops per day, not doing a thing. Fungus looks like a fuzzy coating across the fish. He rubs it on the marbles. Also is listless and I don't want to loose him. Please help. Ive read that people use aqurium salt for parasites and such. Please enlighten me. I have no heaters and the other bettas seen like there doing well for quite some time now. Help please Thanks Barb

And I was of the understanding it was aquarium salt or marine salt. Some people have stated it was table salt. And how do you mix it and do you add it to the tank or is it mixed and do you put the fish in the mix for how long? I ask only because I don't want to kill my fish. Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Generally with bettas salt is used in 2 ways.

1) To help prevent disease, and help stop the progression of a disease. In this case you should add about 1 teaspoon of salt per 2.5 gallons pre-dissolved in a cup of tank water. (Note this is about twice what you'd use for most fish.) Just keep in mind I've not ever seen salt cure a fish other than mild ich, and velvet infections. (Of course I also turned the temp to 87 which ich can't take, but betta can.)

2) As a salt bath. Honestly I've tried this, but found it was more likely to kill the fish from shock then cure it.

Personally I'd go down to the fish store, and buy an antifungal med. Jungle Labs Fungus Eliminator is I use. I don't recommend Melafix/betta fix. If you want a "natural remedy" primafix is a better choice.

PPS- Also note that the rubbing sounds a lot like velvet. Is it a gold/rust color? If so it's velvet. In which case add the salt, and buy an ich med that says it treats velvet on the back.

PS- People will argue about table salt vs aquarium salt. The long and short of it is it really doesn't matter. (Both have iodine. The anticaking agents in table are harmless.)

Answer 2

Don't use soap to clean anything that is used to fish... ever. I don't get the point of disinfecting the tank just to put the infected fish back into it anyway.

Some bettas do OK with salt, others don't. I have never used salt on bettas but hopefully someone else comes along and agrees with me on this. On other fish you need to add 1 teaspoon of salt for every gallon of water, 3 times 12 hours apart. Some use 1 tablespoon for every gallon but I have never done it that way. But to do it my way add 2 1/2 teaspoons, then in 12 hours add another 2 1/2 teaspoons then in another 12 hours add the last dose. That way it works up to the dosage and doesn't stress the fish by doing it too fast, and if the betta doesn't like it then you should be able to tell after the first dose.

Answer 3

Salt is only a treatment for certain parasites, but is mostly used in conjunction with another medication. Most likely treating with salt will only hide the problem, not get rid of it. You should never use table salt. Aquarium salt should be used, or for pop-eye, use epsom salt. Try using Fungus-Cure or Furacyn instead of salt.

Everything you could possibly want to know about fish you can find at www.wetwebmedia.com

Answer 4

OK, start with only 50% water changes once a week. That should help things rather quickly. Fish "condition" the water to the way they like it, and when you go changing it that often the poor fish just can't handle it.
I use Copper Safe for ich, which is what it sounds like your Betta has. Follow the directions and turn off your carbon filter if you have one.
You can definitely use aquarium salt with bettas, just follow the directions.
Hope all works out!

Answer 5

What salt does is, i believe, improves their overall health. It boost their electrolites, and circulation. It's really perfect for injured fish (torn fins and what not)... But it doesn't solve the original problem of fungus.
ps.. it's good for preventative medicine as well... just for good overall health.

It's weird because it sounds like you gave it a pretty good environment to begin with. Clean out your tank with just hot salty water( like spaggheti water)... That'll sterilize the bad stuff and not contaminate the fish.

Do frequent partial water change. And at a 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon. I think there are meds (anti-fungal) for the fish where you dip the fish in and then put him back in the tank.

Answer 6

place the betta in a temp home of fresh water. Take the tank he is in currently and scrub the crap out of it. Use soapy water with a bit of bleach. Wash the marbles or replace them, either way (new or old) they must be sanitized. Rinse, rinse, and rinse again to get all soap and bleach out of the tank. Replace with good clean water, I recommend using bottled water that is at room temperature. Replace your fish and you can purchase some aquarium salt. If you use the aquarium salt as recommended then your betta should be okay.

Also try using an anti fungal to get your poor guy feeling better.