My beta fish not eating and has a lesion on his face, help!?

Question

I've had my beta for over a year. About a month ago an open sore apeared over his right eye. I wasn't too worried because his behavior was the same and he was eating just fine. I tried treating him w/ "BettaFix" but it didn't work. Then I tried Mardel's Maracyn-Two with no luck.
A friend took care of him last week when I had to leave town. When I got back he told me that Auguste (the fish) would not eat and I noticed that the sore on his face has grown. I started treating him with "Melafix" 2 days ago.
What should I do about his appitite? Should I force feed him (i don't even know how)?

(He lives in a 5L bowl and has a water change every week.)

extra info: I've tried freezed dried blood worms (which he loves) but he won't eat them either.
Also there now apears to be some filmy, stringy white substance coming off of him. I noticed it when he swam past a blade of the plant in his bowl; which also made the edge of the sore under his eye bleed.
I see no cotton patches. The color of the sore is pink (edges same) but the center now has a speck of white.

Answer 1

An open sore is usually a sign of a bacterial infection that the Maracyn 2 should have treated effecively. Please add a little more info.... do you see any cottony growth around the sore? Any wierd colors around the area? Anything else at all you notice about the area or the fish in general that different from when he was completely healthy?

Please add that info and I can help much more. I'll watch this quesiton for a few days and change me answer once you add the extra info.

ADDITION: I thing you are dealing with columnaris, which is a bacteria infection. Columnaris can get pretty deep in the fish's flesh and that may be why the Maracyn didn't treat it. Try to find Furanace, it's another antibiotic that does much better in it's ability to get deep in the fish's tissues. Treat your fish for 2 weeks, even if it seems the infection is gone. It takes that long to get it all from inside the fish. Personally I would say this is far past what Melafix can handle. It's ok for some things, but nothing this severe.

There are a few other possibilities for what is wrong with your fish and all of them really are parasites. If you want to cover all the bases treat with Clout while you are treating with the Furanace. Again treat with then for at least a week, 2 is even better.

Don't try to feed him for a few days, it's won't hurt him to go without for a while. Once the treatment begins to work, he will eat again.

MM

Answer 2

i would take him to ur local pet store and let them have a look at him. it sounds like a parasite since u say there is no cottony substance. i would try treating his water with tetracycline (TTC) it is specifically aimed to treat parasites in fish (even if its not a parasite, ttc is very good for ur fish and may help to give him more energy). i would also bring a sample of ur tanks water into ur pet store so they can test it and tell u if it is just a bacterial infection caused by impure water.