Here we go again! :(

While doing my water change yesterday I noticed Yoshi's eye was slightly inflamed again.

I followed the instructions on the medicaion (Interpet #9) and had seemed to work.

I've been doing small water changes (10%-20%) every night with Stresscoat, Nutrafin Aquaplus tap water conditioner and Aquarium salt (for Tropical tank, not marine) in the quantities suggested on each.

Is there anything I should be doing that I'm not??
Should the water changes be bigger?
Too many additives at once?
Maybe something to do with the lump?

He's back hiding in corners and hanging in plants looking sad so no chance of a photo. Besides, his light is off again to try and rest the eye.

Any help, comments or advice?? (PLEASE?)

Bis

The Lump....

More a swelling. No discolouration, no visible pore hole or cap like you would see on a zit.

Is positioned just below left eye (that has pop eye again) above and behind the jaw hinge.

I know this doesn't compensate for a pic but it's the best I can do for now!

Bis

I am not a fan of the use of aquarium salt or any salt for that matter with Freshwater fish. It can sometimes cause osmotic problems with them and the disinfectant properties usually do not kick in until the concentration is so high that it is toxic for the fish. So I would not put any more salt into that tank but do not worry about large water changes to remove it now. Just let the water changes you are doing slowly wash the concentration out of the tank and get it back to a normal state.

I would just continue with a program like you are using and let the clean water and all do the job. I am worried about the fact that he seem to be recurring with the problem though so am wondering if he may have a problem with a fluke or some little bug. If it gets to the point of being really swelled out there and he is rubbing on things he is going to need something for parasites, but since you have not mentioned him rubbing I have not given it much consideration. I am also thinking that he could be injuring the eye on something. What is in the tank besides him...I am talking decor and plants and all the other things in there as I know there are no other fish. Sometimes fish will just be clumsy and run into things hard as this may seem and when they are not seeing good this is much more likely so sometimes when they have an eye problem I give them a totally empty tank but for maybe one small plant that is planted in a dixie cup of gravel or something. I know that this is a hassle but sometimes when they see things through a big bubble of fluid it looks so weird to them they run into everything.

sometimes the simple methods are the best and if you want to try just plain clean water for a week or so that would be okay and probably work as well as strong meds. He is going to need a break from the meds sometime anyway. This means a lot more work but has a good chance of working. I would say about 40 to 50 percent a day for a 7 or 8 day period will let you know if that is going to work. Then he should at least be through the eye problem. As far as the lump is concerned, I think that is another matter and maybe due to an injury or at least sounds like it. I cannot find anything like it mentioned in any of the med books and even talked to a marine vet that I know and he said it is either an injury or a transferred infection of the eye and would need a longer treatment of an antibiotic to treat it but he leaned toward the injury theory.

Rose...

"I would just continue with a program like you are using and let the clean water and all do the job."

Would you include stresscoat or just water conditioner?

"If it gets to the point of being really swelled out there and he is rubbing on things he is going to need something for parasites, but since you have not mentioned him rubbing I have not given it much consideration."

He isn't rubbing at all.

"I am also thinking that he could be injuring the eye on something. What is in the tank besides him...I am talking decor and plants."

There are only soft plants in the hospital tank. Java Fern, mossballs, etc. The only solid things are the thermometer and the foam filter body. The gravel is the smooth "River Gravel" I had to buy to accomadate the very sensitive barbels of some of my bottom feeders.

"sometimes the simple methods are the best and if you want to try just plain clean water for a week or so that would be okay and probably work as well as strong meds."

Plain tap water in my area includes fairly high levels of Chlorine so I guess plain CLEAN water means without chlorine , so a little aquaplus tapwater treatment?

"He is going to need a break from the meds sometime"

Once he's better?

"I would say about 40 to 50 percent a day for a 7 or 8 day period will let you know if that is going to work."

I assume you mean 40 to 50 percent of total tank volume?

"As far as the lump is concerned I cannot find anything like it mentioned in any of the med books and even talked to a marine vet that I know and he said it is either an injury or a transferred infection of the eye and would need a longer treatment of an antibiotic to treat it but he leaned toward the injury theory."

It amazes me that you go to such lengths to help a stranger. Thank you so much! Hopefully the meds will work so I can put the light back on and get pics.

Think this is the longest post i've ever done but well worth it!

Bis

Stresscoat contains an agent that will help keep him calm and keep him from getting wild and hurting himself and will also help to give him a slime coat on any scratches he may have including on his eye so it will be beneficial.

No rubbing means the chance of the parasites are over he would be itchy with them.

All the decor is fine and do not worry about anything you have in there with him.

Yes the water will need to be treated with the conditioner to remove the chlorine but that is what I mean just replace about 40% of the total tank volume or what ever you have in there every day with new water of whatever kind you usually use to do water changes just to keep him in cleaner water. I know that this is a hassle but you will be surprised at the help it will be.

He cannot stay on the meds longer than 2 weeks no matter what even if he is not better. At that point it will start to affect his kidneys and you do not want that. So then he will have to have a week or even two off of them no matter what. That is when the clean and clear water will be even more important.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear, on this forum, I know no strangers. We all love our bettas and bettas are my family. I go to exceptional lengths for these fish and the owners who love them. There may be some who would call me crazy for it but you all are my friends not strangers. I will do all I can to help any of you with your fish. To do anything I have done seems perfectly normal to me. No thanks are ever necessary but I do appreciate knowing how that fish is doing and you are doing very well keeping me informed.

As you probably know since I tend to do them all the time, I LOVE LONG POSTS .... LOL



Keep up the good work, I am sure your little Yoshi loves you for it.

Rose

Just finished doing a 40% water change on Yoshi tank,

He looks a little better, eye slightly less inflamed, lump the same size..... However...

There is a small white "Thing" on his lower jaw. About where the swelling from his lump ends. !!

The best I can describe it is a white scab, maybe puss coming out of the lump?
Maybe the lump is an absyss? (sp)

I have turned his light back on so i can TRY to get a pic but can't promise.

Any ideas?

Couldn't get a Pic so I did a RUBBISH video and posted it on Youtube to give you some idea.



Will try again later

It looks like he has HAD something in there but it has gone. Perhaps a parasite? I would put some Stresscoat in his water and some med with copper in it to see if there is a parasitic agent that needs to be killed off in there but it is hard to tell. I think I will call my friend the vet and see what he thinks.

Rose

I am going Medication shopping tomorrow. I'm sure i'll find something copper based.

Yoshi is looking better, the white spot has gone and his eye has gone down again. However to avoid any further flare ups I will find a different Med and keep up the water changes.

Ta,

Bis

Sorry it took so long to get back to you but I had a time getting ahold of the vet and then he wanted to do some research on things. You've given us a puzzle and it has taken some thinking. He is of the impression that using Stresscoat and the antiparasitic med will do the trick for sure now that the eye is doing better but continues to say that the water changes should continue for at least 4 to 5 days after the last of the swelling in the eye is over. Sorry to say that as I know that the water changes get old but clean water is really what he is saying will be the thing that will save that eye and I will have to say that I agree with him on that. I have seen really clean conditions do the job when nothing else will work and it is after all the cheapest med there is.

Please do keep us informed of Yoshi's progress as we are very concerned. I think he is on the way back to health but I will not feel totally comfortable until he is 100%.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

Rose

Done 40% daily water changes for the last few days and done 90% tonight on Yoshi's tank.

It's a good job I love the guy! Water changing is ok once or twice a week but as a nightly chore has meant I've had to postpone a date and decline meeting a long forgotten friend.

His eye is back to normal and his lump hasn't grown, yet the white bit is back. I am pretty certain this is puss draining from the lump.

I have switched from the Interpet medicine to one made by waterlife. Much stronger allegedly.

Hopefully this will fix him!

Bis

How is Yoshi doing? Have not heard in a few days and tend to worry about our little community here. The bettas are part of our family too.

Rose

Hi All (and Rose especially),

Yoshi is no worse but no better.

He's still in the hospital tank. Daily water changes with recommended medicine doses.

The lump is still there but hasn't grown and MAY have shrunk a little but hard to say when you look every day

He's still eating and very mobile, not sitting depressed all the time like he was. Fingers crossed he is on the mend!

Bis

Thanks for letting us know. Activity is always a good sign. At least he is not feeling sick like he might have before. So things are looking up. I will keep all my fingers crossed and keep you all in my thoughts. Be a good boy, Yoshi and do not worry us.



Rose

Hi All,

Sorry it's been a while but there hasn't been much to report.... until now.

First thing I have to say is, If Rose tells you "Something" is the best for your fish, do it!! If I had followed her advice more directly Yoshi would have been better by now!

Yoshi's eye hasn't reinflated but the lump stayed as big and looked sore whatever meds I tried, (with a couple of short "no meds just clean water" periods) it looked a bit less sore but stayed the same size. About a week ago I remembered Rose telling me overmedication can be harmful so decided to stop all meds simply to give him a break.

After about 6 days of water with nothing but dechlorinators and stresscoat (1/4 dose) the lump is about half the size and the scales covering it look normal for the first time in a looong time!

I can't quote the exact words but Rose said something along the lines of... "Clean Plain Water is what he really needs.."

I'll post some pics of him in my gallery as soon as I post this...

Thanks everyone!

Bis.

Right, now time to ask even more questions!

You may have read my "Female Shoal now breeding in community tank" thread... Basically I now have a short finned (possibly Plakat) Male in Tank#1, 3 Females finally happily cohabiting in Tank#2 and Yoshi in Tank#3........

Yoshi is so much better he is bouncing off the walls of his tank!

Should I swap the shorty male from the Big tank#1 and Yoshi in the tiny hospital tank#3?

Yoshi now spends his time either chasing around doing laps of the tank, nudging the glass, blowing bubbles and staring at me from the tank like one of those pictures whose eyes follow you around the room...

Or Sulking Bigtime on the filter looking completely bored!!

Maybe now he's getting better simply give him a companion? (Obviously not a betta, maybe the pregnant molly mum?)

Or swap the males over?

Any replies on any part of my waffle welcome. What do you think?

Bis

(Hope this makes sense!)

See?

Mollies will not do for tank mates with males as they have long tails and can be confused with other male bettas and can be betta fodder in no time but if he is bored and anxious he needs more room, daddy. I think he could use a bigger space but if that is a problem he can get along where he is and be okay. He is just being spoiled but that is one thing they do very well LOL. Diablo does it well too. I am so happy to hear that he is doing better and yes, the clean water and clean conditions thing usually will work when nothing else does. I have seen it work when all else fails.

Good for you YOSHI!! See I knew you could do it when you decided to quit worrying us and get over the problem!!! He is a wonder!

Congratulations on the crew and we will be oh so happy to hear about their tanks and the stories they give you to tell us.... and they will.

Rose

Hi all,

I think he needs a bigger space as well, He grew up with the Mollies in Tank#1 (240L) but had to go to Hospital Tank#3 (30L) so I could medicate him.

The short finned male called Princess (I know... SHHH) had to be removed from Tank#3 and the only place for him was Yoshi's Tank#1.

I think Yoshi is well enough to go back to his community Tank#1 but won't move him until someone, preferably Rose, says its OK

Now I'm going to have to start a thread about Kuhli Loaches!

Bis

If his eye is well and has been for a while and he is active and eating and swimming well then I will say he is well enough. If he gets into trouble again you will know that there is something in the tank he is not able to handle and he will have to come out again. That is the only way to find out. But it is not likely as this type of thing does not usually happen over and over but is rather rare actually.

He sounds very active and happy and rearing to go and ready to be in larger pastures, so to speak so do as you will with them all and rearrange to your hearts content. Just tell him I told him to behave himself in the big tank...no more problems from him. LOL He has given you enough heart problems.

Let us know how he is doing as he has become quite the favorite here.

Rose