Healthy Betta Medications Made Easy…
We all know the complications that can happen when you take a betta into your home. Most betta pet owners do not keep their bettas in large tanks and many times, the medications only give dosage instructions for 10 gallons or more. We hope this page can help you understand what each medication can do for your betta as well as how to properly medicate your betta.
Note: this is not a complete listing of medications, but it is constantly being updated.
Important Notes about Medication
1.) Do not medicate a betta unless you are positive about what his or her symptoms are. Medicating a fish for the incorrect illness may cause them unnecessary stress. Also, try to medicate with the least amount of medications possible.
2.) Always fully complete a round of medication for the recommended time period, even if the fish appears to be better before the period is over.
3.) Be aware that some medications may affect the biological filter, live plants, and other tank mates such as snails. Always take proper procedures to understand how each medication should properly be used for your tank. A smaller hospital tank is good to have on hand to treat sick fish in.
4.) As a general rule, it is usually safe to mix medications made by the same manufacturer although you should always check the package for recommendations or warnings. If unsure if medications are compatible, contact the manufacturer through their website or hotline before mixing medications. An example of a safely mixed medicine combination is Maracyn I and Maracyn II, both made by Mardel Labs.
Maracyn:
Broad-spectrum, nontoxic antibiotic tablets for infections of body fungus (grayish-white material covering mouth; may spread to fins, tail, and body), fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, and secondary infections in freshwater aquariums. No water changes, pH, or temperature adjustments are necessary if readings are in the ideal range.
1 Gallon Dosage:
Do 100% water change. Dissolve 1 tablet in 10 teaspoons of water. Add 1 teaspoon of concentrate per gallon. Add 1 teaspoon daily of the concentrate mixture.
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Maracyn-Two:
1 Gallon Dosage:
For one round, dissolve one tablet into 10 teaspoons of water. For first day, add 2 teaspoons of concentrated mixture per 1 gallon of water. For days 2-5, add 1 teaspoon of the concentrate per 1 gallon of water.
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Tetracycline:
A broad spectrum gram negative antibiotic tablet for preventing and treating common bacterial fish diseases such as fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, and secondary infections.
1 Gallon Dosage:
Dissolve 1 tablet in 10 teaspoons of water. Add 1 teaspoon of concentrate daily.
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Jungle Fungus Eliminator (JFE):
An effective anti-protozoan, an antibacterial treatment that is highly effective against a wide variety of diseases like fungus, gray slime, dropsy, open sores, bloody spots and streaks, fin and tail rot, cloudy eyes, and swims bladder disease.
1 Gallon Dosage:
Do 100% water change before using medication. Use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon. For 5 gallons, use 1 teaspoon as recommended by the bottle. Wait 4 days for moderately ill fish and 3 days for extremely ill fish to repeat the dosage.
Manufacturer: Jungle Labs
Jungle Fungus Clear (JFC):
Fast dissolving pre-measured tablets used to treat fungus, fin and tail rot, septicemia, clamped fins, and dropsy.
1 Gallon Dosage:
Dissolve 1 tablet in 10 tablespoons of water. Add 1 tablespoon of concentrate mixture to 1 gallon. Wait four days until you do a second dosage. If you must do a second dose: Change 25% of the water and repeat dosage.
Manufacturer: Jungle Labs
Maroxy:
A colorless medication used to treat true fungus, a bacterial disease. Also protects eggs from fungal infection.
1 Gallon Dosage:
1 drop per gallon
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Melafix:
1 Gallon Dosage:
10 drops per gallon. Be sure to purchase an eyedropper as the medication does not come with one.
Manufacturer: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
Pimafix:
Formulated to work in combination with Melafix to enhance effectiveness against fish diseases. Treats fungal infections and both internal/external bacterial infections.
1 Gallon Dosage:
10 drops per gallon. Be sure to purchase an eyedropper as the medication does not come with one.
Manufacturer: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
Aquari-Sol:
Easy to use liquid medication that prevents and cures ick (ichthyophthirius) velvet and protozoan disease.
1 Gallon Dosage:
2 drops per gallon daily until illness is gone. With ick, raise temp of tank/bowl to 85 degrees Fahrenheit if possible.
Manufacturer: Aquarium Products
Maracide:
1 Gallon Dosage:
One drop per gallon for 5 days or until parasitic symptoms are gone.
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Coppersafe:
Chelated copper treatment for ick, flukes, anchor worms, velvet, protozoan diseases and other external parasites.
Manufacturer: Mardel Labs
Jungle Ick Guard:
1 Gallon Dosage:
Squirt 1 teaspoon of JIG into 10 teaspoons of water. Add 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. After day 1 dosage, change 25% of the water and repeat dosage daily until ick is gone.
Manufacturer: Jungle Labs
Jungle Ick Guard II:
1 Gallon Dosage:
Squirt 1 teaspoon of JIGII into 10 teaspoons of water. Add 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. After day 1 dosage, change 25% of the water and repeat dosage daily until ick is gone.
Manufacturer: Jungle Labs
Dip-A-Way:
Dosage: 1 tablespoon of dip to 8 ounces of fresh fish-safe water. Use when receiving new fish (as a preventative) and when disease occurs (as a control). To control infections on fish, dip the fish daily until results are obtained.
Manufacturer: Aquatronics
Clout:
For the treatment of parasitic and protozoan infestations of freshwater and saltwater aquarium fish. Treats: Ick, Hydra, Leeches, Planaria, Hexamita, Epistylis, Trichodina, Tetrahymena, Body Fungus, Argulus (Louse), Flukes and Anchor Worms.
Manufacturer: Aquarium Products