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 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 as 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.

For More Information Visit:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
Aquarium Products
Aquatronics
Jungle Labs
Mardel Labs
Additionally, Pets-Warehouse is a beneficial site for medications based upon category.

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 necessary if readings are in 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:

Broad-spectrum, nontoxic antibiotic tablets for infections of fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy, septicemia, secondary and internal infections. Effective even when fish won’t eat in freshwater aquariums. No water changes, pH, or temperature adjustments necessary if readings are in ideal range.

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, 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 swim 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, bacterial disease. Also protects eggs from fungal infection.

1 Gallon Dosage:
1 drop per gallon

Manufacturer: Mardel Labs

Melafix:

Antibacterial remedy that repairs damaged fins, heals open wounds and ulcers, stops mouth fungus, treats fin and tail rot.

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:

Concentrated drops for use against ick, trichodina, chilodinella and related parasites.

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:

Clears ich, also guards against secondary infections as a result of wounds left by the ich parasite. No need to raise the water temperature. Use Ick Guard II on small, weak or fish with missing scales.

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:

Clears ich for scaleless, small, or weak fish. Also guards against secondary infections as a result of wounds left by the ick parasite. No need to raise the water temperature.

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:

A disinfectant for fresh and marine fish as well as a dip treatment and prevention of bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases on aquarium fish.

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

Related posts:

1. Fish Fungus
2. Fish Fin & Tail Rot
3. The Betta Medicine Cabinet
4. Fish Ich (or Ick)
5. Fish Velvet