Betta with pop eye and rapid breathing

Question
Hi Prue!

The kids and I came home from vacation last night to find our male Betta swimming erratically and listing to his side.  He was also breathing rapidly and his face and gill area seemed to be gray.  I thought also that he seemed to be a little swollen, particularly behind his gills.  My husband said he hadn't been eating well for a few days.  

At first, I assumed it was a water quality problem (we last changed the water on 5/27, but there was a lot of uneaten food in the tank).  Although the quick dip test and the ammonia test came back showing no ammonia or nitrites, and a safe level of nitrates, we did a 50% water change including  vacuuming the gravel.

This morning, Pacific Blue developed pop eye on both eyes and has spent the day being vertical with his face pointing down into the gravel.  He is gasping, and looks like he's eating off the gravel (although I know he's not).  I went to the pet store to hopefully get medicine to save him.  The employee thought he might be getting dropsy (although he does not have the classic "pine cone" appearance.)  I bought Applus+  Anti-bacterial (active ingredients: formalin,benzalkonium chloride) as well as Melafix (active ingredient: 1% melaleuca).  I administered 1.25 ml of each into our 2.5 gal MiniBow aquarium.  I also added 1/2 tsp Aquarium salt to the tank (in addition to the 1/2 tsp salt that I had added to the treated fresh water that I used for his partial water change).

I was worried about both him struggling to breathe as well as scraping himself on the rocks, so a while after adding the medicines to his tank, we put him into his pet store cup along with the same water from his tank.  He has spent the day face down circling the cup and gasping.

I've done more research, and am more confused than ever with conflicting info on medications, etc.!  I'm wondering whether he has Velvet (since his gills seem to be inflamed), although he doesn't *yet* have the classic gold or rust colored "dust" on his body.  He doesn't have any skin lesions that I can see.

We've had him for 3 months, and have grown very attached to him.  Please help if you can!

Thanks!
Virginia


Answer
Hi Virginia,

Firstly, let me say I am very impressed with you and your family - you really have done your research and it sounds like you take good care of your boy.

It sounds like you have done all you can. The inflamed gills suggest parasites to me which may have opened the door for other problems.

Keep him warm, if it is parasites a temperature 79-82 degrees fahrenheit will speed up the life cycle enabling him to recover more quickly. Plus, warmth is comforting.

I really hope he recovers quickly, I hope I have been of some help.

Prue