betta with velvet

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nathan,
I believe I have finally found out what my betta has, which I think is velvet. I did have a hard time regulating his temperature and just got him in a new tank the other day with a heater that has a setting so its stable now. I know that unstable temps. can be the cause of velvet. He is very larthargic, darts around, tries to sctrach against things in his aquarium, and is hard to get to eat. I just got some coppersafe and put it in today. It says it treats it up to a month, one dose that is. However I am unfamailiar with how to treat this, I have read I should do water changes everyday to help get rid of the parasites but I question if that is a little too much and will stress him out too much? Especially with the cooling down of the water factor due to his heater. I had to take out his carbon filter for treatment too for now as it may lessen the impact of the medication. Without a filter I normally do a weekly water change should I stay with this? Please let me know what all I should be doing,
thanks!
olivia

ANSWER: Hi Olivia,

I'd just stick with the instructions provided. After 4 days or so, if you don't see any improvement, then dose again. It treats for a month - that's just for prevention. No medicine is effective for that long - if a fish has velvet again, the medicine won't cure it if it's been over a week.

Keep doing the 20% or so water changes TWICE a week.
Don't do them everyday, because it will dilute the medication!

Taking out the carbon is the right thing to do, as carbon will remove all the medication.

Good Luck, and I hope he recovers!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So should I be doing the 20 % water changes and the dosages again on the same day? Or does that not matter. Thanks for all your help!

ANSWER: Hi Olivia,

It does not matter, but ideally, you should change the water just before you add a new dose.

Good Luck, I hope your Betta recovers!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He now wont eat today it was a struggle before but I could at least get him to the last couple days. He has a piece of his skin from his back top flapping about to come off its small but it greatly concerns me. and I am not sure but it looks like his scales may be a little raised. again i am not sure. should i be trying some other medication?

Answer
Hi Olivia,

Unless your fish looks bloated (fatter), the raised scales should not be too much of a concern. however, if the condition does not get better, it may be because he has a mixed infection. If after 4 more days, the condition does not improve, then I'd also treat with an anti-bacterial medication, such as Maracyn.

Good Luck, and I hope he recovers!