Help!! very sick beta

Question
Hi
I have a very sick male beta fish. It started a month ago with pop eye and I first treated it with tetracyclene and maycine but didn't see any results till i used myacine 2. He got better and then a week ago his eye protruded again and his body is very swollen (dropsy)with a red spot at the bottom of his abdomen. He's currently getting fungus clear and another tetracycline treatment. I tried the myacine 2 again at the first sign of the pop eye and it didn't help. his tank is reagularly cleaned and sanatized with a steam cleaner, all water levels tested and water conditioner added. i've been trying to feed him peas but he is extremely picky and won't eat them, i tried ampacilan and soaking his shrimp in it, also tried medicated pellets. i don't know what else to do for him. he does have his own 3 gallon tank and my other female beta is fine. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

thank you - jana

Answer
Jana,

Pop eye is normally a secondary indication of a more serious issue normally its a neurological issue of some kind caused by a week immune system. Personally I hate using commercial medications to treat any of my Bettas, often they do more bad then good (like in your case). More then likely your Bettas immune system was destroyed by the Myacine, (Bettas don't react well to this medication).  To be honest its unlikely that you will be able to save your boy but a few things you can try are: Increase aquarium temperature to around 80F,  add some aquarium salt in the amount of 1 tablespoon per gallon, leave it like that for about 4 days and then do a 30 water change, lower the temp back down to about 78F and keep it at that, in about 4 days do another 30 water change and then go back to your normal maintenance routine.

Good luck,
Craig.