Betta, Velvet and pennies???

[kiticatkiticat]

Any one here familiar with putting pennies in the tank for 24 hours to cure Velvet on a betta?
I heard that if you put 5 pennies to 1 Gallon, and took them out and cleaned the tank after 24 hours it should cure Velvet.

[angel56]

Hello: I am posting this as it is such a great help with bettas
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
Also, have you tried Aquarium salt? I buy the Doc Wellfish Aquarium salt at walmart..it is very inexpensive and helps with so many fish problems...be sure to follow the directions exactly though! :innocent: Have not heard of the penny cure. So do not know if it will work or not. Take care!

[Loachlvr]

The reason that pennies are used is because the copper will leach into the water. I am not sure the exacts about using it but I know you have to be very careful when using treatments with copper because any Inverts that are in the tank will Not tolerate it well. I will more than likely kill them. My fish book gives the directions for treating velvet with salt as follows: ".. 1oz. of Aquarium Salt per gallon of water, which should cure it within two to three days. If it proves stubborn, add an additional 1ox. of aquarium salt per gallon to the aquarium. After another day or two, you should find that the fish cured."
Hope that information helps you a little

[kiticatkiticat]

Thanks for your help. i tried the pennies, it didn't work....I think he'll be dead when I get home tonight. He's been sick for a longtime. I've tried evrything, the pennies were my last hope. He's got Maracide in his tank now. I think it's just too late. :(

[Loachlvr]

There are treatments out there that have more copper than pennies...can't think of what they are called...But quick cure is a good med I have heard. Also Make sure you are removing any carbon that you use from the water because that will remove the meds from the water. Hope your little guy will hang in there for you.

[kiticatkiticat]

I have an air pump in his tank. Is that what you mean by carbon??

[Loachlvr]

No, it is good to have an air pump in there. Carbon is in the cartridge for filters on bigger tanks like my 5 gallon has one and I have to take it out for meds because otherwise it will absorb the medication. But it sounds like your tank is smaller and you probably don't have any.

[kiticatkiticat]

I have a two gallon hex tank. I also have tetras but they haven't gotten sick at all.

[Loachlvr]

Velvet can be a hard one to get rid of. Try some meds and keep with them. If he's hung on this long he is a fighter.