Are you dealing with a sick fish for the first time? Or, have you tried several different medications already, just for nothing to work?
It can be distressing seeing your fish in pain. You want to do something about it, but you don’t know where to start. There are so many different medications out there, and they all claim to work. Which medication should you choose?
If you’re here, you’re likely wondering if you can use Melafix for swim bladder disease. Keep reading to find out more.
Does Melafix Work For Swim Bladder Disease?
There is no simple answer to this question. Melafix treats bacterial infections. So, it can be useful for fish who developed swim bladder disease due to a bacterial infection. But, it can be difficult to determine if the swim bladder disease is a result of a bacterial infection.
Also, Melafix is safe and effective for most fish, but you should never use it for betta fish or gouramis. Melafix is very dangerous for fish with labyrinth organs.
What Is Swim Bladder Disease?
Swim bladder disease is not actually a disease, but a disorder. The swim bladder is an air bladder that is present in almost all bony fish.
An air bladder is an organ that can fill up or empty of air based on the fish’s needs. The fish uses this organ to control their buoyancy so that they can swim up and down.
So, swim bladder disease prevents the fish from swimming correctly. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom.
Swim bladder disease can occur in any kind of fish, but it is most common in betta fish and fancy goldfish.
What Is Melafix?
Melafix is an antibacterial medication made from all-natural ingredients. The main ingredient of the medication is tea tree oil.
You can use this medication for both freshwater and saltwater fish. It is typically used to treat issues like fin rot, tail rot, eye cloud, pop-eye, and mouth fungus.
Research has shown that Melafix is effective against gram-positive or negative bacterial infections.
How Does Melafix Work?
Melafix works by penetrating the bacteria’s cell walls. It damages the cell membrane of the bacteria. A damaged cell is unable to grow any further and is unable to produce new bacteria.
Why Isn’t Melafix Good For Bettas?
You should never use Melafix for bettas. In fact, you should avoid any products that end with “fix” in their name.
Melafix is all-natural, so how can it be so bad for bettas? The problem lies within their ability to breathe air.
Melafix consists of tea tree oils. Water and oil don’t mix. Although your filter should do a good job of mixing the Melafix with the water, it will never mix it completely. Some of the oil from the Melafix will rise to the top of the water in a thin coating.
Bettas have a labyrinth organ that they use to breathe air when they swim to the top of the tank. When they do this, their labyrinth organ will become coated with the tea tree oil. This affects their ability to breathe and eventually suffocates them.
So, you should avoid Melafix and all the products that end in “fix” if you have a fish with a labyrinth organ.
Does Melafix Work For Other Fish?
The most common cause of swim bladder disease is issues with the digestive tract. So, Melafix shouldn’t be your go-to when your fish first develops swim bladder issues. You should first ensure that your fish isn’t having a digestion problem.
Still, swim bladder disease can be a result of a bacterial infection. A bacterial infection can occur anywhere on the body and may cause pressure on the swim bladder. In rarer cases, the bacterial infection can infect the swim bladder itself.
If you’ve ruled out any other causes of the swim bladder disorder, it may be a bacterial infection that’s causing it. In this case, it would be a good idea to try Melafix.
Conclusion
There is no definite answer for whether Melafix can clear your fish’s swim bladder problem. If you know for sure that the swim bladder problem is the result of a bacterial infection, you can give Melafix a try. That is, as long as the fish you’re treating doesn’t have a labyrinth organ.