betta fish and eye problems

[koralux]

My betta's eyes look cloudy, kinda like they're covered in a film. Tank's a 5 gallon, heated to 78F, filtered with a sponge. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Been feeding him fluval bug bites, 3 pellets twice a day. Any idea what's up?

[DiscusDare]

My betta's eyes look cloudy, kinda like they're covered in a film. Tank's a 5 gallon, heated to 78F, filtered with a sponge. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Been feeding him fluval bug bites, 3 pellets twice a day. Any idea what's up?

Cloudy eyes can be bacterial or fungal. Try a salt bath, 1 tsp per gallon for 10 minutes daily. Also, check if the filter flow's too strong, they hate current. If it doesn't clear up in a week, might need meds like kanaplex.

[franzi]

Yep, sounds like popeye or an infection. I'd do a 25% water change first, just in case. What kinda substrate you got? Sharp stuff can scratch their eyes, making 'em prone to infections.

[limber]

Yo, cloudy eyes are sketchy. Had this happen to my boy last year. Turned out the water was too soft, no minerals. Added some crushed coral to the filter, fixed it in days. You test GH/KH?

[bronzite]

Agree with the salt bath suggestion. Also, dim the lights for a bit. Bright light can stress 'em out, making infections worse. How long's the tank been set up?

[koralux]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna try the salt bath and check the flow. Substrate's smooth sand, tank's been running 4 months. I'll test GH/KH tonight.

[trailblaz]

Yo, cloudy eyes are sketchy. Had this happen to my boy last year. Turned out the water was too soft, no minerals. Added some crushed coral to the filter, fixed it in days. You test GH/KH?

Good call on the minerals. Soft water's a sneaky issue. If GH's below 4, definitely add something. I use seachem equilibrium, works like a charm.

[florine]

Lol, bettas are such drama queens. Mine once got cloudy eyes because I moved his tank 2 inches to the left. But seriously, salt baths are magic. Just don't overdo it, they're not saltwater fish.

[bronzechip]

Hope your fish feels better soon! Keep us posted. Maybe skip a feeding day too, sometimes less food helps them focus on healing.

[Aquabug9]

Mine had this last month! Turned out to be the dang plastic plants. Switched to silk, no more issues. You got any sharp decor in there?