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Could bettamax be used for internal parasites? It says it treats lack of appetite and listlessness...my favorite betta (dubbed "Wiggles"-- he wiggles in the anticipation of getting food everytime I come near ) has those symptoms, and I was wondering if I could use the bettamax for that, or if I need to go out and buy a "real" medication.

a real medication would be better as bettamax isnt designed for parasites (plus, you dont want to waste it, its like gold now!)

is your fish showing any other signs? what are his faeces like? is he eating at all? how do his fins look?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

A little Usenet searching suggests that Bettamax is a low-grade antibiotic. That would make it worse than useless against parasites.

Oh, lame... Anyway... this poor little guy hasn't eaten in nearly six days!! He just lies on his side, he usually looks dead. We have to check to see if his gills are moving to make sure he's even alive. For a while, I was treating him for gill flukes, because he'd been gasping.. I think that's over with though, and now internal parasites... so I'd think, because there's no external sides of illness. He just lays there, getting weaker and thinner...

Jungle Parasite Clear is an excellent antiparasitic. You can find it at Wal Mart. Check the packaging and make sure it has "praziquantel" in it, that's what you're looking for. It should help flush those parasites fast and is one of the few antiparasitics that work when the fish won't eat.

Try that out, I can't offer a whole lot of encouragement as your betta sounds really sick. if the parasite clear is going to save him, you should see some improvement within 2-3 days.

I have seen really nasty bacterial infections with very similar symptoms, but even if that were the case, bettamax is such a weak antibiotic it really wouldn't do much good.

Maybe pick up some kanacyn (stronger antibiotic) with the parasite clear, just in case you need it. It's good to have around just in case even if you don't use it.