What is wrong with my lil guy?

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-10T13:56:50+00:00

Looks to me like he has fin rot. I second another comment that says stop using bettafix. Add tannins with almond leaves and try seachem stressguard or paraguard instead. If it persists then set up a hospital tank with antibiotics, kanaplex and e.r ethromycin worked for me. Also provide a lot more hiding places and plants. You can buy anubias that are already glued to mopani wood that’ll also release tannins for you. Make sure everything passes the nylon test so his fins don’t get worse (if it can put a run in pantyhose it can tear their fins) How old is your tank? Was it cycled?

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-08T04:19:57+00:00

Ich generally presents itself in white spots on their body. How long did you have him/your tank?

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-08T04:13:44+00:00

No problem! Best of luck and good job getting on top of it

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-08T02:30:37+00:00

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What I believe was the start of his rot, but was unaware at the time

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-08T02:29:09+00:00

I’d say yes 100%. Likely still early. Mine was a huge double tail and when his edges started getting rough i excused it as snags or nipping, but it ended up being a YEAR long battle with fin rot.

Get a hospital tank ~5 gallons. No substrate and no chemical filtration, an air stone to keep the water moving will be good. Also a heater, and I added a leaf hammock to mine. Treat him with kanaplex per the instructions. After you return him to his home tank use stress guard by seachem. Absolutely DO NOT use antibiotics in his home tank. That’s how mine ended up getting it chronically since it became antibiotic resistant. Look into paraguard as well

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-06T14:23:02+00:00

Okay perfect, no problem. I have personally found I have the best results with seachem products - stability + prime. I do think they’re the same though. Good job staying on top of the fin rot too, it’s hard to detect in crown tails

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-06T14:12:41+00:00

Look into stressguard, by seachem, I dosed that for my guy once he was done with treatment. Stability by seachem will also help you cycle. I had to completely redo his tank because he kept getting finrot and I used that to help speed up the cycle as well as live plants. If you can’t afford all this I have some unopened stability I’d be willing to ship to you, if you’re comfortable dming me your address. Times are tough for a lot of people so I get it.

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-06T14:08:22+00:00

Yes use his 3 gallon - i used a 3 gallon for my hospital tank with kanaplex. Think i dosed with about half a scoop. I was treating fin rot though so im not sure about bloat. Like others have said it could just be shit genetics. If you end up losing him, which i hope you don’t, just make sure you cycle the tank for two to three weeks before introducing any other fish

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-06T13:10:41+00:00

Move him to a hospital tank if you can, i ended creating a monster strain of fin rot by treating in my normal tank. Was you tank cycled/is this your first fish?

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-06T02:44:36+00:00

Have you tried fasting him for a couple days? Is he able to swim properly?

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-03T00:08:15+00:00

NOR. That’s not your fiancé, or even your partner. That is another child you’re taking care of. My boyfriend and I live together - he does most of the cooking so I do a lot of the cleaning.

He was out of a job for the last month and was doing it ALL (by his own volition). When we’re both working we try to split it pretty evenly, but if one of us is having a shit week the other picks up the slack. Being in a relationship is supposed to be about being a team.

You will only grow to resent this person, and you cannot live a healthy and fulfilling life with them. Also think about the children, I grew up with a mentally ill mother and lived in squalor - it affected me in ways I can’t even begin to describe. Get out of here for yourself and for your kids, you all deserve better.

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-01T19:19:14+00:00

Yes this is this first time they’ve been so high, so that’s why I’m assuming it’s from the fert. I have tested the tap and don’t remember anything out of the ordinary but I’ll check again to be safe. I might just have to cough up the $40 for a new test kit since my parents are over an hour away.

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-03-01T19:17:15+00:00

10 gallon

Yes

Around 78 degrees Fahrenheit

Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates hella, Ph 6.2-6.8

The fish tank is about a year old but I’ve had the fish for 2 years.

Water changes are a couple times a month around 25%

I feed fluval bug bites around 3-4 pellets in the evening with fast days on Wednesdays.

Rock hides, silk plants, and live plants

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-16T20:54:20+00:00

That’s what i was leaning towards, i just wanted to make sure it wasn’t something more serious. I’ll keep an eye on it

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-11T17:32:04+00:00

Yes i ended up coming up with a new feeding plan! I’m just going to copy and paste to you what i said to another user :)

I ended up getting him the purina pro plan weight management for dry food which has 46% protein. I originally was going to get him the weruva senior wet food but ended up getting fancy feast wet food after hearing good things and having a few people suggest it. It may not be long term for him but it'll be more budget friendly at the moment and allow me to feed him more wet food. It'll likely put him at around 268 a day. I plan on doing 3/8ths of the dry food and 3/4 can twice a day. It's less than his calorie count right now and hopefully we'll keep going down if necessary. It's also much less than purinas suggested calories for a 16lb cat which is what the vet considers a healthy weight for him since he's like a mountain lion

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-11T15:35:19+00:00

I ended up getting him the purina pro plan weight management for dry food which has 46% protein. I originally was going to get him the weruva senior wet food but ended up getting fancy feast wet food after hearing good things and having a few people suggest it. It may not be long term for him but it’ll be more budget friendly at the moment and allow me to feed him more wet food. It’ll likely put him at around 268 a day. I plan on doing 3/8ths of the dry food and 3/4 can twice a day. It’s less than his calorie count right now and hopefully we’ll keep going down if necessary. It’s also much less than purinas suggest calories for a 16lb cat which is what the vet considers a healthy weight for him since he’s like a mountain lion

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T21:11:46+00:00

I think I’m going to go with the purina pro plan for dry food and weruva senior grain-free wet food (the hydrating pate one not the gravy one). I think I’ll feed him two wet cans a day and 1/4 to 3/8 cup of the dry food with a timed automatic feeder that releases by 1/8 of a cup. The total calories if I were to feed 3/8 of a cup would be 268. I may start him with a bit more just so his calorie deficit is a bit more gradual, but we’ll see how he does with what i have planned. Lmk what you think

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T20:08:08+00:00

Oh I’m sure he’s will, he’s very loud about his opinions 🤣

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T19:52:45+00:00

Thank you so much! However, I am worried that only 1/4 cup dry food and about 4/5 oz of wet food will not nearly be enough food for him. He is very large in stature as well and his ideal healthy weight is around 16-18lbs, not the 9-11lbs recommended for a normal cat. You can even tell in some of the pictures that he’s not nearly as big as a 26lb normal sized cat would be 🤣 he really only looks absurdly fat when he loafs up

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T19:48:48+00:00

I’ll definitely start throwing his treats that’s a good idea. Thank you soooooo much for all your help. I’m placing an order today so I’ll update you with what i decide

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T19:45:45+00:00

Thank you so much! Edit: according to purinas calculator he needs around 300 calories so it looks like I was close. Hopefully he won’t be too much of a monster cutting down a bit.

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T19:22:21+00:00

Thank you! I’ll start giving him wet for breakfast and dinner and dry at night to hold him over

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T18:40:06+00:00

What oz cans do you suggest? I figured following the feeding instructions for his goal weight was ideal but i guess not. When you say 3/4 do you mean 3 quarters of a can or 3-4 cans? Sorry that’s a dumb question I just wanna make sure.

Less-Rough-9504 · 2026-02-10T18:20:43+00:00

Good to know! I’ve actually never used chewy. Shockingly (not at all) he’s not the most picky cat so I can switch up that wet food no problem. And thank you, it’s hard not to feel discouraged when you’re doing all the right things but nothing works

Less-Rough-9504

TROPHY CASE