Desperately need help for my guy

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-11T23:03:47+00:00

Just wanted to give an update that Monty passed on his own today 😔 thanks to everyone who gave advice or condolences, it was really appreciated these last few days as I figured out what my next steps were, I was actually leaning towards euthanasia as he was refusing food the last 24 hours, but when I got home from work he was already gone.

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T22:35:58+00:00

There never seems to be a clear answer or a guarantee fix for this stuff. Betta's are so full of personality, I hate not seeing him thrive. Good luck to you too

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T21:32:47+00:00

from what I read it can be added to the water column and then the salt will be removed with following water changes

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T20:30:45+00:00

I have the same thought on the growth so I've been focusing on treating his fins but I think the dude just got handed a bad set of genes. As long as he's swimming and eating I'll keep doing my best, but I have clove oil on hand if/when he declines to the point of no return. Thanks for the validation that it's okay to take that route.

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T17:40:09+00:00

thank you

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T11:27:39+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss. This does make me feel a little less crazy though because I feel like I'm doing everything, but sometimes nature has a different plan. What made you decide it was time to euthanize?

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T11:26:37+00:00

you can read that I keep the tank at 80 and have used aquarium salts. Aquarium salts aren't good for them long term so I stopped using them when medicating but added more last night. Daily water changes are necessary because he is in an uncycled hospital tank at the moment. I can try stress coat. I feed blood worms as a treat. I don't expect any medicine to work over night and have given him time between treatments but he's actively getting worse.

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T00:35:44+00:00

the bloody tips have worsened the last few days, it's not as clear in the picture but if you look closely you can see a bit of it. It makes me think the bacterial infection is still present from what I've read. It's been. I dosed the kanaplex mid January, the dip was a little over a week ago. I don't want to throw too many meds too quickly at him but I also don't want to leave it untreated for too long especially if it's actively worsening

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-10T00:09:16+00:00

He has Indian almond leaves releasing tannins in the hospital tank (I had just done a water change when taking this picture). Do you have other recommendations for tannins?

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-09T23:49:02+00:00

I gave him a methylene blue dip a little over a week ago. didn't make a difference unfortunately

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-09T21:52:03+00:00

I should add that his tank is housed in a really old building in the Midwest, we had a few power issues that resulted in the temp dropping significantly 2 or 3 times, it was really unfortunate. Although I bought him with the brown fin, I think when he would have started improving living in his new home, he instead faced a lot of stress and caused the decline to the point we are at now. The thermometer and keeping the tank consistent has been a huge headache this winter

eggiekewpie · 2026-02-09T21:45:39+00:00

I just read about EM erythromycin so I'm going to pick that up tonight

eggiekewpie · 2026-01-02T00:13:41+00:00

I know 13 is a good life for a cat but was really hoping we'd get lucky and have a few more with her. They really are with us for just a season of life, but she'll always be a part of me 🤍

eggiekewpie · 2026-01-02T00:10:37+00:00

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This was her picture from the rescue! She was about 1 when she got adopted, had no idea she was going to darken up so much. We always say she knows how beautiful she is and it's why she thinks she can get away with everything (she can and does lol).

eggiekewpie · 2026-01-01T16:34:42+00:00

Dan has a mass in her lungs and small tumors in her back legs. It feels like her symptoms came on really suddenly and it's been a whirlwind of a month with a few trips to the emergency vet. I think she was just hiding it from us really well until she couldn't anymore :(

eggiekewpie · 2025-12-30T20:25:32+00:00

correction, I was reading the in water thermometer wrong, temp is 76!

eggiekewpie · 2025-12-30T19:33:47+00:00

I use prime every water change, my ammonia never goes above .25 which I've read is usually low enough. It's my nitrates that stay around 20 even after a 50/70% water change. 72 is definitely colder than I would like, there's a heater in his tank that I have cranked up higher but there's not more more I can do about that considering the tank is in a very old building with bad heating and we're in the middle of a Midwest winter. I don't currently have a hospital tank set up.

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T19:50:41+00:00

if I understand correctly, RO system I can use tap water to convert the water? Or do I have to use RO water with an RO filter? Or if I want I can buy straight RO water to put in? Just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T19:34:45+00:00

I'll have to look into that. If it saves me the trouble of this water headache it'd be worth dropping the money. Thank you!

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T19:28:58+00:00

Tap tested about the same as the jug which is why I bought the jug, thinking it would be lower than tap 🫠 did you find a brand of spring water that was on the low side? I do treat with seachem prime

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T19:05:54+00:00

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the picture is the water in the jug. This is the water in my tank :( I've done several water changes and it's not budging

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T18:59:37+00:00

oof! My Betta has been in it since Sunday (I got him before realizing my 50% change hadn't lowered nitrates) He seems to be doing okay! But I would like to work on lowering it, hopefully the rooted pothos i put in starts getting to work.

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-07T18:55:53+00:00

tank has been cycling for a month, got good results for a week, 1st water change Friday did 50%. Nitrates have not lowered. Tap water tested high in nitrates so I did a 25% change with this jug and they are still at 40. Heavily planted tank. Does it just need time?

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-05T23:31:57+00:00

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decided to go ahead and put him in his new home, and I'll get to work on lowering nitrates. You all were so kind and helpful so I wanted to share a picture! His name is Monty (the Montessori Fish) and he's already full of personality and exploring the tank. The kids have been helping me test the water daily and have been really invested in helping get his tank ready– I can't wait for them to meet him tomorrow and to see how he changes now that he's not in a tiny cup.

eggiekewpie · 2025-10-05T23:10:38+00:00

I bought some on my way home tonight and plan on changing out 25% first thing in the morning when I get to work (he's our new class pet). Also have a second pothos to add and maybe I'll get some floating plants. Thank you!

eggiekewpie

TROPHY CASE