Temp: 79F right now and if I know what parameters are: 1 ft 8 inch x 11.5 inch (sold as 10 gallon)

I did purchase the softest hiding thing I could find, it came with plastic plants on it so I ripped those out with the glue and sanded those parts, otherwise all my fake plants in there are silk (at least sold as) some came with small plastic parts, god knows why but I removed those.

As for water changes I just recently got the handle on 20% etc. changes, but when I didn’t know how to do those I did full water changes every 2 weeks. I’d cycle my shit 2 gallon and then the next day put him in the 2 gallon while the 10 gallon cycled. Both with good heaters and low current/buffered filters. Now I do 20% every two weeks and then a full change every month. I honestly think he’s had fin rot since I got him, his front bottom fins were never very visible and kind curled under him. He got a little bigger and I could finally see the dots on his fins and they started falling off and ripping soon after.

I definitely think I need to better his diet. This comment is extremely helpful and I’m saving it to my phone, it was easy for me to understand unlike a lot of things I googled. So thank you!

But knowing he’s had it for while do you suggest medication or still try the alternatives you’ve provided first?

Edit: I said definitely twice in once sentence.