Sick flowerhorn

[Cotton]

My 5 inch flowerhorn started to sink to the bottom recently and it had gotten worse these few days. He had been laying on the bottom and unable to swim above 10 inches from ground. He is still quite aggressive and he still follows your finger around ,he also still eats well.I had him for around 8 months in a 20gal(planning on an upgrade after he gets better) with a heater and a canister filter. He is my first flowerhorn, I don't know much about them. I did some research before and tried treating him with Octozin but it doesn't seem to be working. Please help.

 

[Cotton]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jxauwmdfe7QFy8Nc8

 

[Man-made Monsters]

You have a 5 inch Flowerhorn in a 20 gallon??!!!!!!! Dude way to small of a tank!!!! Next, does your current tank have a heater?? Flowerhorn need water temps between 80-85 degrees.

 

[Cotton]

The tank is heated to around 82 degrees and I know the tank is too small, but considering his health situation I doubt adding him to the 250 gallon with the other fish would be good for him. Please help identify the disease and ways to cure it

 

[philipraposo1982]

Your only symptom your describing is laying on the bottom. This is simply not enough info to even remotely try and diagnose, although some people will still likely jump in and tell you "exactly" what illness your fish has.

You mention 82 degree, what about your water changes? How often and how much are you changing? What do you feed? Any tank mates? Nitrate reading? Ammonia or nitrites present? Fish is bloated? White or stringy feces?

Mpre pictures of the fish and the tank is definitely helpful.

To start, keep lights off in the tank and use room light. Daily large water changes that are over 75% don't fill the tank to the top either.

 

[kno4te]

I would suggest checking ur water. Reduce ur temperature down to 78 degrees. Answer some of the questions already asked. I don’t think ur fish is sick. Think it’s not adjusting to ur 20g tank personally. Might be ready for the big tank but maybe get a large plastic tote from Walmart and move the filter to it. Add decor and plants. Try to get it better and then move to the larger aquarium. Once again this is assuming ur water isn’t the issue and it’s just stressed. Will soon to find out.

 

[Cotton]

I usually change 20% of the water twice a week ,but for this week I change 50%of the water daily but the nitrate is still pretty high(around 100),the ammonia and the nitrite readings are both 0.I feed ionic flowerhorn fish food. There are no tank mates . The fish has normal feces but is quite bloated.

 

[Cotton]

Does he have a prolapsed anal? I am not very sure.Sorry that I can’t get a clear shot, he kept on moving so fast

 

[kno4te]

Could be prolapsed. Probably from the night nitrates. Would move to a larger tank to dilute and increase ur water changes to 90% and check ur water daily. Reduce feeding to every other day.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Sounds like water quality issue forsure. Anything above 20ppm is too high imo

I would do a full 100% water change. Or as much as possible right away.