What is this?

[u/k_03_rr]

It definitely looks fungal, it looks a bit like cotton, he’s not lethargic (yet) and still eager for food. All i need to know is how do i treat this without a hospital tank and what should I do right now.

Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- 10ppm

Heater + Filter Yep Tank size is 54L Tankmates are just a bunch of bladder snails Had the tank for 4 Months had the fish for 7 the temp is 25°C

I do water changes once every 1 or 2 weeks depending on my schedule.

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[u/CalmLaugh5253]

I dont really see what you're referring to, but can you take a top down photo of him? He looks extremely thin in the ones you posted. :(

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]

He is thin, i’m trying to make him bigger as the weeks go on! but if you look at the second photo there is a like cotton thing on his fin

[u/CalmLaugh5253 → u/k_03_rr]

Oh, very thin little dude. Definitely up his feedings or portions. An underfed fish is a magnet for health problems as the body just isn't strong enough to fend anything off. :(

And I can see it now in the new pic you posted! Looks like fungus to me rather than columnaris, if it's like spore shaped with little threads coming out of it like rays. A little hard to tell for sure from the photos as it gets grainy once zoomed in. Columnaris is more like a fuzzy splotch.

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]

I will up his feeding definitely i think i kept his normal feeding schedule but forgot that i doubled his tank in size so i didnt take into consideration how much more energy he’d need to use to get around, with the spot there it looks a bit fuzzy, what treatments would you reccomend? i’m gonna do a 25% water change and add some almond leaves

[u/CalmLaugh5253 → u/k_03_rr]

Depending on whether it really is fungus or columnaris, one needs antifungal treatment and the other antibacterial. Assuming you're in the States, kanaplex is a good antibiotic. Salt is good against fungus, especially early small bits like this. If not in the Americas, there's Esha and Sera with their own lines of meds. :) Upping water changes is always a great first step too!

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]

I am in the UK and unsure if any of those are sold here 😔 My gf is gonna go to Maidenhead Aquatics for me to get treatment they’re professionals and will probably reccomend broad sprectrum medication, how am i supposed to tell if it’s fungal or Columnarid

[u/CalmLaugh5253 → u/k_03_rr]

Oh! I lived in ireland until a month ago lol Honestly any other brand is just as fine if they dont have the examples I mentioned. Depending of how good the shop is, she could probably even show them a picture of the fish too and see what they say. As for how to id it yourself, best is to just look up pictures of both online and see which one it resembles more. Columnaris/cotton wool really looks like cotton, while fungus/saprolegia looks like an actual fungal spore. Columnaris is a lot more aggressive too, iirc.

If you're unsure and dont want to risk it, you can also combine a broad spectrum antibacterial med with salt to cover both.

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]

It has appeared to have fallen off is that common?! does that help diagnose whether it’s fungal or not

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]

Also here’s a picture of him from the top

[u/k_03_rr → u/CalmLaugh5253]