I have given' him medication and it is just getting worse.
Should I consider euthanazing him?
How did he catch this?

It says high nitrates and/or bacterial infection cause this. I did a 60% water change on Monday. It has meds in the water now so should I do another water change? The fish looks bad. Can my other fish catch this? When can I do another water change.

Also the box of mecalyn 2 told me to treat for 5 days, but only came with enough for 3 days. I live an hour and a half from a pet store.

Should I think about euthanizing?

I would use clove oil to euthenize him as bettas arent very good at recovering from bacterial diseases.
Could you tell us more about his home.
Size of tank, other fishmates, temperature, filtration, how much you change in a week.

20 gallon tank
temp 78
50% change 2 times a month with some siphoning in between.
20-40 gallon whisper filter (got it about 5 mo ago)

there are 2 very small fan tails and 2 snails in there

i know tropicals arent supposed to be in with goldfish, but I had no choice than to keep him w/ a goldie (someone gave me the fish that they couldnt care for and was going to flush it)
he has been in the tank with goldies for over a year and is always the most active one.

p.s. it only pine cones if I open the top or something moves or makes noise next to him.

does it have to be vodka mixed w/ clove oil? That seems to be an expensive way. I am a poor college student (and not 21) so is there any alternative to the vodka? I have beer in the fridge..

how long does it take for the fish to die in the clove oil mixture?

He isnt pineconing, it sounds like he is flaring.
Pineconing is where the actual scales stand out on the body and flaring is when he puffs out his gills to warn you away.

no his actual scales will pop up for a few minutes. they were doing it bad yesterday, is it okay if I pull him out of the water to take a photo and post it? because my camera blurs bad in the water....

I am just so annoyed with it right now. I bought meds that only came with enough for 3 days, spent 20 bucks on a heater, and he is still just sitting at the bottom. His tail has turned clear/whitish - he isnt breathing really crazy (i dont think)

I

If you have kept him with goldies in an unheated tank then the cold water will lower his immune system allowing bacterial infections to enter. If he is only pineconing at certain times then I would advise on getting him a seperate 2 gallon tank with a small heater and slowly raising the temp to 80f.
The best thing would be maracyn2. All you can do is monitor him and hope he will pull through.
You need to do gravel vacs twice a week of 40% to keep bacteria in the tank low.

the temp is at 79 now and he has been on meracyn2 for 3 days. the package only came with enough for 3 days. I cant afford another tank.

what about a water change now? I medicated him for the 3rd time yesterday, can I do a water change tonight? -- do i need to buy more marcyn2? i wont be near a pet store til tuesday I am guessing.. i live an hour and a half from one.

should i take a photo of him?

Cant help with the meds i'm afraid, but a pic would be brilliant if you could catch him in a glass and wait for him to calm down.

well sandy... i went an hour and a half and bought a 10 gallon tank to medicate my guorami in. i now have a fish tank in my kitchen, who would have ever thought........ the temp is at 82 and I have the heater off, i am waiting for the temp to go to 80 to set it. -- i also bought more meracyn 2. -- this is the most expensive fish EVER.

I admire you for your dedication in helping your fish. I really hope he makes it for you.

How long can a guorami live?
How were you able to tell it was a male?
I want to get another one for my tank once/if he gets well. Id like a female.

For some reason I thought you were talking about a betta
But its a gourami right?
I think you posted a pic before havent you and he was an orangey colour? If its not you that posted pics then could you get one put up and take a pic from the side and from above, thanks.
Gouramies are really sensitive to water conditions and the slightest thing can give them bacterial diseases.
Keep the water at 80f and keep adding the maracyn.
Gouramies can live for a few years but not really sure.

It looks like a male to me but what type of gourami i'm not sure. It could be honey or a honey cross.
He isnt pineconing in the picture but you say he does now and again. I notice he isnt the same on both sides so it could either be a tumour or bacterial infection.
What have you been feeding him and how often? Have you seen him poo recently and if so what did it look like?
You need to keep the temperature at 80f and try and get him some daphnia either frozen, fresh or fried to see if he is constipated.

I feed him either Wardley or Tetrafin tropical, 2 times a day in very small portions. The temp is at 80 and has been for about 4 days. He has been on Meracyn for 4 days also. Today is the 5th and final day. No improvement. I havent seen him poop and he will not eat. He is however swimming at the top some rather than just sitting at the bottom.

What in the world is Daphnia and where can I purchase it?

Daphnia is a live food known as water fleas and are great at moving the gut of constipated fish, assuming thats whats wrong.
You can get them either fresh or frozen or freeze dried at a pet store.

His other side was slightly bloated, but has gone down some.
The side that is really big has been the same for a week and a half now.

If he won't eat, how am I supposed to get him to eat the daphnias?

You just have to hope he will try something. Get some bloodworm as well thats frozen and cut a tiny bit off and defrost it in some water. Get a pair of tweezers and grab a bit then try to dangle it in front of his nose to see if he will take it.
The daphnia, cut a bit off and defrost then add that to see if he will take an interest.
Maybe a defrosted pea thats been boiled for 4 minutes, shelled and then squashed might be taken.

I really do believe he is bloated. My BF mentioned he hasn't seen him poop. So peas, bloodworms and daphnia are the only things I can try? If you have any other ideas please share. The peas are the only thing I can use until Tuesday when I drive to college (an hour and a half away). So Id like to know if there is anything other than peas.

oh.

if he is constipated wouldnt the lumps be closer to his butt?

Its his belly thats swollen and something like constipation will be seen there.
All I can think of is peas and live food.

Well thank you very much for all your help. I will keep you updated.

I have tried 10 times to dangle peas in front of him with tweezers. He is not interested. My other fish in the other tank love them though. I just cant get my guorami to eat ANYTHING.