I haven't posted pics of ZhaoYun in a few months. I'll tell you why.

Several months ago I found him in the morning floating at the top of the water. He was non-responsive for a couple minutes. I noticed part of his dorsal fin had dried and eventually it fell out. I noted he was a little listless and made sure his water an everything was perfect. His fin has been very slow to recover.

A couple months later I had to transfer him from one container to another. I did it very gently, but still his fins just were not very strong. A big chunk of his caudal fin fell out. I was moving him to a little larger container with better filtering because I wanted to give him the best environment possible.

After this move I was watching him carefully and noticed a bump with a little pine-coning on his right side. I have continued to keep his water perfect and temp correct. The bump has grown until now it protrudes on both sides. I have seen something like this on other fish like a Betta - all the organs up front and mostly spine and muscle in the back. It usually ends up being a bony tumor on the spine.

Anyway, ZhaoYun is still a perky guy with a funny personality most of the time. Occasionally he is extremely lethargic and almost non-responsive. It makes me wonder how much they can feel pain.

His fins are recovering so slow that I doubt they will ever be as incredible as they were when he was a young thing. So he's not as beautifully perfect as he used to be - but he's a good boy. I think he's terrific, even a raggedy looking guy - so here's a couple pics.

Here he is in January 2007, in his prime:


Here he is today:




In this one you can see the effect of the tumor (or whatever it is):


Here you can see that he's like Tyra Banks - at the right angle he still looks pretty good:

Aiya Zhao Yun what happened to you...

Lucky u got D as ur owner.

poor little thing. I am glad you are looking after him so well. It's heartbreaking to see him all tattered.

He's still beautiful even though he's not been well

Sometimes even when we do everything right, some things are just out of our control. At least you still love him, and it shows!

You have a tail bitter. I have a SD that does that. Has somethign to do with boredom or it being to heavy. Anyway all you can do is make sure he does not get fungus or anything and happy.
Sure is a pretty fish.

The Tyra joke made me chuckle.

He's not a tail biter. The dorsal fin dried and shredded - I saw the damage after I found him floating.

Big chunks just fell out of the caudal fin. The top third near the base of the tail, then a chunk (about and eighth) like the last half right out of the middle. The pieces were whole and complete. No more shredding or damage than that ever - and it doesn't grow back significantly.

I think he's weakened from the tumor.

Well...

I actually think he's prettier than Tyra - even now.

I don't like the blond Tyra. She looks a little alien. I think it's too much forehead.

Aw...

He still has the most beautiful bright button eyes and that cute little expression .

And thankyou for sharing his pics anyway, our fish don't have to be perfect to be shared.

I'm sorry to hear he's not been so well lately.... no matter what, I bet he's still a special little guy to you

Thanks!


He is. He cracks me up all the time. He's like a little puddle puppy.

wow I am really sorry about Zhao. Suchin got a tumor like that but only one sided. You can still put some melafix or bettafix and salt in the water. You also can try adding some heat. It may not cure him but might make him feel a little better. I had an elderly betta Zeke who was not doing well and this regimen seemed to perk him up some. It may make him feel more comfortable.Get well Zhao

He is still a handsome little thing. Poor guy, glad he's still cracking you up. And I think he's much prettier then Tyra too!

I'm very sorry your betta has been ill Daniel! I know how excited you were to get him and you made such a lovely home for him. Hes lucky to be in your care. I hope he recovers for you.

Guess what? Yesterday I went to work, to find Spooky with a chunk of his tail missing! Can you believe how coincidental that is? Can't imagine what the little stinker did to it. He is always fasted on Sat/Sun while I am home, but I wonder if this past weekend he was so darned hungry he couldn't wait? I always feed the little bugger several times on Friday, and clean his tank, so to be sure he's fat and happy over the weekend. I guess I'll never know.

Dan, did you curse my Betta?

no curses from me.

Lolafish I think you have yourself a tailbiter. Some males do it. It is not known for sure why. Some do it out of boredom, some do it out of stress. My male half moon Sunti will do it sometimes. Right now he has got a chunk missing. You might try moving the decor in his container around. If he has a filter in his tank you might try turning the flow down or off. some people put a container with a girl next to the males and he will stop. I would also put some bettafix ( melafix ) in his water along with a little salt to help the tail heal

Aw poor guy Leaf's kind of in the same boat, he's got a tumor on one side, his fins never healed completely from when I got him, and his color is fading with old age. He's pretty happy but a little less active so I don't know how much longer I'll have him.

I've noticed that a lot of bettas get that body shape where they are bony toward the back when they get old.

Dan, your betta is lucky to have a dad like you!

Most people would just flush an ailing betta down the toilet. Someone at my church was telling me how her betta got sick so she flushed it down the toilet before its condition could upset her 5-year-old... I was SO MAD!!!

So anyway, your betta is still beautiful, and he loves you!!

Wow, he looks beautiful. ^^
Hey, not to change the topic..
But isn't Zhao Yun the name of a chinese warrior?

[ P.s. I hope he gets well, best of luck!! ]

yup that is right. I remember Dan saying that is why he named him that when he first got him

Yes, Zhao Yun is the name of an ancient Chinese warrior. That's why my Betta has the name.

The last update on Zhao Yun is not very good. His water tests good, but his fins, all of them, keep getting more and more tattered. The tumor has also increased in size. He doesn't swim around much unless he is being fed. Some of his scales are losing pigment - I can see right through the flesh on the top of his head to the brain and brain stem - it's a little strange.

Still, he perks up and watches me while I'm around. Maybe he'll hang around long enough to see the Christmas decorations back on his tank.

We'll see,

Oh Daniel I hate to hear that he is not doing any better. You have been so good to him, and it's nice to hear that he still perks up at the sight of you. I am sure he knows you are doing your best. I will keep him in my thoughts.

I am so so sorry Dan. He is such a beautiful fish and I know how special he has become to you and all of us here at Kokos.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear he's gotten more poorly... Sounds like his personality is still trying to shine through though I'm sure you'll continue to give him great care and attention Daniel.

Thanks everyone.

He had bloodworms today so he's a happy camper.

Wow, your betta is beautiful. I love it. Seeing it I wish I had one!