Need Help Identifying What Is Wrong With My Neon Tetras

Hi,

A few months ago I noticed a whiteish spot on my neon tetras lower jaw and then within a week or two a few more of them had it and also one of them looked rough with white stuff on its scales. I treated them with Tetra Lifeguard and followed the instructions (removed carbon from filter, and did water changes) but there seemed to be no change. More recently I tried again using API Melafix and Primafix, and still there has been no change, although at one point I noticed one of the Zebra Danios had a white spot on its lower jaw, and that has now disappeared. I know in an ideal world I would move them to a quarantine tank but as I am new to the hobby I only have one tank and no way of cycling another tank quickly enough.
I have attached a couple of photos of the affected tetras and would appreciate any advice as I am fairly new to the hobby and this is my first time dealing with any sort of fish related illness.

Thanks,
Nye


Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 24°C (very stable since addition of in-line heater)
- pH: 7.5
- Nh3 (Ammonia): 0 ppm
- NO3 (Nitrate): 25mg/l (I change 20% of the water weekly)
- NO2 (Nitrite): 0 mg/l
- GH: 8°d
- KH: 6°d
- Cl2 (Chlorine): 0 mg/l

Fish in tank:
- 3 Yoyo Loaches
- 3 Scissortail Rasboras
- 3 Zebra Danios
- 6 Neon Tetras
- 3 Galaxy Rasboras

Thanks Sue,

In regards to the size of the tank, its 125L with a length of 31 inches with an oversized filter. I know this isnt big enough for fully sized Scissortails or Plecos but I have a deal with my LFS so I can swap them for smaller ones again when they get too large, as they are currently very small. I am planning increasing the shoaling fish to shoals of 6 but I was worried about adding new fish with the neons looking sick in case it spreads.

Although the nitrate is currently 20ppm this is towards the end of the week, as I normally do water changes on Thursday/Friday, so it normally sits at more like 10ppm, but I do plan on doing a large water change this week.

As far as I can see the red colouring is as bright as it was when I got them and has not washed out, there are no lumps on their bodies aside from the one on their lower jaw, and they still swim together, although the one looking the most rough does tend to be on its own more often as it is slower at swimming so doesnt seem to be as active.

I was not aware that Melafix / Pimafix weren't very good as I have never dealt with anything like this before  . Could you suggest something that you would think would be more effecting given the situation?

Thank you very much,
Nye

Since the only thing that seems to be wrong is the white lip, I would not worry. If they were ill there would be other symptoms (I was checking for neon tetra disease in my last post!)

For future reference - if the fish do become ill - the two best all purpose meds we can get in the UK are eSHa 2000 and Myxazin by Waterlife.

I can vouch for the eSHa 2000, it helps clear up the spots or stop them from worsening and I found that after a full 3-day course, no further fish got ill. Sadly I would be inclined to say that the Neon with the spine bend in it (tail bending down) bears a stark resemblance to a few of my neons who sadly did not last long after the spine bend became bad, maybe a few weeks, despite two full courses of eSHa 2000.

It seems more likely to be what is ironically known as “Neon Tetra disease” The Zebra danio with the whitespot was probably a coincidence. If you can get some eSHa 2000 it specifically lists this as one of the diseases it can help with. Helpfully it can be used to treat a tank with healthy tank mates so no specific requirement for quarantine. I have never quarantined and I have never noticed detrimental effects in the other fish.

Hope you don’t get any more sick fishes 

@Paddyc long time no see!! 

How are things?

Hi pal, yeah all good, I was just reading with interest your thread on your new Aqua Oak! Then I got interrupted before I could post on the thread... It's high time I made a reappearance on here so thought I'd kick off by trying to help someone since this forum has been so invaluable to me...

I've used eSHa 2000 for another condition in a fish and found that I needed to extend the treatment course. I'd advise trying it for at least another couple of days after the 3-day course, then let us know how the situation is.

How is/are the affected fish generally now ie behaviour, appetite, colouring, etc?

[Hi @Paddyc Didn't want to hijack the thread off-topic but will take this opportunity to simultaneously say 'hello'.]

Let's hope the extended treatment course sorts out the issue. If you have very soft water (<4 KH, from recollection, but check your eSHa 2000 leaflet), don't forget that you can double the dosage for the treatment course - I had to do that.

If appetite, behaviour, colouring, etc, are not adversely affected, then I definitely wouldn't euthanase - many conditions can be lived with / monitored and treated as required. If, however, the fish really looks as though it's suffering and on its way out, then that's a different matter, of course.

Fingers crossed that this treatment works.