Signs of skin and gill flukes are.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Red inflamed gills or pale gills with excess slime.
Gasping at the surface, or laboured breathing.
Flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Spitting food out.
Weight loss.
Sores on the body of the fish.

Thanks very much Wilder. The only one of those he has are the red inflamed gills. He is eating and swimming normally. I havent noticed any of the fish rubbing either.

I will keep an eye on these symptoms.

i picked up my quarantine tank today from a guy who used to be a partner in LFS. His lady breeds discus and L number plecs. I told them about my redness around the gills and they suggested salt, their reasoning being that it was likely to be a mineral deficiency. I havent read about this anywhere. and I was worried about my corys and salt. I put this to them and they assured me that they would be fine with the salt.

Anyway I didnt use cooking salt like they suggested as I had some aquarium salt in. I used half the dose suggested, I put 9 teaspoons into our 96 litre tank, dissolving it first in warm water.... If I have done the wrong thing please tell me and I will do a water change.

You can't use much salt with corys.
White patches with a circling of red is columnaris red patches with white edges are ulcers but still bacterial.

Wounds that are white on the edges and red in the center are most typically Aeromonas. Those that are red on the edges and white in the center are generally Columnaris. Both are gram negative bacteria. The best treatment for this is any sulfa antibiotic with trimetheprim. This can be put in the water and mixed with food -- if you can find Romet B use it.

There is not white on the edge nor in the centre. It just looks like a bloody patch ending at the gill. Funnily enough, Im sure I have lost one of the tetras but I just cant find it. I have moved a couple of plants, bogwood etc. But I think Im one down.

One of the tetras seemed to be gasping today and swimming erratically. I had been busy all day on another matter but decided to do a test. It revealed 0.25 Ammonia and 0.25 Nitrite. I wondered if the remedy I had used had wiped out the beneficial bacteria in the filter. I did a 25% water change. So it occurred me I ought to test for nitrates as well. It showed at 20 ppm which is what it had been previously.

Would these neons be better in another tank on their own? None of the other fish seem to have a problem. I wish I hadnt bought them now.

This post has been edited by alysonpeaches: Jul 22 2008, 05:32 PM

Fish will dart about the tank and gasp in bad water quality.
Water change and increase aeration in the tank.
What med did you use.
A bloody patch is septicemia.

I did a water change today and yesterday. I used the Interpet white spot remedy.

Another was dead today so Im taking them all back to the shop, Ive had enough.



This post has been edited by alysonpeaches: Jul 23 2008, 09:42 AM

OK so I calmed down and didnt take them back ... They were so difficult to catch!

They are in a hospital tank now and seem to be fine, but the one with the red patch on his gill still has it. I havent put any treatments at all in because Im really confused about what they have and what they havent had/got. Im doing 1/3 water changes daily in this tank.

Can you recommend a really good fish health book please, so Ive got all the info at my finger tips?

The neons are still doing OK in the hospital tank, no fatalities!!! But the one with the red patch still has the red patch