Bad Luck?

[spectrum]

I recently bought 3 black neon tetra to go with the 3 already in my tank. I bought them from Wharf Aquatics in Pinxton ( http/www.wharfaquatics.co.uk/tropical.htm )that is pretty much where I get all my fish from, the majority of the staff are really friendly and the tanks are in great condition. In about a week 5 of the Black Neons have died, I have tested my water, ammonia and nitrite are at 0ppm and the nitrate levels is pretty much unreadable (The in the test tube had a SLIGHT hint of purple, but unnoticeable without thorough examination)3ppm - 0ppm, not quite sure why this is (Quite heavily planted). All 5 fish showed no signs of illness and but I found a dead one pretty much every morning . Only one did I see with a sign of illness, it had a kind of dead patch on its side and it was very lethargic. I had had the 3 original ones for over a year with no problems, and now 5 of them are dead. I don't want to rush out and get more in case they die, any thoughts would be gladly received.

BTW pH is around 5.7

 

[Cossie333]

sound like neon tetra disease m8

 

[Bignose]

sound like neon tetra disease m8

black neon tetras Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi are a significantly different species than neon tetras Paracheirodon innesi, and while could be carriers of neon tetra disease, it isn't anywhere as likely as with true neon tetras.

Whatever it is, spectrum, I hope you have learned a valuable lesson about quarantining. New fish should be quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks, and I usually recommend 6. That gives enough time for whatever the new fish may be carrying to present themselves. And, doesn't directly introduce anything the new fish are carrying to the show tank. A Q tank doesn't have to be anything fancy, either; a plastic tub with a heater will do. It is meant to be only temporary anyway.

 

[spectrum]

Being only 14 makes it somewhat difficult to have a quarantine tank

 

[WILDER]

Did the patch look like cotton wool.
Was the skin peeling.
Was the dead patch red or pink in colour.

 

[Bignose]

Being only 14 makes it somewhat difficult to have a quarantine tank

I hope this doesn't come off sounding rude, because it isn't what I intend at all, but I don't buy this for a second. As I wrote above, virtually any plastic tub will do. You can get a plastic tub at any general store very cheaply.

Otherwise, when you put fish directly into your main tank, you run the risk of exactly what happened to you. I have never, ever had a disease in my main tanks. I have had fish in a q-tank die; I had a group of tiger barbs develop ich when I was out of town for a few days, and they all died before I got back. However, I have never has ich in my main, precisely because any new fish spend several weeks in a q-tank until they are introduced. Any new plants spend several weeks in a q-tank just because they may be carriers. Most of the time, nothing happens. But the few times something did happen, it has made it all worth while.

In short, it is just a risk that is unnecessary.