Bloating ? Help!

[badspell68]

2 of my 4 Neon Tetras have bloated stomachs and are swimming, at times, with their heads down . I thought they might be pregnant but I just read and article that suggests that they may have "Neon Tetra disease" and that I may have to dismantle and clean the whole tank to rid it of the spores. I have an assortment of other tropical fish, so to start I removed the two Tetras and moved them to a small tank for observation.

Does it sound like they may have this or are they pregnant?
Also, no bent spines and they are not thin.

Thanks all!

 

[WILDER]

Signs of ntd are the red stripe being bleached out.
The neons will go away from the shoal and rest in places on there own.
Black linning around the tail region.
Lumps on the belly that go to a point.

 

[WILDER]

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/neondisease.htm

Read these first as I'm going to bed.
Also state what you feed the fish.
How many gallons or litres is the tank, and how many fish and which kind.
Also water stats would be good in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
http/www.planet-pets.com/newsarticles/neontetradisease.htm

 

[badspell68]

OK...Is it possible the fish ate too much, as I do not see the lumps in the stomachs any longer?

 

[WILDER]

They can swell up after eating but the tummy should go down again in a couple of hours.
Feed frozen daphnia very good at digesting the fish food.
Also shelled peas are good.

 

[badspell68]

Would ta bloated fish have a lumpy look?

 

[WILDER]

No, but I do know what you mean where the tummy looks odd and lumpy.

 

[badspell68]

Thanks for all the information. I have one more question:
One of the neon’s has one red gill. It has been red for quite some time and I am wondering if this is or could be a developing problem?

 

[WILDER]

Red gills can be bacterial, parasites, bad water quality.
Would need to look at stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Does the fish swim in a jerky movement.
Any laboured breathing.

 

[badspell68]

No, it is funny I have changed the water and he seems fine. They are in a 10gal tank and I was thinking of upgrading to a 30. Have any filter and any other recommendations? Are canister filters better or the hang on the back ones and what are the best of both types? Would it be wise to incorporate an ultraviolet water purifier?

Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

Hang on the back filter are you from the states.
Ask in the equipment part of the forum you will get better help over there as I don't know USA filters.
If the red has gone it could of been poor water quality.

 

[badspell68]

I use a powder to set my PH to 7.0 and I really do nothing else other then water changes, is this a good or bad thing?

 

[WILDER]

Never good idea really to alter ph more problems that its worth, I would leave it alone.
Are you using a gravel vac during water changes.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=9

 

[badspell68]

Nope, I have large river stones in the bottom so the tank does not really get that dirty. So you are saying I should just ignore the PH for the most part after and before water changes?

 

[WILDER]

What's your tap ph.
Just don't add ph adjusters fish get used to the tap ph.
How do you get the waste out of the tank then with a net.