Cardinal Losing Colour

[GrubbyGirl]

I have a strange issue. Over the last 2 weeks one of my cardinals has lost a lot of it's red colouration. I've had this shoal for about 18 months and they have been healthy since day 1 and are now nice fully grown fish. It's still swimming with the shoal and is eating well getting stuck in as usual at meal times. Poop is normal, water perameters are good and stable (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, pH 7.2, 25% water change each week). No other physical signs and no other fish affected. Anyone who owns cardinals knows they lose their colouration at night in the dark but soon colour up when the lights go on. It's like that only this one doesn't colour up again. I'm confused and becoming obsessive watching him for anything else!! I assume he's stressed in some way but nothing has changed, no new fish or plants or anything. Of course I am worried it is neon tetra disease and am debating about removing it and quarantining it though that may in itself stress it out so much it may die

Any ideas?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Actually since writing this I thought better of not quarantining. As nothing has changed in the tank it's hard to see what would stress it after 18 months, so I am erring on the side of caution and have just set up a quarantine tank and have put him in. I know if he is stressed and I've just stressed him more it may be the end of him, but I'd rather lose 1 fish than the whole tank if it is neon tetra disease. As there is no treatment for NTD I am treating it with Myxazin and pimafix just in case it's false NTD

 

[WILDER]

Cardinal tetra are not meant to get ntd.
Only if there been kept with neon tetra's there a chance they could get it.

In the red area of the fish does it look like bleaching beneath the skin.
Is the skin peeling in that area.
Any pink or red edging around that area, or patches.
Does he act listless and lethagic.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Does he look on the thin side to you.

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
What test kit are you using.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Cardinal tetra are not meant to get ntd.
Only if there been kept with neon tetra's there a chance they could get it.

In the red area of the fish does it look like bleaching beneath the skin.
Is the skin peeling in that area.
Any pink or red edging around that area, or patches.

Nope nothing else, it really does look like when they have been in the dark all night, totally washed out. My quarantine tank doesn't have a light but I'll try and take a picture.

Does he act listless and lethagic.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

Nope, nothing abnormal at all

Does he look on the thin side to you.

Yes he does a little

How many gallons is the tank.

250 litres (not sure what that is in gallons)

How many fish and which type.

2 angels
4 rams
6 torpedos
12 cardinals
2 L144 juveniles
1 pearl gourami

What test kit are you using.

API liquid test kit, about 4 months old

 

[WILDER]

What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.
Check his anus to see if it's enlarged or red and inflamed.
Does he tilt to one side when swimming.
Check his spine just to make sure it's not bending.


Being skinny when still eating well can be old age, fish tb, internal parasites, bacterial.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

This is a pretty accurate photo of his colour. Apologies for the busy background - my quarantine was a bargain kiddies tank I picked up from pets at home!!

His poop is fine, usual brown colour nothing stringy. No red anus

 

[WILDER]

He dosn't look right I agree.
Does he have a dark patch on his tummy.

I think I would take the bacterial route.
What's your location.

Esha 2000 the med I would try.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

No it's not a dark patch must be a shadow. I figured best to go down the bacterial route for now and treat with myxazin and pimafix. I feel very mean putting him into quarantine and he looks very sad now but it's for the greater good just in case. If he perks up after 5 days treatment I'll be happy. I'm in Kent, UK

I don't have esha 2000 but I've started the others now

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Let me know how he gets on if you don't mind.
If any changes get back to the board.
Good Luck.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Ok.
Let me know how he gets on if you don't mind.
If any changes get back to the board.
Good Luck.

Thanks I will, fingers crossed he's just old and going grey like the rest of us!

 

[GrubbyGirl]

OK, now I am worried. Just got home to find one of my torpedo's on the bottom of the tank twitching like crazy and breathing hard, so he's now in quarantine too, though he looks pretty much on his last legs. There is nothing lese to see, he's not bloated, his body has no marks. Just tested the water again and it's all fine. Double cheched the ammonia with a new liquid test just in case there was something wrong with the test kit.

I bought Esha 2000 and Esha Exit today, I must admit I'm now tempted tp treat the whole tank with both and hope that stops any more keeling over. What do you think Wilder?

 

[WILDER]

Do his gills look pale with excess slime or red and inflamed.
Any signs of darting, erratic swimming, laboured breathing, gasping, excess mucas, swimming in a jerky movment.

Twitching (bacteria, parasites, toxins, skin irritant)

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Do his gills look pale with excess slime or red and inflamed.
Any signs of darting, erratic swimming, laboured breathing, gasping, excess mucas, swimming in a jerky movment.

Twitching (bacteria, parasites, toxins, skin irritant)

definitely nothing to look at, he looks fine but is gasping. When I tried to catch him his swimming was very jerky, he's now on his side at the bottom of the tank, jerking when he tries to move

 

[WILDER]

it sounds like he's dying.
I think I would put him out of his misery now. So sorry.

Do any other fish swim in a jerky movement.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

no, I've had a good look and a head count and they all look fine - but then again all the torpedos looked fine this morning!