Cardinal Tetra Problem

[FalconStorm]

I just got two cardinal tetras two days ago. They were lively and happy when we got them at the store, running from the net and giving the guy a real hard time. The tank they were put into is cycled with other neons and a betta in it. The betta has never bothered the other neons before and the other neons are just fine.

Today, one of the cardinals has a sort of white growth on his right eye. He is completely listless, twirling in the water and hanging near the surface. The other cardinal is more active with no physical symptoms of disease but it is much more listless than it was. I currently have them in a hospital tank, but I'm not sure what to do for them. I'm not even sure what might be wrong. I suspect the one with the eye problem will probably die, but if anyone can help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.

Tank parameters:

ammonia: just under .25
nitrite: just under .25
ph: between 7.5 and 8.0

 

[FalconStorm]

Well, it seems to be too late. They're gone. I didn't see any sign of disease except for the one's eye. The other jumped out of the hospital tank and, well...yeah.

I would still like some advice on the tank they were in. It is a community tank. So far, everyone in it is doing fine, but I'm wondering if I should go ahead and put some melafix in the community tank or wait and watch them. Any ideas?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hi there i would not suggest treating the tank unless symptoms show up but some people consider dying fish a symptom already, thats why people always place new fish into a hospital tank first

regarding your cardinals
recently i purchased cardinals for my tank and out of the 10 that i purchased only 7 made it to date ( 3 weeks)
cardinals are schooling fish and will feel safer and will last longer when in numbers around 5 or more,

heres a story
first i only purchased 6 cardinals from a LFS located around 40 mins drive from here, i placed them in my tank after letting them settle in the bag for only around 30 mins, 2 died on the first day and 1 died the ff day, i then decided to buy cardinals from a nearer LFS and followed GF225, and Lateral lines advice on turning off all the lights then floating the bag on the water and introducing small amounts of tank water into the bag, every 20 mins or so for around 2 hours, then i did not turn on the tank lights for a whole day, i am yet to see a cardinal casualty from the second batch

cardinals i thnk are very sensitive fish when it comes to acclimation and also your tank when they get stressed they tend to fade in color and after a while die hope this helps

 

[FalconStorm]

I may keep that in mind if I get more cardinals. Strangely enough, their color never faded. I also had them in with a school of five neons whom they schooled with happily on the first day. I think they were probably sick when we got them. It's the only thing I can think of. I'm just really hoping that it didn't spread to the tank. I meant to keep them in a quarantine bowl, but didn't. That'll teach me to quarantine my guys right before introducing them to the main tank.

 

[WILDER]

Do a few water changes over the next few days, sorry for your loss.

 

[FalconStorm]

I plan to. It's due for a cleaning change tonight anyway, then I'll do some little ones over the next week and just keep an eye on everyone. Hopefully, they'll come through fine. Those neons are tough guys, actually. They survived cycling the tank. (I messed up and only learned about cycling after I had already added them to the tank when it was brand new. I won't make that mistake again.) I have confidence in them.