Dieng Neon... again!

[oMIKEo]

Hi,

1 of my neon's tetra has died recently and now another is looking really ill.

The neon tetra is really pale and looks to be really stressed.

The one that died also went pale and got a little fatter.

Any ideas whats wrong? is it a disease? how can i treat it?

Thanks, Mike

 

[xxSarahxx]

Have you...can you do a water test to find out what your water stats are... amonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, etc. What is your temperature? When was the last time you did a waer change?

 

[oMIKEo]

Yeah here they are:

TEMP = 26 C
PH = 8.5 (the tap water is this high)
AMMONIA = 0.4 mg/l (the tap water is also this)
NITRITE = 0 mg/l
NITRATE = 12.5 mg/l

My last water change was yesterday, before then was 2 weeks ago.

Hope that helps...

 

[tttnjfttt]

Its really hard to say exactly what is going on, because everything you have said is a general symptom. Whatever it is, the ammonia is definately not helping matters.


How long has your tank been running for? Also, how big was your water change? Does your water conditioner specifially say it works with chloramine as well?

 

[oMIKEo]

The tanks been running for about 3-4 months.

The last water change was a 50% water change (as i added a anti snail treatment to the water) but normally 20% water changes. The problem with the neons were there before i added the anti-snail stuff so thats not affecting it.

and yes the water conditioner says that it "removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water".

Is there anything i can do to help or just wait until he dies and take him out?

Thanks for any advice

 

[tttnjfttt]

I think the large part of your problems is coming from your ammonia and your lagre water change. Because you have such a high concentration of ammonia in your water, you should really do small water changes, like no more than 10-15% once a week.

One product my may consider using is something like amquel, which makes ammonia non-toxic to fish. With amquel, it will neauteralize your the ammonia and make it safe for fish, but still be able to be used by the biological filter.

 

[oMIKEo]

Ok thanks, ill have a look for some amquel...

this might be a stupid question but what do you mean by "but still be able to be used by the biological filter"?

thnaks...

 

[tttnjfttt]

The biological fitler is the bacteria that will develop in your tank (and I think have done so, looking at your numbers) to deal with the waste your fish produce. What happens is Ammonia is turned to nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate by different bacteria that develop in your filter. This is why you never rinse your filter in chlorinated water.

 

[oMIKEo]

thanks for you help tttnjfttt. much appreciated....

 

[oMIKEo]

Looks like my Neon's loosing the ability to swim properly, he seems to be finding it really hard to keep level and keeps dropping to the bottom like hes dead and then tries to swim again

 

[tttnjfttt]

I'm sorry to say, but it doesn't sound too good for that fish. Were you able to get the Amquel?

 

[oMIKEo]

yeah i know should i take him out before he dies to put him our of him misery or just wait?

And I've ordered the Amquel - thanks

 

[tttnjfttt]

Can you get to the pet store now? Can you get a gallon or two of bottled water? If not, then I would go ahead and put him out of his misery. Without fixing the problem, there is no way this fish will make it.

Sorry.