Funny Shaped Pale Fish!

[kat and james]

well, james's mum also keeps tropical fish, mostly a mixture of tetras, a couple gouramis and goldfish (yea we know we know.. shouldn't keep goldfish in there.. but it ain't our tank)

anyways, one of her red phantom tetras has started looking really pale, and is starting to go a funny shape (well compared to the healthy red one), he is being picked on a little by the lemon tetra. there are no problems with it's swimming.. and i do'n know whether it is eating properly (it actually is looking a little emaciated), or pooing properly. all the water stats are fine, although nitrate could do with being a little bit lower, think it was at about 60ppm.

just wondering if this is a disease, or actually old age or something? thanks for any help and suggestions as to what is going on!

 

[Dubby]

sounds like its unwell. Suggest you isolate it immediately in a hospital tank and try feeding it live food.

PS: also the nitrate reading is quite high. please do a couple of quick water changes

 

[kat and james]

this stuff i knew, but thanks for the advice anyway.. i just want to find out what is up with the little guy!

 

[breezer40]

NTD would fit with some of those symptoms.

 

[kat and james]

the fish doesn't exhibit difficulty with swimming or curvature of the spine..

i have also read that there isn't very much we can do for the fish medication wise.. i gues we'll just have to quarantine it and hope for the best

any ideas of what else it could be if not ntd?

 

[breezer40]

You mentioned he is funny shapped .. what kind of shape?

 

[kat and james]

its hard to explain really.. it is more his bottom side that seems a little different to normal.. and different compared to his buddy, it almost looks like he is emaciated.. i need to take a better look at him.. its really hard to explain! sorry..

 

[black angel]

How long has she had them as age could be a factor. Also theres many diseases and parasites that cause emaciation but if theres no other fish displaying similar symptoms then age is likely. Seperate in case it is something contagious and watch the others closely.

 

[kat and james]

she has had them all for quite a long time.. most of them since before i met james.. which is only 2 years, but she could have had them for ages before that! hopefully it is just age. none of the other fish are showing the same symptoms. the fish doesn't appear to be stressed at all.. just looking different!
thanks for all your help everyone.. i will let james's mum know!!