Odd Fish Behaviour, Listing To One Side.

[Fastblur]

Hello everyone, I have a bit of a problem, any help would be appreciated greatly.


Tank size: BIUBE 35L
pH: Unknown at present (tester kit bought tomorrow)
ammonia: Above
nitrite: Above
nitrate: Above
kH: above
gH: above
tank temp: 24 - 25 Degrees Centigrade.

Fish Symptoms: Two Neon tetras have developed a sizeable bulge to the abdomen. One of these has lost it's blue hue on it's flank. This fish is also having a great deal of trouble swimming downward, it's listing to the left and generally looking rather unhappy. The other fish are swimming very erratically in circles rather than the usual relaxed nosing.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: One so far, about three litres.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: The Biube starter kit + filter.

Tank inhabitants: half a dozen neon tetras.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): (in last two weeks) two small plants. One with broad leaves the other a sort of generic waterweed. (week) A small bit of volcanic rock. (week) a small (two inches tall) 'No fishing sign'

Exposure to chemicals:NA

Tank has been running for about two weeks, with fish in it for ten days or so. symptoms and general oddness appeared in last 48 hours.

I've followed the manufacturers instructions contained in the manual for the tank to the letter bar on the recommendation of (a reputable) aquarium owner that half a dozen small tetras ought to be alright as opposed to the recommended 3 medium tropical fish.
Any help would be appreciated, I don't want to have to freezer poor Binky.

 

[WILDER]

Have they lost there colour in the red stripe, as though it's bleach out.

 

[Fastblur]

Panic over, the Tetra died during the night of ailment unkown. The other fish seem to be flitting about alright. I think.

 

[phlawed]

Panic over, the Tetra died during the night of ailment unkown. The other fish seem to be flitting about alright. I think.

if you dont know the problem though it could still be in the tank waiting to take all your fish. I would continue with what you know and try to find problem and treat it accordingly.

 

[Fastblur]

if you dont know the problem though it could still be in the tank waiting to take all your fish. I would continue with what you know and try to find problem and treat it accordingly.

Scary, well in that case, the now deceased tetra lost all of it's colouration - the blue fading completely and the red dulling a fair bit, it also continued to get larger in the abdomen. It continued to list until it couldn't compete against the water current from the air pump. It then sank to the bottom where it was found stone dead. Any idea what that might have been?
The other fish seem to be quite vibrant at the moment, but I'll keep them under observation for an extra week to ten days before adding anything new (so three weeks until the next planned expansion of half a dozen (male) guppies.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Take a look at this link, and see how closely it matches. It is a disease called neon tetra disease, where one of the key symptoms is the color gradually fades, especially around the dorsal fin.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdntd.htm

 

[WILDER]

http/www.planet-pets.com/newsarticles/neontetradisease.htm

 

[Fastblur]

Well that scared the wits out of me. It certainly looks like the symptoms. The other fish are schooling and generally being good. However one does have a bit of a gut. I had just assumed that as female tetras are described as 'rounder' than the males, this fish was a lady.
I've changed some of the water. Aside from observation and no new fish for a few weeks any other recommendations?
(and not to buy from the same supplier).
Thankyou for all your help.

 

[tttnjfttt]

If you see any other fish becoming sick, it would be best to isolate it immediately. Also, if it does become sick, do try treating with antibiotics since there is "false neon tetra disease" which has the same symptoms, but is bacterial in nature.

 

[Fastblur]

If you see any other fish becoming sick, it would be best to isolate it immediately. Also, if it does become sick, do try treating with antibiotics since there is "false neon tetra disease" which has the same symptoms, but is bacterial in nature.

So If a fish begins to display a 'lack of shoaling' and difficulty swimming it's time to buy some anti-biotics?

 

[WILDER]

To be honest it sounds like ntd to me, false neon tetra desease is saddleback columnaris it will look bleached out or the skin will look fluffy looking, any cyst thats go to a point on the belly area.

 

[tttnjfttt]

How can you tell the difference between NTD and false NTD?

 

[WILDER]

Yes had it ntd with my neon tetra's and seen columnaris.
The swimming erratically is a good give away and listing to one side is a sign of parasites as well.
Plus they can get popeye and dropsy on top.

Look at the pics of ntd.
http/www.2cah.com/pandora/Disease.html#NTD

 

[Fastblur]

any cyst thats go to a point on the belly area.

I'm not quite sure how that's supposed to look, but if you see the attached, one of the fish which is otherwise fine is displaying a profile a lot less pronounced but quite like 2. (assuming 1 is a normal tetra). It's more of a bump than pointed.

 

[WILDER]

Yep i had that a bulge on the tummy that went to a point it was ntd.