Pale and isolating ember tetra

[Catfish5861]

I added five small ember tetras a few weeks ago. Lost one fairly quickly and rest all seemed very well acclimatised, but one has now started self isolating/resting on a plant near the top and looks pale. I've checked water levels and all seem good. I know they are fragile fish at the best of times but can anyone suggest what may be wrong?

 

[GaryE25 140]

The poor fish appears to have an internal bacterial infection that has reached the kidneys - a crucial organ in fish as they have to balance water inside and outside. That fish is swollen.

There's a symptom called dropsy, where the scales pinecone as the fish dies. That doesn't appear to be happening, but the situation for the fish is dire. Drpopsy isn't a disease in spite of what you'll sometimes read, but is a symptom of diseases. We can only guess at the actual cause, and I'm afraid there isn't hope for that fish.

Stay with the weekly partial water changes, beware of overfeeding and the others should be okay.

 

[Tomsfish5 48]

Hard to say from picture.
Looks like bloating is coming on from pic.
If that is the case I will say bacterial infection.
Do you see any scales protuding?
The bloat is also called dropsy which is really just a symptom of an internal bacterial infection.

 

[Catfish5861]

Thanks both. It does seem to be getting more bloated. I suspect it won't survive the night. If it does I do have some medicine for internal bacteria. Worth isolating/treating or should I let nature take course or possibly euthanise it?

 

[Innesfan25 8]

I've never known of a med that was effective for dropsy symptoms. If caught early enough, epsom salt baths are sometimes effective. But I think this little tetra is too far gone.

 

[Tomsfish5 48]

Unfortunately when the symptoms are so clear to see from outside the fish the damage inside the fish is too far gone to be corrected.
You are seeing the final stage.
I would do my best to make sure the fish does not die in the tank.
Fish eating fish is one of surest way to transfer disease.
I would remove the fish and keep a close eye on other in next couple weeks.
For any who want something to read this article here kind of sums up why I never kept a fish if I thought it had a bacterial infection.

Bacterial infections | The Skeptical Aquarist

www.skepticalaquarist.com