Red Gills On Pristella Tetra

[frogluver]

Last night when I went to feed my fish, I noticed that one of my Pristella Tetra's gills were red. It still eats and swims normal. I have never had this problem before, what should I do?

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing or laboured breathing.

 

[frogluver]

Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing or laboured breathing.

I don't know the water stats, but I can get the water tested tonight. It is a 20 gallon tank with 3 Pristella Tetra, 3 Cherry Barbs, and 2 Flame Dwarf Gouramis. There are no signs of flicking, rubbing, or laboured breathing. It's acting perfectly normal, and the other fish seem fine.

 

[WILDER]

I would test your water as red gills can be bad water quality, gill flukes, bacterial gill rot.

 

[frogluver]

I would test your water as red gills can be bad water quality, gill flukes, bacterial gill rot.

Are any of those contagious to my other fish?

About a month ago the tank had a really bad algae bloom, and it just wouldn't go away. Finally I filled a 10 gallon tank with the water from the main tank and put the fish in there, hoping to keep them in it while I completely emptied and cycled the main tank. But before the tank had time to fully cycle, the water in the 10 gallon got so cloudy that I had to shine a light on the water to net the fish. I put them back into the main tank, and they were doing great.

Could the algae be the cause?

 

[WILDER]

Bad water quality can cause the gills to look red and inflamed.
I would check your water stats.
No the algae shouldn't of made the gills go red.

 

[frogluver]

I got the water tested, the nitrites are high. Could the red gills be because of stress? I recently took out a rock and replaced it with plants in the tank.

 

[WILDER]

If the nitrites are high explains the red gills. Bad water quality burns the skin and gills.
Water changes and increase aeration.
How long has the tank been set up?
Do you over feed?

 

[frogluver]

I don't think I over feed, and it has been about two months since the water change.

 

[WILDER]

Once tanks cycled you preform a water change and gravel vac once a week.
Hows the fish doing.