sick fish

[Callisto405]

I have a black neon that has 1 open red gill and looks inflamed, fish also looks dull looking. It's been the same for 3 days. the fish won't eat either. It's been in a quarantine tank since I bought it. It was the only one left in the store and since I had 2 at home already I thought I would rescue it. I looked at it in the store but I didn't notice the open red gill or I wouldn't have bought it. Any thoughts on what this is?

 

[Naughts]

Probably a damaged gill plate from poor genetics. If so it is unlikely to heal and could shorten it's life. Give it a good home with really clean water, that's the best you can do.

 

[Colin_T]

Naughts is correct. The fish is just missing part of its gill cover and the red bit is the gill filament that is normally covered by the gill cover. It's a genetic defect and nothing to worry about.

The fish is probably stressed due to being on its own and in a tank without substrate, backing or plants. That is probably why it isn't eating and also why the colour is pale.