Sick Tetra

[mpoulton12345]

Hi all. I got home to find one of my black neons lying on its side on the bottom. it is breathing heavily. It will occasionaly swim around but is all over the place before settling on the bottom again. he has been eating over the last few days but has won't eat today. i noticed it's poo was white a couple of days ago but didn't think anything of it. Any ideas what i can do?

Btw PH 6.8 Amonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 5

 

[black angel]

White poo is dead blood cells being shed from the gut lining and would indeed indicate something of a bacterial nature.

 

[mpoulton12345]

Hmm. I've noticed a couple more of them with white stringy poo breathing quickly. It's only the tetras that are affected, could it be neon tetra disease??. Can anyone suggest a treatment. I was thinking of trying Interpet anti internal bacteria or Waterlife Sterazin. Any Suggestions??

 

[black angel]

As far as i can figure these meds are only strong enough to kill the bacteria in the tank and not in the fish. You would be best to do more water changes and bigger ones.
How often do you do water changes and how much? Are you using a gravel vac? How many fish and what are they and what size of tank? Filtration as well would be good to know and how you clean it out and how often?
I dont know if its NTD as there doesnt seem to be anything else wrong except the poo. What do you feed them?

 

[mpoulton12345]

As far as i can figure these meds are only strong enough to kill the bacteria in the tank and not in the fish. You would be best to do more water changes and bigger ones.
How often do you do water changes and how much? Are you using a gravel vac? How many fish and what are they and what size of tank? Filtration as well would be good to know and how you clean it out and how often?
I dont know if its NTD as there doesnt seem to be anything else wrong except the poo. What do you feed them?

i change 25% every week. yes i use a gravel vac once a week. tank is 30 uk gallon 9 black neons, 6 harlequin rasbora, 2 rams 4 julli cory's. Fluval 3+ internal power filter. i feed aquarian flakes and nutrafin catfish pellets. occasionaly i'll give them frozen bloodworm.

 

[black angel]

As long as they are feeding then all you can do is maybe up the weekly change of 25% to twice a week for a while and feed a bit more meat in the diet.

 

[mpoulton12345]

i've been to the pet shop today and they suggested myxazin, i did a 50% water change and started the course today. the first tetra is still alive but rarely moves and hasn't eaten since tuesday. He is still breathing heavily. i noticed some little things crawling on the front glass when i changed the water. only about 0.5 mm long, i tried to get a picture but couldn't take a good one. are they likely to be parasites or baby snails? Also the waste water from the tank is yellowey.

 

[jonny-5]

The little things on the glass(if they are tiny white ones) are prob a worm caused by overfeeding! But i may be wrong.The yellowish water is caused by myxazin as it dyes the water but is harmless and so are the worms,just feed a little less for a few days and see if they go.You also need a bit more oxygen in the water if your using meds,turn on your airpump if you have 1.Hope this helps

 

[mpoulton12345]

thanks. the airpump is on all the time anyway. I'll see how the myxazin does over the next few days.

 

[mpoulton12345]

Finished the myxazin now but it hasn't done alot of good. I think i will try the sterazin now. would it harm the fish if they ore ok or should i just treat the affected fish. The first tetra is still alive! but hasn't eaten and rarely moved for a week.

 

[black angel]

I doubt the sterazin will do anything either. Keep doing water changes and plenty of air. How long have you had them?
Internal bacteria is hard to cure and once a fish stops eating its usually the end. dorsetdiscus do a flake with garlic in it that may tempt it to eat again.

 

[mpoulton12345]

I've had them about three months they were the first fish i bought for my tank. They weren't too good when i bought them, one had some missing scales which are slowly healing but one had whitespot which the rest cought. Got rid of that anyway. Looks like i might have to finish the one who isn't eating off. I don't fancy chopping his head off. is there anything i can put in some water with him.