Neon Tetra Disease? What to do??

[hage0245]

I started with five neon tetras about a year and a half ago and am now down to two. The most recent neon tetra death was well over six months ago. I know that neon tetras do best in large groups but since they seem to be very frail I don't want to get any more. My two remaining tetras have always looked a little ragged, but now they are looking pretty bad and I don't really know what to do.

My most recent neon tetra death occurred after it developed a large cyst near it's tail; I never could diagnose it properly. After about a month of quarantine and salt in a 10g it finally died.

I tried to snap some pics of my two remaining tetras. The larger one has a smaller version of the cyst that developed on the one that died on it's rear abdomen area. The other one is very small, has fin rot pretty bad, and has a deformed mouth. They didn't always look like this, it has progressed for many months. The cyst on the larger one probably developed a couple months ago and has gotten gradually larger. The larger one is also getting a little bit of visible fin rot as well.

From the pictures, it kind of looks like ich, but I really don't think it is, even as a secondary infection.

The rest of my fish are doing fine. I have 15 platy's, 1 BN pleco, 3 albino cory's, and 6 amano shrimp. The tank is 55g, fairly heavily planted with 80 watts of T12 and 2 DIY bottles of CO2.

My nitrate is at ~10, nitrite is 0, ammonia is 0. The only time my water levels have fluctuated significantly was four months ago when I moved and experienced a mini-cycle which was gone within a week. I monitored the levels daily and did small water changes every day. I now do weekly 40-50% water changes and use Prime.




















So, does this look like neon tetra disease to you guys? If it is, what do I do? The fish eat just fine and don't seem to be experiencing any distress, they just look like hell and I don't want to infect my other fish.

Thanks!!

 

[KarlTh]

It doesn't look like NTD. It looks like a generalised bacterial infection involving some, all or none from columnaris, aeromonas and pseudomonas. A generalised external bacterial med. would be your best option.

 

[tolawdjk]

Agree on a bacterial infection rather than NTD. QT, pristine water, and a broad spectrum external bacterial med. You don't want to med 55 gallons if you can avoid it.

 

[hage0245]

Thanks guys. Any recommendations on a broad spectrum antibiotic? Also, the fin rot seems to be secondary, would it be best to treat that with a different medication along with the bacterial medication or would that be overkill?

EDIT: For some reason I forgot fin rot was caused by a bacterial infection. Disregard my last sentence.

 

[tolawdjk]

You could go with a melafix/primafix combo. Or Maracyn1 and Maracyn 2. Personally, if you are serious about treating, I would do both as there is the uncertainty of the "gram" of the underlying bacteria. You could also be in the situation where both gram positive and gram negative bacteria are causing problems.

Definately QT and treat the QT tank rather than the whole tank. I hate to say it as it sounds cold and cruel, but the costs of meds for treating an entire 55 is going to outweigh the costs of a couple neons. You could just try regular WCs and see if that helps clear things up.

 

[hage0245]

I just read an article about Melafix/Pimafix in which someone talked to reps from API and they aren't even entirely certain what types of bacteria it treats, and it seems kind of hit-and-miss. Since I have a microbiology degree it would be great to get a sample from the cyst and see exactly what it is. But I have never done that on a live fish. I should have done it to the one that died showing similar symptoms.

I know what you mean about the cost of treating two neons. My 10g QT tank just broke, so I would be looking at about 50 bucks for a new QT (which I should get anyways), Melafix/Pimafix, and Maracyn1/Maracyn2. In the back of my mind I was almost hoping they wouldn't last this long since I totally regret ever getting neon tetras. I want to trade in all my stock minus the pleco, cory's, and shrimp and get dwarf cichlids, but I doubt my LFS would take the neons in their condition. I'm kind of stuck with them until they get better or perish.

The main thing I'm worried about is the disease spreading to other fish, which at the moment seem completely healthy. I haven't lost anything besides the neons (and a BN pleco which I forgot to feed after cleaning my tank entirely of algae. I'm an idiot) for at least a year. I would hate for that cyst to bust open in my main tank and wreak havoc on my stock.

 

[tolawdjk]

Run to the local big box "Mart" or dollar store and pick up a small 2 gallon mop bucket. Slip in an airstone, your 10 gal heater, an active sponge filter if you have it.

Even without a sponge filter, water changes should keep the ammonia low enough with just two neons that things shouldn't be a problem. The QT tank doesn't have to be pretty and its not like you will be QTing for months. These fish are either going to get better or they aren't, and it should happen fairly quickly.

That way you have them out of the main tank before a cyst pops. I would also consider a new net, or at the least a mild bleach bath for it before its used in the main tank again.

 

[Cerianthus]

Provided water conditions are within reasons and no meds are avail now, try repeatly dipping in s/w (cup/10G, duration: 1 min or less) or even try keeping in therapeutic [salt] for possible fin rot+fungal infections.

Hope all goes well.