Why are my tetras getting mouldy and dying?

[Newbie]

Hi everyone.

I really hope that you can help me as i have had 3 of my neon tetras die in the last few hours!

I have a baby biorb 15l and am new to all of this. In the biorb i have 4 white cloud minnows which are really heathy and i did have 4 neon tetras!

The fish all seem to get on fine but for some wierd reason the 3 tetras started to grow a white mouldy type coat yesterday and have now died!

My temparature is 25 degrees, the Ph in 7.5 and i have fed them tetra mix pellets - please can anyone help me to understand what im doing wrong?

The last tetra seems to be ok but must now be very lonely although the minnows are keeping him company by the looks of things!

I look forward to any responses.

Newbie
:o/

[Lady Hobbs]

Possibly they have neon tetra disease. But possibly a fungus since you say they get mouldy looking? Check your water parmameters and add meds if you think it could be a fungus.

[Full3R]

it could have been a bacterial infection that only affected the other three, did they have the white coat before or after they died or did you find them dead with the coat only?

[Newbie]

Thanks for your rapid replies.

Im not sure what meds to give them as im new to this and do not know what it is that they are suffering from as yet.......

They seemed fine when I got them - the white mouldy stuff seems to grow on them when they are alive and then not long after im finding them dead covered in the stuff!

I bought them from P@H - is this not advisable?

[Lady Hobbs]

I think with neon tetra disease they just loss their color and die quite rapidly but it does sound as yours has a fungus. Walmarts and everyone has fungus meds you just drop in the tank. Read the directions, however.

You don't want to give meds to fish unless they need it so if your infected fish have already died, just keep an eye on the others and then treat the tank if you see more of it.

[Full3R]

im not sure what P@H is im afraid (im a Damn Aussie)

But id suggest adding a small amount of aquarium salt to your tank as it will help fight of a bacterial disease as it douns to be and fungus which are probably the same thing im not sure

But...

My Black Widdow Tetras had something similar to what your describing which could be the same thing i lost one tetra then treated the rest and they are all now fine

[Newbie]

Once again - huge thanks for your responses.

P@H is a pet 'supermarket' over here in England - i am starting to think that maybe im best sticking to a specialist store instead now! Ill definatly purchase some emergancy meds and will add a little salt to my set up - i feel really bad as im taking these little lives into my own hands and don't seem to be doing a good job as yet!

There's 'nowt wrong with being an 'ozzy - im just really jelous that you have much better weather over there. Anyhow - shouldn't you be asleep at this time? ;o)

I am hoping to get a guppy for my aquarium soon but really want things to be ok before i introduce anything else - ill let you know how i get on. In the meantime ill keep an eye on the remaining tetra. I hope that he will be happy with the minnows as company for a little while!

[Full3R]

yes Asutralia has its moments, its hard to find a true Aussie spot in AUS its turning out so much like america, in reference to my Damn Aussie comment it was on this forum i use aussie slang or references that others dont get and visa versa

Dont feel to bad, everyone has a little problem atleast your trying is the main thing its better to let them lve theres lives only half lived in a pet shop isnt it? youve just experienced a hick up in your aquarium life

[CJ1]

Try a large water change followed by a couple more smaller ones during the week. Most conditions can be treated this way. Medicating should be avoided as much as possible. Are you doing weekly water changes and rinsing your filter media regularly?

[freshwaterfishlover]

It sounds like ick. Neon Tetra Dissease is when the fish looses color and then looses body fat and then eventually dies.

[Lady Hobbs]

ICK is salt-like tiny spots. She said hers looked like mold, which would be a fungus.

[kimmers318]

The one thing that is standing out at me as a very possible cause of the problem here is too many fish leading to poor water quality. Using Williams volume calculator your 15L tank is just under 4 gallons....sorry, I can't figure well with liters yet :(. 8 fish in that small of a tank is probably too much for it leading to spikes in ammonia and nitrites, and I can see the nitrates building up rapidly. Besides the fact that neons do seem to prefer larger areas, they are quite active. My daughter originally had 4 neons in her 5 gal at one time (we tried several fish actually before talking her into a betta) and they were definitely not as colorful or active as they are now in my 64. Before you get any more fish, try letting your tank settle with the current inhabitants and give it several weeks to see that it can stay that way. If you haven't purchased a water test kit do so ASAP, with that small of a tank you water can go downhill fast....if you start checking your water regularly you will be able to see if your tank can handle any more fish or not.
Hope that information helps.