Possible Neon problem?

**richberstler** · 01-09-2008, 03:26 AM

I picked up a new batch of black neon tetras last week. I noticed the biggest one (looks female) has a weird looking eye. On closer inspection ti appears to be her gill. At first I thought ick or something, but it has the same gold sheen as her stripe. Maybe a abnormality?

She seems to be leader of the school, if sick I'm not sure the others would follow. Since they are all still pretty skiddish I can't get a prolonged, good look.

I can see into her gill and maybe she does twitch a bit more than the others, but I do have a goos bit of current in the tank and her being the biggest may have something to do with the twitch.

Any thoughts?

**Dave66** · 01-09-2008, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by richberstler

I picked up a new batch of black neon tetras last week. I noticed the biggest one (looks female) has a weird looking eye. On closer inspection ti appears to be her gill. At first I thought ick or something, but it has the same gold sheen as her stripe. Maybe a abnormality?

She seems to be leader of the school, if sick I'm not sure the others would follow. Since they are all still pretty skittish I can't get a prolonged, good look.

I can see into her gill and maybe she does twitch a bit more than the others, but I do have a good bit of current in the tank and her being the biggest may have something to do with the twitch.

Any thoughts?

Black Neon Tetras (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) are more touchy than many of their cousins. They are more prone to disease than neon tetras, and they will not tolerate ammonia and nitrite at all, and it doesn't take much nitrate to cause them distress, thus, they do best in a well-planted, well established and stable tank.
I've noticed that more and more tetras that were farmed in Asia have turned up with gill abnormalities. Makes me wonder about the water conditions in which the fry are raised, as toxins can do that to fry.
They seem rarely fatal as long as good conditions are maintained and non-aggressive fish aren't kept. As long as the leader of the school continues to eat well and be in health, I wouldn't worry about her.

Dave

**kitten3326** · 01-15-2008, 01:24 AM

I purchased a shoal of ten neon tetras at my LFS and all were dead within 24 hours, would love to know what happened to them, all were in a well established tank.

**OscarFan** · 01-15-2008, 01:52 AM

Did you introduce them properly

**MeganL3985** · 01-15-2008, 02:11 AM

If they all died abruptly, either there was something wrong with your tank water, aclimation or you may have had a nasty case of NTD.

**kitten3326** · 01-15-2008, 02:18 AM

no, they died one at a time, but were all gone in 24 hours, all my water tests were fine, and I am fantical about water changes, and I always acclimate at least 1 hour before adding any new fish, and they went into a quarantine tank first, never do I put new fish in my tanks without quartineing first. I used to until I lost an entire tank due when a bacterial infection wiped out the tank.

**KcEE** · 01-15-2008, 07:35 AM

That's sad. Sorry to hear about your lost kitten. I wonder how they all died though. Could be stress.

**CAX474** · 01-15-2008, 07:49 AM

Neons are very touchy depending where you get them, I havent had a problem with any that I have brought from my LFS but I have heard of other people getting them and as here they have lost every one it 24 -36hrs. Its a strange thing why some die and some dont, but I am sorry to hear that you have lost them all. going by what Ive heard I would say that it is not your fault but that of the fish and where you got them and wher they got them. If you are going to get some more I would sugest that you check them very closely and make sure they are healthy and are very lively when they are in the stores tank.

**kitten3326** · 01-15-2008, 01:02 PM

I actually don't buy neons anymore, I have since found dwarf gourmias and bolivian rams, which are a most beautiful fish and you don't have to buy a large shoal and a few. Much more personality also. Thanks guys