Neon Tetra disease

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-13-2007, 12:51 AM

Can I please have descriptions of the effects, behaviour and so on of Neons that are infected, dying and then dead through Neon Tetra disease, please.

I lost a Neon last night, think I am losing one more today, and am trying to ascertain culprit(s).

The one last night was drifting, unable to maintain its balance, trying to eat flakes but couldn't get it's mouth around them, breathing erratically.

The rest were all fine but staying away.
It died later last night.

All comments welcome...

**RobbieG** · 07-13-2007, 01:10 AM

This is the most common description I have found

This disease was originally described in Neon Tetras, but can affect many other species of fish. In Neons, one of the early signs of this disease is a loss of the red colour, and difficulty swimming Note that there is a so-called "false neon disease", which is bacterial, and shows very similar symptoms. It is impossible for the home aquarist to determine for certain the difference between NTD and false NTD on the basis of visible symptoms alone, without laboratory backup.

From

http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/tre...reatment5.html

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-13-2007, 02:47 AM

Great help!
Yes, some of those things mentioned sure were present...

Keep the advice and info coming!

**RobbieG** · 07-13-2007, 10:40 AM

Quarantine them if you can and try the antiparasite meds it can't hurt. If it is false NTD melafix may help (changed this as I was wrong earlier)

Did you have the color fading?

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-13-2007, 10:56 AM

Yes, the red has faded nearly completely from the next ill one.

**rollie** · 07-13-2007, 11:19 AM

there is no know cure for neon tetra disease.

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-14-2007, 03:56 AM

The second sick one is hanging in there, and has regained a little of his colour. This morning I was at the LFS as the opened the front doors, the guy inside knew what was going on just from part of the desrioption as he correctly named the other symptoms, gave me some meds. Round 1 of meds are in the tank with the water change. So - Round 1 - FIGHT!

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-14-2007, 07:25 AM

Argh, I am having second thoughts - perhaps I should yank the sick one out and euthanise it...that's what the LFS guy recommended, rather than try to cure it with medicine like I am doing - what do you think, folks?

**RobbieG** · 07-14-2007, 12:03 PM

Rollie is right - there is no known cure - but companies that make anti parasite meds claim some success. False NTD cannot be distinguished from NTD (without an autopsy) and is curable by antibacterial meds.

The important thing to do is to quarantine the fish. It is call neon tetra disiease - but spreads easily to many other species.

If they were my fish I would quarantine and treat with antibacterial mediaction and antiparasite medication.

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 07-14-2007, 12:21 PM

The other ill one was euthanised two hours ago, as I saw necropsy erupting on its exterior. The euthanasia was a very peaceful death for it - gave it an overdose of anaesthetic.

So, the whole tank is now a hospital tank.

Here's hoping the rest will be OK with the meds.

Thanks all for comments, advice and support.