Sick neon tetras

Question
Hi Sam,

I'm new to fish keeping and my 3 neon tetras have taken I'll. They've turned white but the neon strip is still bright. I've taken them out of the main tank and put them into a bowl (I don't have any other tanks at the moment). they seem to swimming okay without a filter but we're struggling a wee bit when they were in the main tank. I know neon tetra disease can make them turn white but they've been in quarantine for a few days now and don't seemed to be getting any worse.

My tank has been set up for a little over two weeks. Its 36L and I've had my water tested and everything is okay. I have 2 mollies and 4 guppies also in my tank. It is filtered and heated (roughly 25 degrees) I also have 2 live plants.

Please reply soon as I don't want my tetras to die!

Mel

Answer
Dear Mel,


Unfortunately, neon tetras are occasionally afflicted by the so-called "neon tetra disease" (NTD) or pleistophora disease, a sporozoan disease caused by Pleistophora hyphessobryconis. Despite being a well-known condition, it is currently incurable and often fatal to the fish. The disease cycle begins when microsporidian parasite spores enter the fish after it consumes infected material, such as the bodies of a dead fish, or live food such as tubifex, which may serve as intermediate hosts. The disease is most likely passed by from newly acquired fish, which have not been quarantined.

Symptoms include restlessness, loss of coloration, lumps on the body as cysts develop, difficulty swimming, curved spines as the disease progresses, and secondary infections, such as fin rot and bloating.

A so-called "false neon disease", which is bacterial, 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. This disease has also been confused with columnaris (mouth rot, mouth fungus, 'flex').

To date, no cure is known; the only 'treatment' is the immediate removal of diseased fish to preserve the remaining fish. The use of a diatom filter, which can reduce the number of free parasites in the water, may help. To prolong the lives of the infected fish, change the water daily and add some API Stress Coat. Stress Coat removes stress, which your Tetra has since its infected. You can buy it at almost any local pet shop.

~Sam