Is This Septicemia?

I noticed yesterday that this one neon tetra was losing color and breathing fast. Today it looks like it may be bleeding internally. It’s red in the bottom. I have moved it into WT with Jungle Life Guard. Anyone had experience with Septicemia? Could it be that? Pic is sideways. He’s swimming fine at the moment. No other fish look like ths. Parameters are 0, 0, 10. GH 8, KH 7, PH 7.8. @Colin_T , ?

Anybody have an idea? I need help! Never had this before.

@PheonixKingZ, since you’re holding down the fort, please tell me what to do. I have no experience with this one.

With the picture being of lower quality it's hard to fully see (other then the colouration of course).

As you know I'm no proffesional but it sounds a little like tetra diesease, but I have no explanation regarding the red stomache other then cysts?

Has the fish been swimming around erratically? any lumps or bumps on the fish?

I'll do my best to help research to try and find the cause to your tetra and report back here should I find anything substantial. Fingers crossed it isn't tetra diesease but I thought I'd put my two cents in.

Edit- Did the tetra abandon it's school and start swimming solo before you put them into a QT?

Shiverz said:

With the picture being of lower quality it's hard to fully see (other then the colouration of course).

As you know I'm no proffesional but it sounds a little like tetra diesease, but I have no explanation regarding the red stomache other then cysts?

Has the fish been swimming around erratically? any lumps or bumps on the fish?

I'll do my best to help research to try and find the cause to your tetra and report back here should I find anything substantial. Fingers crossed it isn't tetra diesease but I thought I'd put my two cents in.

Edit- Did the tetra abandon it's school and start swimming solo before you put them into a QT?

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No, he was still schoaling and swimming fine. I don’t believe it’s NTD. No lumps, skin issues, swimming erratically. My bff who does aquatic research just had a stroke so I can’t call on her for help. I wish Colin_T were here. Thanks for at least responding. @PheonixKingZ???

Deanasue said:

No, he was still schoaling and swimming fine. I don’t believe it’s NTD. No lumps, skin issues, swimming erratically. My bff who does aquatic research just had a stroke so I can’t call on her for help. I wish Colin_T were here.

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Well it's good news to hear that tetra diesease is off the table, sorry for showing incompetence.

I wish Colin was here too for your sake, I simply don't have the experience to help, but I couldn't just sit on the sidelines and read the thread, I had to offer my hand in one way or another.

The redness could well be a sign of septicimia, but If it is septicimia I've heard that is quite hard to treat, alot of cases the symptoms shown normally mean it's in the advanced stages. Though the question should also be what caused this in your fish?

There are many treatments for septicimia so I'll list them, though I'm sure you've already looked all this up yourself. (just a note I've C+P'd this)

TETRACYKLINA - 40 to 100 mg per litre of water. The bath shall be applied for a period of five days. Repeat this action if necessary.
OKSITRACYKLINA - from 20 to 100 mg per litre of water. The bath shall be applied for a period of five days. Repeat this action if necessary.
MINOCYKLINE - 250 mg per 40 litres of water. After a day, change the water completely and use the same dose. The drug must not be administered once again.
AMPICYLINE and SYNTARPEN - 0,5 g ampicillin and 0,25 g syntarpene per 50 litres of water shall be given. Every two days we repeat the bath in a new solution.

ICHTIOMYCYN-C - dissolve one capsule per 50 litres of water. The capsule is dissolved in 100 ml of warm water before use. After two days it is necessary to change 1/3 of the water. Then we filter the water through active carbon. Repeat this procedure if necessary.

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I wish I was more experienced for your sake, I'm just hoping that someone pops in with some valuable information for you.

Just a disclaimer, in no way am I saying this is septicimia, I just thought that what information I did dig up would be better served being posted rather then kept in my head. I'm sorry about the condition of your little guy, I hope it can be resolved.

Shiverz said:

Well it's good news to hear that tetra diesease is off the table, sorry for showing incompetence.

I wish Colin was here too for your sake, I simply don't have the experience to help, but I couldn't just sit on the sidelines and read the thread, I had to offer my hand in one way or another.

The redness could well be a sign of septicimia, but If it is septicimia I've heard that is quite hard to treat, alot of cases the symptoms shown normally mean it's in the advanced stages. Though the question should also be what caused this in your fish?

There are many treatments for septicimia so I'll list them, though I'm sure you've already looked all this up yourself. (just a note I've C+P'd this)



I wish I was more experienced for your sake, I'm just hoping that someone pops in with some valuable information for you.

Just a disclaimer, in no way am I saying this is septicimia, I just thought that what information I did dig up would be better served being posted rather then kept in my head. I'm sorry about the condition of your little guy, I hope it can be resolved.

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No, I really appreciate your help. I can handle most illnesses but Septicemia is one I have had no experience with. I have him QT WITH Jungle Life Guard as it’s recommend for Septicemia. We’ll see. They were treated for internal parasites last week just to be safe. They all went through that terrible ich breakout that I had too. They have been some tough little neons. I’m use to giving advice to others and it’s frustrating when I can’t help myself.

Found a little something @Colin_T said a few years ago:

“Ammonia also burns the fish and allows entry for disease organisms like fungus and bacteria. This would help Columnaris, fungus & septicemia to get into the fish.“

Will you please retest your Ammonia?

@PheonixKingZ Ammonia is 0. I also have an ammonia monitor in tank which shows “safe”. I know ammonia poisoning and this is not ammonia poisoning. It was Septecemia diagnosis and how to treat that I was I was asking your advice about. How do you feel about the Septicemia? Treatment? Anxiously awaiting your response. Here are some better pics for you.

Please read this: https://nippyfish.net/sick-betta/septicemia-infection/

It explains it very well. 3/4 of the way through describes treatment.

PheonixKingZ said:

Please read this: https://nippyfish.net/sick-betta/septicemia-infection/

It explains it very well. 3/4 of the way through describes treatment.

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Thanks. I’ve already read that. I was hoping for some experience in the matter.

@PheonixKingZ . it’s not Septecemia then. Please look at the pics and give me your opinion and what to do. Thank you in advance.

Anybody else have any suggestions?

Hope you neon get well. Extreme stress or illness are the 2 main factors for this. I agree I do not think it is neon tetra disease or septicemia. I had a couple neons go very dull of my new ones but after a few days their color was back. Is there anything like a cloudy film on the neon?

Deanasue said:

@PheonixKingZ . it’s not Septecemia then. Please look at the pics and give me your opinion and what to do. Thank you in advance.

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It looks like Septecemia to me - all the symptoms match your Tetra.

“Septicemia will often present itself as redness under the scales any where on the body. It can be concentrated in one area or appear throughout. It may appear more visible around the face. The discoloration is often impossible to detect in dark or red colored fish. Open wounds should be pinkish and usually heal quickly. A wound that is grey, black or fuzzy or has discoloration around the wound site might be infected and antibiotic treatment should be started. Septicemia sometimes shows up as a secondary infection to Popeye, an infection that leads to the bulging of one or both eyes. On occasion, it may lead to Dropsy. Other symptoms may also present themselves in the form of sluggishness, loss of appetite, clamped fins or color loss. Observe your fish daily so you can learn to recognize his normal behavior and be able to tell if he is acting out of sorts.”

That is the only illness I know of that makes the whole body turn red. (Now, if the fish has a scratch or something, a little part of it may go red. But not the whole body)