Bloated Neon Tetra - Diagnosis Needed Please

[kuraiza]

I have a Neon Tetra which has become extremely bloated. It is still eating and it sometimes attempts to join in games with the other neons, but it really can't swim very well being so huge.

I think it might be getting less active now and it's hanging out in the corner more.

It doesn't look like it has protuding scales, but it's hard to tell.

At first I thought it was just fat or full of eggs, but I think I was just being optimistic.

I took some photos, but I am not good at taking aquarium photos. These photos show the bloated fish next to normal neons:

http/users.bigpond.net.au/worner/front_on.jpg

http/users.bigpond.net.au/worner/side_on.jpg

What is most likely wrong with it and what should I do?

 

[scooterchick]

Looks like fish tuberculosis. Prognosis isn't good I'm afraid.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Please have a look at the link and keep posting if you have any questions.

Good luck!

 

[kuraiza]

But the fish is more active than I would expect from a neon tetra with such an advanced stage of TB.

TB sounds very hard to diagnose, what makes you think it is TB?

Looks like fish tuberculosis. Prognosis isn't good I'm afraid.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Please have a look at the link and keep posting if you have any questions.

Good luck!

 

[scooterchick]

I had TB in my tank, symptoms ranged from skinny to extremely bloated, but they all had one thing in common and that was bent spines. Your tetras in the pic all look as though they have bent spines, not just the bloated one. My bloated fish lasted around 2 weeks like that, how long has your fish been like that? try some boiled pea mushed up in case it's a severe case of constipation.

 

[kuraiza]

I don't really know how long it's been because I don't have a very good perception of time, but I'd say the fish has been getting bigger over 2 weeks. Yeah, it's spine is a bit bent I suppose (I don't think the other tetras have bent spines, maybe it looks like it in the photos). I guess that's not a good sign, but it seems sort of natural considering the size of that gut it's carrying.

I tried mashed boiled peas tonight. The guppies loved it, but all the tetras (phantoms and neons) weren't that interested. I'll try again tomorrow.

Thanks anyway, I was wondering about trying an epsom salt bath in case it's constipation, but I don't want to stress the poor thing out.

 

[scooterchick]

The second pic looks especially like the other fish has a bent spine, but sometimes pics can be deceiving. Be ready to remove him as soon as he dies (if you're around) that's the most common way of TB being spread, when a fish dies and the others eat him. If that's what it is, there's not a lot you can do other than keep your water as good as possible and quaratine your tank.

Keep us posted and welcome to fish forums!

 

[rowdyburns21]

Looks like fish tuberculosis. Prognosis isn't good I'm afraid.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Please have a look at the link and keep posting if you have any questions.

Good luck!

Fish Tb is pretty rare, what diet do you feed the fish?

 

[Ilya]

Looks like fish tuberculosis. Prognosis isn't good I'm afraid.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Please have a look at the link and keep posting if you have any questions.

Good luck!

Fish Tb is pretty rare, what diet do you feed the fish?

Corn Flakes?

 

[kuraiza]

I feed them HBH brand flakes called:

"Rainbow Colour"
for all tropical fish
with ChromaColour for better health and colour

I bought it from an aquarium store. I think it's pretty normal fish food and the fish like it.

 

[kuraiza]

It's been about a week and there have been no changes in my tank. No one has died, no one has got worse or better.

I keep looking at that poor neon tetra and I have no idea what to do. I feel like I could help it if I just knew how, I mean how often do you get a chance to see your fish sick but have so much time before it dies?

Please help me if you can.

 

[WILDER]

Has any of the neons lost any of there red stripe like it bleached out, or a black linning around the red.
Epson salt baths help draw fluids out.
But if the spine bending I would put the fish out of its misery, bloating can cause bent spines, did he bloat up first before the spine started to bend.

 

[kuraiza]

Now you mention it, one of the other tetras has quite patchy colouration, like it is molting. I don't see any black outlines.

I don't know if the bent spine came before the bloating, I think it might be caused by the bloating.

Can you tell me more about epson salt baths? Where do I buy epson salt and what concentration do I use?

I'm reluctant to put the fish out of its misery until I am sure I have done all I can, because it doesn't seem as miserable as I would feel if I was that bloated.

 

[Musho3210]

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/neondisease.htm

 

[WILDER]

Sadly if one neon has patchy bleached out colour in the red stripe, or a milky appearance you are dealing with ntd.

 

[SJ2K]

If you havent already done so it does seem best to immediatly remove the fish, as attached to it as you may be it would be a shame to kill of all of your neons for the sake of prelonging the innevitable of one.