Do my neon tetras gills look normal?

[RescueNewbie]

Hi total newbie here who rescued a tank recently with a Yoyo and neon Tetra in it.

I posted previously as my Yoyo was hiding all day in pebble cave and occasionally yawning and periodically panting. Was advised cotton mouth by my local store and given itch treatment. He perked up the next day, which much have been coincidence as advice on here said likely otherwise.

Decided might be amonia issue so caught him and the tetra and did a tank deep clean as putrid gravel and thought issue was amonia spikes.

He has been super happy again and actively eating. Until today.

Then I noticed that the tetra gills might look a bit red?

Wondering if anyone could advise if they look normal or not? Wondering if they have flukes or bacterial infection. And if so how best to treat?

Videos here

No idea what is normal, so just want to check.

Thank you.

 

[Naughts]

In the video I can't see redness but the blue lighting might be masking it so trust your instinct, the yoyo does look like he is breathing heavily. Also the neon's eyes look inflamed, maybe damage from poor conditions before you got it. Don't add any medication as there is no clear need and they often do more harm than good.

The water change worked before so keep doing them.

If your tank isn't cycled ( a biological process where beneficial bacteria eliminate the ammonia and nitrite ), you will need to change 50% of the water every day or two because the ammonia is continuously being released by the fish breathing and expelling waste. You can read up on cycling in the beginner's section. Once the tank cycles it normally remains stable unless the beneficial bacteria are destroyed by chlorine, antibiotics, extreme cleaning etc. so the water changes can be reduced to once a week. Ask as many questions as you need to, as it takes a while to understand it all.

 

[10 Tanks]

Hello. The main requirement for a healthy tank is an aggressive water change routine. Here's the rule: Tanks up to 30 gallons do best with a 50 percent water change performed a couple of times a week. Tanks 30 gallons and above need that 50 percent removed and replaced weekly. No excuses. If you can't do that, then you'll just have to be content with fish that aren't quite as healthy as they could be. Pretty simple.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Olivia11]

Generally, healthy neon tetras have clear and non-swollen gills without any discoloration. If you notice any issues, it's best to consult with a veterinarian who specializes in aquatic animals.

 

[RescueNewbie]

In the video I can't see redness but the blue lighting might be masking it so trust your instinct, the yoyo does look like he is breathing heavily. Also the neon's eyes look inflamed, maybe damage from poor conditions before you got it. Don't add any medication as there is no clear need and they often do more harm than good.

The water change worked before so keep doing them.

If your tank isn't cycled ( a biological process where beneficial bacteria eliminate the ammonia and nitrite ), you will need to change 50% of the water every day or two because the ammonia is continuously being released by the fish breathing and expelling waste. You can read up on cycling in the beginner's section. Once the tank cycles it normally remains stable unless the beneficial bacteria are destroyed by chlorine, antibiotics, extreme cleaning etc. so the water changes can be reduced to once a week. Ask as many questions as you need to, as it takes a while to understand it all.

Thank you, I did a 50% water change as advised rather than my ongoing 30% every 2-3 days and he is much happier. Will now do daily changes and I have also ordered an amonia alarm and API master water test kit too today so I can accurately check levels and spot when it has cycled again or issues arise .

The below video is him this morning, I swear he is a puppy dog in fish form! He has also be sitting on the bubble stone and on his driftwood perch today, just chilling with normal breathing. He has also been scouting for food and sucking on everything in sight. No hiding at all today. (I know the tank is too small for him and he needs buddies, I'm on an ongoing gradual mission!