Funky tetra
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Fish Fingers
Fish Crazy
Lol i had the exact same problem with my tetra. it is halarious isnt it. the advice i was given was to do 10% water changes everyday (but im guessing that was to lower ammonia, nitrites and nitrates which u shouldnt have any of in a newly set up quarentine tank). The other advice i got was to give the fish a salt bath once a day. the bad news is he ended up dying 
I'm hoping someone has some more ideas or maybe a different diagnosis. I have been watching both tetras and can find no external signs of illness on them.
They are eating and both are currently swimming level, although the problem one wasn't swimming level after the move the quarantine it has since righted itself.
fins are not clamped either.
I really need help on this please, anyone?
They are eating and both are currently swimming level, although the problem one wasn't swimming level after the move the quarantine it has since righted itself.
fins are not clamped either.
I really need help on this please, anyone?
Alright, I just took a long close look at the affected tetra.
The rear fin is faded to almost white, the top fin is faded.
Where the rear fin meats the tail there is a whitish area that is definitely not naturual, but not a fuzz either.
At the base of the bottom fin there is a single white mark.
The rear fin is faded to almost white, the top fin is faded.
Where the rear fin meats the tail there is a whitish area that is definitely not naturual, but not a fuzz either.
At the base of the bottom fin there is a single white mark.
Opcn
Big fish
Itsa a virus mate, any cancers or fuzzes would be caused by secondary infections.
Hi enchanted 
It's not unusual for a new fish to have been injured during the process of being netted and bagged. The result of this is often a swim bladder problem that will either clear itself up, or the fish will eventually die. There is little you can do for it if this is the case.
I'm concerned about the condition of it's fins. Since it has just been purchased and might recently been moved into the lfs, then to your tank, and possibly injured as well, it's quite possible that it's a bacterial infection starting out. This is often the result of ordinary bacteria taking hold on a fish that has weakened by stress. Be sure to rule this out before you look to more exotic diseases.
It's not unusual for a new fish to have been injured during the process of being netted and bagged. The result of this is often a swim bladder problem that will either clear itself up, or the fish will eventually die. There is little you can do for it if this is the case.
I'm concerned about the condition of it's fins. Since it has just been purchased and might recently been moved into the lfs, then to your tank, and possibly injured as well, it's quite possible that it's a bacterial infection starting out. This is often the result of ordinary bacteria taking hold on a fish that has weakened by stress. Be sure to rule this out before you look to more exotic diseases.
Whirling isn't exotic as it sounds. Actually, for the west coast it is a major problem in all the lakes, rivers, streams, etc....
I spoke with a Biologist at Idaho Fish & Game yesterday who also keeps aquariums. When I explained all the symptoms he has no doubt it is whirling disease. He works with one of the teams that has been trying to fight it in the trout and salmon here.
I also obtained a lot better information about contagion and by quarantining the tetras (which I'm trying to split them up now I just don't know where to put the second one) I took a good step because most of the time it spreads by dead fish and fish that have been picked on because they can't swim right.
He also said that if I am unsure to watch it for about a week (as even in a fish this small it will take a minimum of a month, probably closer to two, to kill it) and the boils, etc... should start appearing.
As soon as I am home with the energy I plan to euthanize it and then carefully watch my main tank.
He also stated that it is about a 2 month period to fully very no infection in the main tank. It takes 1 to 2 months after infection for swimming problems to show up then 2 to 3 weeks for the boils and 2 to 3 weeks later death.
His attitude was the people that were, and many still do, breeding tubifex worms w/ trout and salmon hatchery runoffs were not smart as many diseases move via Tubifex worms and can migrate from cold water to tropical and marine fish.
My guess, although I haven't called petco yet, is that they came from California and the breeder feeds live Tubifex worms. This especially sounds likely since the first instance of the migration to tropical was found in California by someone who was feeding live tubifex worms bred from hatchery runoff.
And with Petco based in California it wouldn't suprise me if they get most of their fish from breeders there.
I spoke with a Biologist at Idaho Fish & Game yesterday who also keeps aquariums. When I explained all the symptoms he has no doubt it is whirling disease. He works with one of the teams that has been trying to fight it in the trout and salmon here.
I also obtained a lot better information about contagion and by quarantining the tetras (which I'm trying to split them up now I just don't know where to put the second one) I took a good step because most of the time it spreads by dead fish and fish that have been picked on because they can't swim right.
He also said that if I am unsure to watch it for about a week (as even in a fish this small it will take a minimum of a month, probably closer to two, to kill it) and the boils, etc... should start appearing.
As soon as I am home with the energy I plan to euthanize it and then carefully watch my main tank.
He also stated that it is about a 2 month period to fully very no infection in the main tank. It takes 1 to 2 months after infection for swimming problems to show up then 2 to 3 weeks for the boils and 2 to 3 weeks later death.
His attitude was the people that were, and many still do, breeding tubifex worms w/ trout and salmon hatchery runoffs were not smart as many diseases move via Tubifex worms and can migrate from cold water to tropical and marine fish.
My guess, although I haven't called petco yet, is that they came from California and the breeder feeds live Tubifex worms. This especially sounds likely since the first instance of the migration to tropical was found in California by someone who was feeding live tubifex worms bred from hatchery runoff.
And with Petco based in California it wouldn't suprise me if they get most of their fish from breeders there.
Hi enchanted
Ewww............. I hope that's not what they have. It sounds terrible!
Did he say anything more about what a boil looks like on a fish? Is it something that will swell and burst, or just look like a red patch?
Ewww............. I hope that's not what they have. It sounds terrible!
Did he say anything more about what a boil looks like on a fish? Is it something that will swell and burst, or just look like a red patch?
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