Growth on Neon

[Rootadmin]

Hi All,

First post

I’ve been keeping fish for about 8 months now (loving it) however recently one of our neons has a few growths/markings on it and I’m not sure if this is ich.

Is someone able to help?

The things in the water are from the air pump and wave maker.

Thanks in advance

 

[BettaFishGirl]

It doesn't look like ich. Ick looks like you sprinkled salt all over the fish. It might be a tumor of some sort. I don't know a lot about those though, so other, more experienced people will be more of a help to you!

 

[Colin_T]

It's excess mucous produced by the fish to cover an injured or damaged area. Clean water (and maybe some salt) will usually fix it.

Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH

Do a big (75%) water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure nay new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

If there's no improvement after a few water changes, post more pictures and maybe add some salt.

--------------------

SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), swimming pool salt, or any non iodised salt (sodium chloride) to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.

Keep the salt level like this for 1-2 weeks.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.

 

[Rootadmin]

It's excess mucous produced by the fish to cover an injured or damaged area. Clean water (and maybe some salt) will usually fix it.

Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH

Do a big (75%) water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure nay new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

If there's no improvement after a few water changes, post more pictures and maybe add some salt.

--------------------

SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), swimming pool salt, or any non iodised salt (sodium chloride) to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.

Keep the salt level like this for 1-2 weeks.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.

That’s great thanks for the info!

I’ve been doing circa 50% water changes as standard every week, this picture was taken after about 1.5 weeks of this growth. Interestingly one of my harlequins also had some damage, I’m now wondering if the two are related

 

[Colin_T]

Post pictures of the harlequin rasbora.
What other fishes are in the tank and how many of each species?

How long has the tank been set up (8 months)?

What sort of filter is on the tank?
How often and how do you clean the filter?

 

[Rootadmin]

The harlequin is missing an eye - we were away for a few days when that happened so no idea what happened.

The tank was set up about 8 months ago and has been regularly maintained with the filters changed when due.
It’s running a jewul built in filter/pump/heater with additional wave maker and air stone.

In the tank are:
Neons - 20
Cockatoo dwarf chilads - 3
Harlequins - 4
Zebra fish - 4
Dwarf gouramis - 2
Honey gouramis - 4
Pleco - 1
Guppies - 4

The tank is 140L

 

[Colin_T]

If the harlequin lost an eye, then someone is causing problems. It might have been the danios, although they aren't renown for biting, let alone taking out eyes.

What are the sexes of the Apistogramma cacatuoides (cockatoo dwarf cichlid)?
If your not sure, post pictures of them.

What colour are the dwarf gouramis?

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The neon in the original pictures is looking a little bit skinny. There could be an underlying issue like worms or gill flukes that have weakened the fish and minor sores are causing problems.

How often do you feed them and what do you feed them?

 

[Essjay]

the filters changed when due.

Please don't change the filter media. The manual only says that to make you buy new ones and earn money for Juwel.

The sponges in a Juwel filter just need to be washed in water taken out at a water change. They'll last for years and only need replacing when they go into holes.
If you have cirax, that too just needs swooshing round in old tank water and is replaced in a few years when it starts to crumble.
Does the filter have a green nitrate sponge? Those are widely regarded as doing nothing for nitrate, so pretend it's a blue sponge and just wash it.