Help With Neon Tetras

[TropicalNewbie]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums and sort of new to fish keeping. I tried starting with Comets. After failing at that, I switched to tropicals. I have a 10 gallon tank with just 3 neon tetras. The tank is fully cycled. Shortly after I bought the 3 tetras, I noticed a white spot on one of them. It got bigger. I tried getting help all over, and other forums started out helpful, but then turned. People were quick to say it was Neon Tetra Disease and I was pretty much doomed. These fish were at the store for 3 weeks before I got them and all the fish seemed healthy. I went back to the pet store I got them from. The guys said it sounded more like the other fish were picking on him. This fish with the spot does keep to himself mostly and does hide behind plants. He'll join them in the evening. They gave me Melafix to try for a week. The spot is still there, but seems slightly better. Not much better, but it's definitely not worse. The 7th dose will be given Tuesday evening. After that, the bottle says to do a 25% water change and continue dosing if needed. I was hoping to see more improvement than I have, but at least it's not worse. Should I continue the treatment after the 7 days? Also, I know I'll need to wait a week after finishing the last dose before adding more fish, but would adding more fish help this one feel more comfortable?

 

[minxfishy]

Hi and welcome

You say your tank is fully cycled, can you just explain which method you used to do this? Fish in or by adding a source of ammonia known as fishless cycling?

Can you give us your water readings please, specifically ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte ? Thanks.

What size is the white spot? Is is like a grain of salt? or larger. Is it fluffy in appearance?


If you could answer those ? it will give people more of an idea what the problem may be.

 

[Lnbates2000]

Hi, answering the above questions would help, but... just some general info...

Neons are hard to keep - I've found then to be the least hardy fish I have owned, if it is Ich or Whitespot - there would be a few spots on the neon ( I've just had a tank infestation of whitespot) - if it is this, try 'anti white spot' - I still lost some of my fish, but also saved quite a few!

If it's not this then I'm not sure, tetras like to live in large numbers though.

Hope this helps a little.

Laura
p.s any illnesses in the tank usually respond well to a good water change.

 

[TropicalNewbie]

Sorry, I should've been more specific. I tried cycling with the comets. I originally was told by one pet store that I just needed to wait 48 hours before adding the fish. I got 2 comets, lost them (one had an obcession with the filter, so that was his fate). After losing those 2, I got 3 comets. After I lost the last one from those 3, I left the tank without fish for several weeks. There was high ammonia, so I just went adding a little fish food everyday until the tank cycled without fish and stayed stable for several days. I received so many different pieces of advice from so many people, I didn't know which way was up. The tank has a pH of 7.6, 0 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, and 10 ppm nitrates. After I reached this point without fish, I tested a few more times to make sure. Once I saw it was stable, I added the 3 neons. The levels have remained stable since. I've had the 3 neons 1 /12 weeks now. My original plan was to get these 3 and then get 3 more 2 weeks later, so I wouldn't shock the cycle.

The dimensions of my 10 gal tank are 20"L X 10"W X 12"H. The white spot is on the body, not fluffy or anything. I know it's not ich. It literally looks like a loss of color in that spot, but I know better than that to know it's not normal coloring. It was at the top of the body by the tail where the blue ends. It then extended down to the red coloring on the neon. It's gotten smaller though. I had tried a few times to get pictures of it, but was unsuccessful.

 

[Ficious]

i would say your tank is cycled...just treat the whitespot with medicine and increase your temp a few degrees. i would do a good water change before adding the medication though

 

[TropicalNewbie]

Forgot to mention the temp. It ranges from 78 at night to about 81 during the day. What kind of medication would you recommend? I'm already using Melafix. This evening will be the 6th dose.

 

[Tetraking]

Forgot to mention the temp. It ranges from 78 at night to about 81 during the day. What kind of medication would you recommend? I'm already using Melafix. This evening will be the 6th dose.

When i had my neons, they seem to be much happier when the temp was slightly lower about 78 was the highest i let it go, 81 is a big difference and is to warm for them imo, not sure what is wrong with your neon, but i would say i had about 14 and they really are great fish when they are healthy and the more the better, if your water stats are ok and the illness is not spreading i don't see any reason why you could not add a few more

 

[TropicalNewbie]

Odd thing is, I have my heater set to 75 degrees and the thermometer is on the opposite side of the tank.

 

[Loony Fish]

your doing the right thing.
but if that doesn't work it could be a fluke.

 

[Tetraking]

Odd thing is, I have my heater set to 75 degrees and the thermometer is on the opposite side of the tank.

If you are sure that your thermometer is correct then just tweek your heater down a touch and keep an eye on things, my fish were much more active at the lower temp range

 

[TropicalNewbie]

Thanks guys, I'll lower the temp a bit. Could it be the lights in the aquarium hood? I do leave the lights on during the day and turn them off at night. Hmmm......I'll turn the heater down a bit though. See what happens.

I did get a better look at the neon in question. He's been hididng all morning, but he came to the front and the spot actually does look much better than it had. I'll do the last Melafix treatment tomorrow, just to complete it, do the 25% water change, as it suggests. When do you think I can add the next set of 3 fish? In the end, I want to have 6 neon tetras, 6 harlequin rasboras, a guppy and a platy. I plan on doing a 2 week waiting period between each set. It was suggested to do 3 neons, 3 rasboras, 3 more neons, the guppy and platy, and then 3 rasboras. Or should I just finish stocking my neons, then get the rasboaras next followed by the guppy and platy? Finally, when I do get the rasboras, should I get just 2 sets of 3 or should I get all 6 in one purchase?

 

[Tetraking]

Up to you really, i would get the neons first but thats just me, gl with what you decide, but just make sure you keep on top of your water changes its the key to keeping everything running smoothly

 

[TropicalNewbie]

I figured it might be best to do the shoals first so they feel more comfortable. I do keep up on the water changes. Thanks for your help, everyone. So you think it should be ok if I get the other 3 neons relatively soon or should I wait?