One neon tetra much smaller than the others and not eating

[Joolsajones]

Hi all, I’m new to tropical fish keeping and sadly wasn’t provided with the right guidance when I set it up, in fact they told me to steer clear of forums! You live and learn I guess.

I have 6 neon tetras, 5 are growing and eating, however one is in the midst of the feed but isn’t taking any food. My first though was he can see, but that’s probably me being dramatic!
I just wondered if anyone has experienced similar and if it’s normal. They’ve been in the tank just over a week. I can attach pics if needs be?

Thanks

 

[Retired Viking]

Welcome to the forum Does the neon show any unusual sighs besides not eating? Have you tried grinding up the food into smaller pieces? Tried different types of food? How long has your tank been cycled? sorry for all the questions.

 

[Joolsajones]

Welcome to the forum Does the neon show any unusual sighs besides not eating? Have you tried grinding up the food into smaller pieces? Tried different types of food? How long has your tank

Welcome to the forum Does the neon show any unusual sighs besides not eating? Have you tried grinding up the food into smaller pieces? Tried different types of food? How long has your tank been cycled? sorry for all the questions.

Dont Apologise for the questions! I really value the help.
So, the aquatic store I got the fish from told me once I’d set up to leave for a week before adding fish, which I duly did trusting their advice; mistake!
Since this I have been told about cycling, which a week is clearly not long enough to do. I bought a test kit and it is high in ammonia. I have bought Seachem prime and today did a 10lt water change to try and bring the levels down for the fish while it cycles and I will continue to do this. All of the Neons are bright in colour, not gasping, they are schooling and not hiding. I sit and watch while they feed and all are feeding except him/her, although he/she is in the middle of it.
I do break down some of the flakes and the others seem fine with the size.
I’m trying to fix the problem I’ve started with adding fish too quickly and hoping I don’t lose them all!

appreciate your response

 

[itiwhetu]

Photo please

 

[Colin_T]

Any chance of a picture and short 30 second video of the fish?
If the pictures are too big for the website, set the camera's resolution to its lowest setting and take some more. The lower resolution will make the images smaller and they should fit on this website. Check the pictures on your pc and find a couple that are clear and show the problem, and post them here. Make sure you turn the camera's resolution back up after you have taken the pics otherwise all your pictures will be small.

If the video is too big for this website, post it on YouTube and copy & paste the link here. We can view it at YouTube. If you are using a mobile phone to take the video, have the phone horizontal so the video takes up the entire screen. If you have the phone vertical, you get video in the middle and black on either side.

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Because your tank is newly set up and hasn't cycled yet, you will be doing a fish in cycle.

Reduce feeding to 2-3 times per week. Don't worry, the fish won't starve.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate 4-8 hours after feeding.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Monitor the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels and do a 75% water change any day the ammonia or nitrite level is above 0ppm, or the nitrate level is above 20ppm.

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What sort of filter do you have?

Do not clean the filter until it has finished cycling, which will take about 4-6 weeks.
When we know what type of filter you have, we can tell you how to clean it.