Please Help Me!

[allgipan]

Hi, one of my neon tetras is drifting around the tank with its mouth wide open as if its stuck, gills are quite open too! Been like this since 8 this morning and I have checked nothing is wedged in there, when I took him out in a net you could easilly close his mouth but it just drops back open when I put him back in water.

I am concerned that he is suffering and wondered if any one had any suggestions or am I best to put him out of his misery? Apart from the mouth and gills he seems perfectly fine!

Also if the worst comes to the worst am I right in thinking that the best way is to drop him into a glass of ice water?

Please help me am very upset and worried, thanks xxx

 

[Vicky99]

Don't really know what to say about your poor neon - doesn't sound good for him. Don't put him in ice water though. I think that a few people advocate the use of clove oil but if you haven't got that, I think the fastest way is to wrap him up and tap him over the head (I know they are very small - hence why wrap up - so you don't have to see). Sounds barbaric, but it's quick. I'd rather be hit over the head than plunged in ice cold water!!

Sorry - it's not nice for you - I've never had to do it, but would find it very difficult.

Vicky.

 

[allgipan]

Hi dont know if this will work but have uploaded a pic of the tetra. Have looked very carefully and there is definately nothing inits mouth, its all clean as a whistle xxx

 

[The-Wolf]

I'm sorry to say that I doubt the neon will live long.
I've seen this quite often in the trade and it results in most cases in death withing 72 hours.

 

[Underwurlde]

What's causing that The-Wolf?

Andy

 

[The-Wolf]

I honestly don't know but both myself and my boss, at the time, concluded it must be similar to lockjaw in us (ie tetanus)
so it is a bacterial infection of the blood. as not a singal fish responded to anti-biotics I'd assume it is untreatable.

 

[Underwurlde]

!! Best isolate that fish then before it spreads? !!

 

[allgipan]

Hello again, something rather odd is happening!

Two hours ago the fishes mouth started to close and open slightly, one hour ago its mouth is now opening and closing to nearly a mm shut, if it wasn't for the fact that one of its gills looks red underneath and is sticking out at an odd angle you would not notice from the front.....does this shed any more light on what may be causing it?

I am praying for a miracle, can't say I would keep neon tetras again as on countless messages and websites they seem to last a short time and cause nothing but problems.

 

[WILDER]

Bacterial to parasite.
Open mouth something lodged, or sore to ulcers, also can be flukes.
Any flicking and rubbing on objects.

 

[allgipan]

Bacterial to parasite.
Open mouth something lodged, or sore to ulcers, also can be flukes.
Any flicking and rubbing on objects.

Hi, its the morning and I have a dead fish, found something revolting on the bottom of the tank crawling about, have posted it into another link, entiitled "what on earth is this"?


Thanks you ALL for your help xxx

 

[wackystarfish]

Dont let this put you off tetras. I have kept a healthy shoal for two years now

 

[WILDER]

Old topic went looking for the new thread then realised it was 07 thread.