Why does one of my Serpae tetras have a large area of discoloration on it?

[NJ Devils Fan]

I got home today and noticed on one side of one of my Serpae tetras that there is a big white discoloration, about halfway on him. What could it be? He is the only one with it. I haven't been doing anything different, no change in diet, water conditions, etc.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/pe55aa76b4100311e71f5bcd624dd40e7/fb01e42e.jpg

[demon_surfer]

possibly that is a *in the mood* female? (wild guess)


more likely maybe a heater burn or he bashed himself on one of your ornaments?

[anonapersona]

I lost a lot fo fish to this, do the research now! Google is very helpful.

Remove this fish to a Q tank if you have one.

I posted about this on PlanetCatfish and on Aquabotanic.

[NJ Devils Fan]

I think it is fungus. I found it on this (http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#anchor) good site. I might put the fish in a bucket or something and attach my old filter to it and add some Maracyn. Not really much else I can do.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Ok, thats what I did. I ran to my LFS, got maracyn, filled my Big Al's bucket with tank water, attached my old penguin 125 with no media(to circulate the water), and added half of a pill. Hopefully this little guy will pull through.

[Fishskin]

If everything else appears normal ( that is no fuzzy areas, no lumps ) consider neon tetra disease which can affect other tetras. It is not a good thing to have. If the area is fuzzy, could be fungus. If you have had him a long time and no new fish, probably more likely to be trauma with/without fungus.

[stoopid]

I was in petsmart recently, buying supplies (cause it's cheaper than at the LFS) and noticed some aweful tank conditions. Entire tanks of tetra with this mouth disease that caused the mouth to be 'stuck' opn, and it appeared discolored and such. What a sad sight. Other tanks were better, some WORSE!

Walmart and Petsmart, as well as a particular LFS "Eddie's Aquarium", will never see my business. Petco, on the other hand, has some decent tanks (but poor selection).

[NJ Devils Fan]

Ok, I setup my old 10g under the tank with the old filter, no substrate. When I put the fish into it, he looked kind of pale, but he didn't have the spot anymore. After about 10 minutes or so, he was looking very good. I think he is almost healed. I think I will put him back on Saturday because that is roughly 5 days as indicated by the maracyn directions. I will change about 30-35% of the water tomorrow and add another tablet.