By doing unnecessary water changes, it will not cut down amt of bacteria. Population would just jump right back according to the conditions. If anything, it may cause more burden on other healthy fish.
Bacteria are in the tank all the time. No different from virus/bactria which are around us.. Healthier the person, less likely to suffer the consequnces. Weaker the person, more likely to suffer the consequences. Water changes in a diseased aquarium are now a bad thing? If I am healthy and am in a room filled with H1N1 on all surfaces, will I have a better chance to remain healthy if someone were to disinfect those surfaces? I think I would be.
Always do a large water change to cut down the bacteria population after separating sick fish from healthy - whether treating with medications or not. I really don't see how one could debate this. If it is NTD, large water changes would also cut down on the number of spores so that the healthy fish has a better shot of defending itself against that parasite.
Actually neons seems better than what I suspected/expected compared to first batch of fish.
Very difficult task to speculate/determine what it may be via pics thus one should be more careful before posting what he/she thinks.
The purpose of most 'illness' forums is to give an opinion and to help educate/inform ones who have problems. I never said it was the NTD. I said all indications from that picture and descriptions point to it. I also posted a link with excellent information on it to help identify and treat that particular ailment so the OP could get an idea of whether that may be the problem. Obviously he/she can observe the fish much better than any of us. No harm in speculating when the pictures match what the person posting the pictures sees with his/her own eyes.
Short of bringing the fish to a laboratory, how else are we supposed to diagnose illness?
NTD in tetra are very commonly followed with behavioral changes and color changes.
One which are suspected of contracted NTD should isolate itself/themselves herdling away away from the rest towards top, hanging, standing in angle facing up along with color changes (paleness on dorsal area). And When they drop, they really drop fast.
I doubt it is NTS besides it seems fish are getting better, at least in my view.
Cant not judge for sure if there is development of paleness on dorsal area , maybe due to flashlight?
White edges on one neon with lost tail, keep an eye on it. If med you used does not take care of it, should look into antibiotic. Again give one med a real chance (time) to work.
If it gets any worse after the instructed dosage/treatment, then would pursue different/alternative med.
Obviously the tail rot is a sign of infection. It is commonplace for fish to have this with NTD or fNTD. So, why not treat the fish with a good antibiotic for the tail rot and HOPE that it takes care of the other symptoms should it be fNTD or another bacterial infection. There are obviously other problems besides the tail rot. Best to be aggressive and proactive in this circumstance IMO before any infection becomes systemic.
Before/during usage of antibiotic or other med, test the water of Q/T, regularly.
Again no major/drastic changes because test revealed some funky result. Small but more frequent changes will reduce any possible toxic waste products without further burden on fish. Reason it out somewhat before taking actions.
The link which Rachel provided is very good site in simple terms/langauges..
Use it as guidance as it is not always that simple. Pharmacokinetic goes lot deeper than how it may have presented in this link.
I just glanced thru few topics and for now, members should read topic on use of salt in f/w and disadvantages of mixing different kind/types of antibiotics.
Of course, other topics as well.
Rachel, thanx for posting that link. I dont have to go up to my attic to look for my text books (dont even know if I still have them), not that I really need them but nice to refresh memory and upgrade (new facts are found constantly) my memory bank thru this and other similar site.
Please keep posting such site for others to share as I know that there is no end to learning.
BMS, keep posting the prognosis/status of the treatment & hope all goes well.
