Neon Tetra Disease(s)?

[Callmeconfused]

I have lost three of my neon tetras in the past month. There was over a week in between each one. First they stopped hanging out with the other fish, then they started swimming weird, like they couldn't stay down.
I also noticed white patches on them. Is this "Neon Tetra Disease" or something else? I didn't take pictures of them, but I will if anymore start to show up with it. Water parameters are fine. I have tests for pH, Nitrites, Nitrates, Hardness, Alkalinity. My LFS tested for ammonia (I ran out of that one) and said it was pretty good.:huh:

My silvertip tetras are doing fine.

 

[fishycat]

I would quarantine the ones with white patches. If the patches get worse & they start losing weight, euthanize.

Also, any measurable ammonia = not good.

 

[SubRosa]

In the true Neon Tetra Disease, Plistophora, the white patches are always on the side of the body under the dorsal fin. If this is the case you should destroy all of the fish which exhibit the patch. While there has been some mention of treating Plistophora with nalidixic acid it's anecdotal at best and nalidixic acid is not readily available since Aquatronics went under some years ago. Generally the disease is a death sentence.

 

[fishycat]

Totally off topic: OMG "Puff up, they hate that" - Batty Koda!! I love Fern Gully...

 

[gmh]

Could be NTD, or maybe just weak stock. I have a similar problem with my neons gradually dying off and all other fish being just fine. I try to remove them when the symptons become obvious, but another neon always seems to come down with it.

 

[Optimus]

My LFS tested for ammonia (I ran out of that one) and said it was pretty good.:huh:

My silvertip tetras are doing fine.

Guys in the lfs haven't a clue what they are talking about. neon tetras are a delicate fish and will perish if subjected to any amount of ammonia.

I suspect you have some trace of ammonia which is causing your tetras to die.

 

[Jannika]

I think "pretty good" is on the results chart right between "fine" and "sorta toxic". Sometimes I wonder if they actually do the tests?

 

[Callmeconfused]

Sorry I didn't get on sooner. School just started. I haven't lost anymore yet.

Two of the remaining beauties are looking a bit swollen and lumpy in the belly area today. I noticed when I went to feed them. They are also acting a bit spastic (which is why I don't have pictures...they all came out mega-blurry). They aren't doing laps or anything, but they are darting up and down in the bottom few inches of the tank. They act fine when they eat.

Oh, and I got Jungle labs quick dip test strips which say my ammonia is at 0ppm. I use Seachem Neutral regulator pH Conditioner (also says it neutralizes ammonia) when I do water changes.

 

[Callmeconfused]

Totally off topic: OMG "Puff up, they hate that" - Batty Koda!! I love Fern Gully...

Your the first person to get that!

 

[Callmeconfused]

In the true Neon Tetra Disease, Plistophora, the white patches are always on the side of the body under the dorsal fin. If this is the case you should destroy all of the fish which exhibit the patch. While there has been some mention of treating Plistophora with nalidixic acid it's anecdotal at best and nalidixic acid is not readily available since Aquatronics went under some years ago. Generally the disease is a death sentence.

The first one I found deceased looked completely white, but he also appeared to have been "nibbled" on, so I wasn't sure. However, the second two only had patches of white on either side toward the top of their backs, but not on the fins. Does that sound right?