Neons are hardy in my experience, but, are very susceptible to nitrogenous waste. They should never go in an UNcycled tank, or one with OTS. However, in clean tanks they are very hardy can live for more than 10 years.
Neon Tetras - Good beginner fish? I think NOT!
- Thread starter Fish...TheySwim
- Start date
The tetras that I've owned have always fallen to the gravel. If they fall, then the fish may start pecking at them. Whether the fish ate the dead tetra or not, we may not know. I have yet to see a floating tetra when it dies, even at the pet stores.
Thank you. I've looked at the gravel as well as soon I notice one MIA but as you said, we may never know.
Hey "Fish....TheySwim",
Perhaps your neons had NEON TETRA DISEASE. As the name says, it affects neons (but I believe other tetras may be suseptible) and it is very hard to cure. Also, I've heard that once you have it in your tank, it may tank months to get rid of it.
Read this paragraph below. Its from Robyn's Neon Tetra Page...
Neons can get neon tetra disease caused by the sporazoan Plistophora hypessobryconis. Symptoms include losing color, milky coloration, sluggishness, erratic swimming, jerking movements, separating from the rest of the school, restlessness, weight loss, and a pale area beneath the dorsal fin. Neon tetra disease is said to not be treatable; therefore, quarantine is best to prevent spread of the disease. All infected tanks should be disinfected with bleach (soak them in 5% bleach, rinse, and soak in fresh water with dechlorinator before re- using.)
Perhaps your neons had NEON TETRA DISEASE. As the name says, it affects neons (but I believe other tetras may be suseptible) and it is very hard to cure. Also, I've heard that once you have it in your tank, it may tank months to get rid of it.
Read this paragraph below. Its from Robyn's Neon Tetra Page...
Neons can get neon tetra disease caused by the sporazoan Plistophora hypessobryconis. Symptoms include losing color, milky coloration, sluggishness, erratic swimming, jerking movements, separating from the rest of the school, restlessness, weight loss, and a pale area beneath the dorsal fin. Neon tetra disease is said to not be treatable; therefore, quarantine is best to prevent spread of the disease. All infected tanks should be disinfected with bleach (soak them in 5% bleach, rinse, and soak in fresh water with dechlorinator before re- using.)
My Flame Tetra has Neon Tetra Disease( I think). I got 3 from the Pet Smart in San Juan Capistrano about 1 and half months ago. I have been noticing that two of them paired up but the third one does not hang with the other two. Also his coloration is dull. I noticed today that he is bloated. I should have been keeeping a closer eye on it because it sounds like the sick fish could infect the others.
I've been through several neon tetras, but that was before I learned how to properly care for a tank. Since I have learned how to take care of my fishy friends, I have only lost one. They seem to be very hardy as best I can tell.
When I was 14, I had a 20g tank with about 5 neons, a betta, 3 angels i believe, a ropefish, and some cardinal tetras......
First mistake.... all those fish
I was adimate about changing my filter cartridge every 6 weeks... maybe sooner....
I NEVER tested the water... didnt cycle (the tank started with a lone betta.. that was it) and changed the water way to frequently.
no heater either... the water was kept warm with a tea heater that was meant to be placed in a single cup of tea to keep it hot.
the fish lived for about a year, having many diseases (namely just hole in the head) but survived all of this, until the day i forgot to unplug the heater and boiled the entire tank.
It still makes me want to cry thinking about that.... but up until that point, and when they developed hole in the head, the fish lived fine, seemed happy (what would i know anyway, then) and didnt have any problems.
after finding this site and doing much reading, I only wish I had this available to me when I had that tank..... I may have still had those fish to this day... i loved those guys.
I have now, spent thousands of dollars of proper equipment, and making sure my tank will be setup properly this time....
Ugh, heater problems, we all have our horror stories, don't we? =(
Since we're talking about neons, I have a question - I know they are peaceful towards most other fish, but do they normally pester each other? I have 2 that chase the rest of the group around and peck at them. (I have 8 all together) Is this normal "pecking order" behavior?
Since we're talking about neons, I have a question - I know they are peaceful towards most other fish, but do they normally pester each other? I have 2 that chase the rest of the group around and peck at them. (I have 8 all together) Is this normal "pecking order" behavior?
