Unusual Neon Tetra behaviour. 45 degree angled downwards gulping?

L

ldsdbomber

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Jan 19, 2010
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I've noticed this for a few days now, one of my neon tetras seems to be constantly swimming in jerky gulps, with his body angled down at 45 degrees, in the middle of the tank, like he is gulping down or trying to cough something up, this seems to be constant, and in stark contrast to the other neons and guppy in there. I have a 10 litre biube, with the 1 guppy and 7 small neons, they've been there for almost 8 months now, planted, and well cared for, cycled tank etc.
I am just worried now that something is properly wrong with him and might it be kinder to euthanise? Or does anyone know what it could be, nothing really stands out, though he has a slightly big tummy, but when I mean slightly I mean, if he werent swimming weirdly I would not pick it out as different from the others.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
 
Whoah, as I look at it now, something in his tummy is swelling, like an alien, could it be giving birth? I have just done a water change so there may have been a small temp change but it looks like hes eaten some neon tetra footballs!

or could he have some problem with a swim bladder, and he is fighting not to rise to the surface?
 
lds, I've had this happen a couple of times with neons, one just recently. It was fatal in both cases. Same behavior you describe although I noticed no abdominal or other swelling either time.

They just become more lethargic (although still eating normally) and wind up lying on their sides on the bottom. Still with enough energy to shoot off at every attempt to capture them to euthanize. Being in a heavily planted tank made this easy.

If you have a QT or isolation tank and can capture the fish without excessive destruction or havoc I would do so, and just observe. My two were part of my original stock so at least 2 years old, both bought as adults. I suspect it was either old age directly or age-related breakdown allowing some illness or parasite to move in.

Sorry not to have better news or any suggestions. :(

oh, and tetras are egg-layers so the fish is not preparing to "give birth." It might be a female with eggs but they lay eggs all their lives (to no avail in my tanks anyway; I have no idea what the gender distribution was in my original 8.) You might try the old standby remedy for constipation, some boiled/peeled green peas.
 
These Neons always have diseases. Neither me nor my friends who've had them -- ever have them live very long. I believe they almost all have some sort of internal parasites -- which eventually shows itself and causes them symptoms as you describe. They are beautiful -- but I stopped purchasing them years ago because of this.
 
My lfs got a batch of neons in with those symptoms. They treated with Pimafix, and only lost a couple. That would be the first thing I would try. Good luck!
 
It sounds like a swim bladder issue if i'm understanding correctly, if thats the case not much you can do. When you say his body is angled @ 45 degrees, is that the way he is swimming or a recent deformity?
 
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