Neon Tetra

Acong · Post time 20-9-2003 08:09 PM

[swf=160,120]http://www.baileys-fish.com/videos/cardinal_tetras_02.avi[/swf]

This video shows a group of Cardinal Tetras living in an aquarium decorated with live plants.

[ Last edited by Acong on 20-9-2003 at 08:10 PM ]

Acong · Post time 20-9-2003 08:18 PM

Neon Tetra disease is more common than many aquarium enthusiasts realize, and affects species beyond neon tetras. Named after the fish that it was first identified in, the disease strikes members of the tetra family most often. However, other popular families of aquarium fish are not immune. Cichlids such as Angelfish, and Cyprinids such as Rasboras and Barbs, also fall victim to the disease. Even the common Goldfish can become infected with the disease. Interestingly enough, Cardinal tetras are resistant to the ravages of Neon Tetra disease.

Caused by the sporozoan, Pleistophora hyphessobryconis, the disease is known for its rapid and high mortality rate among neons. To date there is no known cure, the only 'treatment' being the immediate removal of diseased fish to preserve the remaining fish.

The disease cycle begins when parasitic spores enter the fish after it consumes infected material, such as the bodies of dead fish, or live food such as tubifex, which may serve as intermediate hosts. Once in the intestinal tract, the newly hatched embryos burrow through the intestinal wall and produce cysts within the muscle tissue. Muscles bearing the cysts begin to die, and the necrotic tissue becomes pale, eventually turning white in color.

Symptoms
* Restlessness
* Fish begins to lose coloration
* As cysts develop, body may become lumpy
* Fish has difficulty swimming
* In advanced cases spine may become curved
* Secondary infections such as fin rot and bloating

During the initial stages, the only symptom may be restlessness, particularly at night. Often the first thing an owner will notice is that the affected fish no longer school with the others. Eventually swimming becomes more erratic, and it becomes quite obvious that the fish is not well.

As the disease progresses, affected muscle tissue begins to turn white, generally starting within the color band and areas along the spine. As additional muscle tissue is affected, the pale coloration expands. Damage to the muscles can cause curvature or deformation of the spine, which may cause the fish to have difficulty in swimming. It is not unusual for the body of the fish to have a lumpy appearance as the cysts deform the muscles.

Rotting of the fins, especially the caudal fin is not uncommon. However, this is due to secondary infection rather than a direct result of the disease itself. Bloating is also a secondary condition that may be seen in Neon Tetra disease.

Treatment

None - separate or euthanize diseased fish
As previously stated, there is no known cure. To ensure that all fish are not lost, diseased specimens should be removed from the tank. Some species, such as Angelfish, may live for quite some time. However, they should be separated from uninfected fish to avoid spreading the disease.

Prevention

Quarantine new fish for two weeks
Maintain high water quality
Do not purchase from a tank with ill fish.
The best prevention is to avoid purchasing sick fish, and to maintain high water. Carefully observe the suppliers fish. Do not purchase any fish from tanks where there are sick, dying, or dead fish present. Fish that do not school, or hang apart from the others, should be suspect.

Common Questions

Question: I've heard that just like ich, all neon tetras carry this disease.
Answer: No all neons are not carriers, however if the disease is present in one specimen in a tank, it may have already infected all other neons in that tank. Never purchase a fish from a tank where other fish appear to be sick.

Question: Does Erythromycin cure this disease? How about Nalidixic Acid, or Protozin?
Answer:There is no known cure for Neon Tetra disease. Erythromycin is primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria, and no evidence exists that it has any effect on Neon Tetra disease. Some owners have reported success in alleviating symptoms of the disease by using Nalidixic Acid, which is generally used to treat gram-negative organisms. However, this has not been substantiated in scientific studies. Protozoan drugs such as Protozin, have also been reported to have relieved symptoms of the disease. However, as with other treatments, an actual cure has not been scientifically documented.

Many of the reported cures are the result of misdiagnosis. Certain bacterial infections mimic the symptoms of Neon Tetra disease. Those diseases often respond to medication, thus giving rise to the incorrect belief that there is a cure for Neon Tetra disease.

Question: Once a tank has Neon Tetra disease present, it can never be eliminated from that tank.
Answer: Because consuming infected material passes on the protozoa, it is nearly impossible to rid a tank of the parasite if there are infected fish present. Anytime one fish picks at another, they are at risk of contracting the disease. For this reason, it's imperative to quarantine infected fish. It is true that the spores may present in many aquariums, however careful cleaning and maintenance will remove most of them. It is only when a fish consumes the spores that they become infected.

Acong · Post time 20-9-2003 08:27 PM

Neons can be raised in water under 12 dH.  Feed them waterevr you have,
as long as it's highly varied -- that way you get a good mix of nutrients.  Live foods are good, but not essential for *raising* the fish.  They are adult and ready to spawn when they are some 1.5" long.  I have heard that neons get to be over 2" if raised in very large tanks, but they need not to be that big to spawn.  You will know they are ready to spawn when you can easily tell the slender males from the bulkier,  larger females, visibly swollen with eggs.

Wild-caught neons need very soft water to spawn.  The tank-bred ones may be less picky about it, but the wild ones want it very soft.  Hetch Hetchi water is a good choice, especially around the mid-summer to fall, when it's under 2 dH.  You would need to adjust the pH to be around 5.5-6.0.  Peat does wonders for that.

The fish will spawn over/into fine leaved plants (Java moss, etc.).  Some books seem to imply that a coarse nylon floss is a good substitute.  I would not bother, since Java moss is good enough and easier to grow than nylon.
Temperatures of 70-75F are sufficient.  They are said to spawn best when the sunlight hits the tank in the morning.

Neons are voracious egg eaters.  Remove the adults within hours after spawning.  You can try using a coarse mesh at the bottom of the tank,  some 1" off the bottom or so, to let the eggs fall through out of reach of
the adults.

The powerfilters will likely suck all the newborn fry out and mince it into the fish paste, so use box or sponge filters.  Infusoria and rotifers on the Java moss will feed them for a day, but after that you will have to add infusoria for a few days until the fry get big enough to eat baby brine shrimp.

You can find more info in the various fish breeding books, available in the
pet shops and libraries.

by
Oleg Kiselev at home

Acong · Post time 20-9-2003 08:40 PM

Paracheirodon simulans, the green neon. Photo. by S.H. Weitzman and W.L. Fink.

Show all posts · Post time 25-10-2003 09:49 AM

Bagosss arr info ko nih acong!...nah amik kredit!...hik!...hik!...hik!...

Show all posts · Post time 28-10-2003 09:29 AM

Ari tu ade survey neon tetra kat Pet's Shop Mid Valley..nampak menarik..thanx for the info..maybe akan beli nanti..

Acong · Post time 28-10-2003 09:47 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Th

Acong · Post time 28-10-2003 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Kinky at 28-10-2003 09:29 AM:
Ari tu ade survey neon tetra kat Pet's Shop Mid Valley..nampak menarik..thanx for the info..maybe akan beli nanti..

wei! beli kat jalan pasar! RM0.70 sekor je!

Show all posts · Post time 28-10-2003 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Acong at 2003-10-28 09:48 AM:
wei! beli kat jalan pasar! RM0.70 sekor je!

eh jalan pasar tu kat mane? rm0.70 jek? murahnyer..berkualiti tak?

Show all posts · Post time 28-10-2003 11:18 AM

Originally posted by Acong at 2003-10-28 09:47 AM:
huh! mana cukup!

Cukop arr tuh!...hehehe!...nak byk[size=-2]2 lak!...

Show all posts · Post time 28-10-2003 11:21 AM

Originally posted by Kinky at 2003-10-28 10:53 AM:
eh jalan pasar tu kat mane? rm0.70 jek? murahnyer..berkualiti tak?

Jln pasar tuh kire dekat - dekat ngan area jln imbi!...hiks!...tp , aku suggestkan ko gii kat kedai ikan yg. sebijik - sebijik!...sebuleh - bulehnye takyah arr belii kat jln pasar tuh!...mmg arr harge murah , tp ikan tak berkualitiii langsong!...

Show all posts · Post time 28-10-2003 12:35 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Th

Acong · Post time 30-10-2003 10:09 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Th

puteri_jengking · Post time 15-5-2006 01:56 PM

Originally posted by Acong at 30-10-2003 10:09 AM

jalan pasar pun ader kedai ikang sebiji sebiji la.....! neon tetra nie memula je akan mati 4 - 5 ekor dalam masa sebulan. dulu aku ader deka 25 ekor, la nie tinggal 17 ekor je. tapi dah beso! leb ...

ye ker ko ade 17 ekor??? sekor banyut jer.......

tu pun dapat free..... ;b