JVzer0

So I came back to my room today and went to feed my fish when I noticed that I could only find 5 of my 6 neons. After a bit of searching I saw that one was stuck to the filter intake and presumably dead. It was the smallest of the group, who always seemed less healthy (his spine appears to be misaligned or something).

To my surprise, when I unplugged the filter in order to scoop him out, he swam away! Now he's moving about, but he looks weaker and more ragged than ever. I've made sure he got some food, but is there anything else I can do to help him recover?

I've already turned my filter down to a lower setting in the hopes that it won't be strong enough to trap him again.

Lucy

Oh, I'm glad he's ok. I hope he continues to improve.

What size tank do you have. How many and what kind of fish? Is it cycled? What are your readings for ammonia. nitrites and nitrates?

Sorry for all the questions, the answers will help the members help you.

Clean water, Vita-chem, Fish Protector or Stress Coat and Garlic Guard or a few drops of garlic juice will help build up his strength and immune system.

Good luck.

fishluver101

do very small water changes like 5% once or twice daily. put 2 drops of garlic juice in the water every day. stress coat if you can. just make sure that his conditions are PRIMO. and use up to 3 mild things to give him lots of immune system and vitamins so he can recover. look at the water testings, and make sure they are in perfect condition. this happened to my goldfish, but it broke his back and he died in a few days. check his back alignment. if his back is ok and its just his fin and scales he should survive if given good conditions to recover. just imagine it-he's a sick fish, and (like a human) needs to go to the "fishy hospital". so, if possible put him in his own tank if you can NOT use a net (u know, scoop him out with a cup). if you cant, just use very mild chemicals. to find out what is ok to use on sick fish and perfectly healthy fish research what some people use on perfectly healthy fish to improve their immune system (like small amounts of stress coat, garlic juice, etc). back to the fishy hospital thing. think about a hospital-everything is PERFECTLY sterile correct? just pretend you are trying to make it as sterile and clean as possible-in a way that doesnt put stress on the "patient" that is why, unless you have a very large tank (50 g or more) you should not do large water changes or thoroughly clean the algae unless you can do this without many ripples in the water. good luck!

o and bye the way lucy, i think they are neon tetras just trying to help! (it says help with tetras and she refers to them as neons ) not to be pushy or anything just trying to help!

Lucy

No problem, but there may be other fish in the tank possibly picking on the neon making it weaker.
It's always best to try and have a clear picture of the tank.
(size, tank mates, water parameters)

JVzer0

Hey, thanks for the replies.

The tank is a ten gallon and aside from the tetras I have a dwarf gourami in there and a bunch of plants (java fern, anubias barteri nana, and a crypt I can't remember the specific name of).

Tank is cycled. Nitrates are 5, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 (using API kit).

I have garlic guard, but I thought that you were supposed to soak food in it, is it ok to add directly to the tank?

Also, his back is kinda crooked looking, but it was always like that. Could be why he got caught by the filter in the first place.

I don't have another tank I can put him in, but I do have a breeder cage thing I could put him in. Is that a good idea or would it just stress him out more?

Lucy

Thanks for the info.
You're overstocked, which can lead to agression if they feel cramped.
I use juice from minced garlic in a jar and add it right to the tank. I'm not sure what the directions say about Garlic Guard.

His crooked back might make him weaker, although some fish can adapt pretty well to deformaties.
Hopefully by adding the things I mentioned, he'll get stronger.

Give him plenty of hiding places and keep your eye on him.

Good luck.