docjr03

Like many other beginner posts I've read, I added fish (2 neon tetras) after only running the tank for a few days according to the instructions that came with it. I will be testing the water again tonight, but the last test showed 0.50ppm ammonia, 0 nitrates and 0 nitrites. Temp is 78 F and pH is 7.2. The fish seem okay, but I was curious to know what defines a "stressed" fish? Thanks!

jdhef

Welcome to FishLore!

You really need to be doing daily 50% water changes using either Prime or Stress Coat + as your water conditioner until the tank cycles. Any amount of ammonia will stress your fish and Neon Tetras are particularly sensitive to water quality.

Lucy

Good advise from John. It'll take work, but it'll be worth it in the end.

There are many things that cause stress to fish. Bad water conditions and incompatable tank mates to name a couple. Some symptoms you can see like hiding or aggression. Other symptoms you can't see.
When a fish is stressed it causes hormonal changes. As the fish tries to adapt to whatever stress factor it's facing it's energy and immune system become compromised making it harder for them to fight off disease and the very stress factors they're trying to fight.

Mike19

Im not sure how to define it in terms of fish although it wouldn't be to different from humans, stress can be emotional or physical. Some factors of stress include:-

• Being caught from the wild
• Transported
• Water conditions
• your neons are school fish so having only two may also cause stress.
• how they are put into the tank.
• tank mates.

If you would like a proper definition and more information check out the link below.

Stress and Fish Heath
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/g...ral_pagesid=79

Edit: Lucy same time .

docjr03

Thanks for the replies! I guess my question is actually, "how can you tell if a neon tetra is stressed due to poor water conditions?"

Nick G

Watch out for the fish "gasping",and for red gills. These are two signs of ammonia poisoning

Dozey

Loss of colour, isolating them selves from the school, swimming at the surface or the bottom of the tank, not eating, erratic swimming patterns are some of the stress indicators in neons.

docjr03

by gasping, do you mean gulping air at the surface?
Next one: are there certain "stressed" behaviors specific to neons?- Will they stay in one spot near the top or the bottom, hide and not come out, dart around constantly, etc?

docjr03

[QUOTE

If you would like a proper definition and more information check out the link below.

Stress and Fish Heath
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/g...ral_pagesid=79

Edit: Lucy same time .[/quote]

Thanks, good article

Dozey

Gulping air from the surface would certainly be an example of what I meant by "gasping". But they will also “gasp” within the water. It doesn’t look at all different to seeing a human gasping for air.

docjr03

Thanks, that was what I was looking for. My concern now is that I have a partially cycled tank stressing the fish compounded by not having a large enough school. Hopefully the fish survive my mistakes... but luckily my mildly obsessive nature is well suited to constant monitoring, water changes, testing, etc.

Mike19

Your Welcome, don't hesitate to ask more questions later on if you have them .

Mike

docjr03

Won't the water changes stop or severely slow down the cycling process? I assume you are suggesting a 50% change in order to get the ammonia down to 0.25 PPM?
Here's an update: The fish are hanging near the bottom and the bigger one does seem to chase the smaller around on occasion. Although I am trying to keep the feeding to a minimum, they will eat, but without swimming above the middle of the water column. There is a slight redness to the gill plates, a little more in the smaller one. They don't appear to be gasping, but they do seem to be opening and closing their mouths once or twice a second.

Thanks again for the helpful responses!

agabr123

the ammonia really needs to be down to zero, but yes. water changes will slow the cycle greatly, but since you have to cycle with fish, it is necessary to keep them healthy.

that redness is ammonia poisoning most likely, again 50% water changes daily and I would add prime to each water change. it detoxifies the ammonia for your fish and makes it accessible to the bacteria on your filter.

docjr03

Thanks, but what is "prime?"

Lucy

Prime is a water conditioner that removes chlorine, chloramines and detoxes heavy metals found in tap water.
It also detoxes the ammonia for 24hrs between water changes making it safer for fish but still available to feed the bacteria.

docjr03

Thanks, Lucy! I have been using a water conditioner made by tetracare, but I have run out of the sample pack and will pick up some prime tomorrow. I have started the daily water changes as you and others have suggested, and the fish still seem to be doing okay- the redness around the gill plates seems to have gone away. They seem to be more willing to explore various areas of the tank, and are gradually making forays into the middle third of the tank. Thanks again, you must be very patient and a true fish lover to graciously answer these newbie questions!