meg1220

I just wanted to post a bit about neon tetra disease. A few days ago, I posted about a neon that had faded colors (especially the red bar) and was breathing very fast. Yesterday, I came home and saw that the fish had developed a large, light-colored cyst on its side. A quick bit of research convinced me that this was most likely neon tetra disease. Apparently, the fading of the red bar is often a tell-tale early sign. I immediately removed the fish to its own small container so as to minimize the spread to the other fish. From what I've read, unless this is false neon tetra disease, the fish is not going to make it, and since it is impossible to tell if it is the "false" variety, I decided not to risk the lives of all of the other fish. I plan on euthanizing by tomorrow (I have to get the clove oil and vodka), if s/he makes it that long. Poor little thing.
Here is a helpful description of the disease. I don't know if this particular site is well-known for good information in general, but this info matches what I read in multiple other fish sites:

"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." From http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/di...eondisease.htm

My fish had the fading colors, a general look of unwellness, then the lump and curved spine. It always schooled with the others, though.
This makes me nervous about buying new fish. Even if they are quarantined for a couple of weeks, they can still come down with disease. I had this fish for about 2 months before it started to show obvious signs of illness.