Zoltar

My tank was gifted to me a few months ago - it has 8 neon tetras and 1 betta. It's an 80L bow front tank with a few snails and plants. I adore it, but am a complete newby at owning fish.

One of the tetras has been extremely fat/bloated ever since I've had the tank. It never seems to eat, but it hasn't died. It floats with its tail up at a higher degree than the other tetras. Its colour is still bright and scales don't appear to be pineconed (I thought it might have dropsy).

He/She (I haven't a clue what gender it is!) is swimming around normally (apart from the higher tail) and seems just as active as the others.

It schools fine with the other fish most of the time, but I noticed whenever its in the right hand side of the tank it gets extremely aggressive and will really have a go at the others if they come near. The tetra will nearly always go to the right hand side during feeding time and will be even more agressive than usual.

I've had a recent problem with high pH (up around 7.6) consistently because of bad tapwater in Victoria. But this tetra has been like this for about 6 weeks now (before the pH problem), and its condition hasn't changed. I'm afraid it might die soon if it doesn't start eating.

The other 7 tetras and my lovely Betta seem to be perfectly healthy. Any ideas on what could be wrong with this tetra?

Amanda

Could you post a pic?

Lucy

Hi welcome to Fish Lore

As Amanda said, a pic would help. It would also help to know what your readings are for ammonia nitrite and nitrate.

Good luck, I hope he feels better soon.

agabr123

welcome

i'd try feeding him a piece of thawed, de-shelled pea cut into little pieces. if he's bloated that should help significantly. or you can feed frozen daphnia which works equally as well for that.

11yancazosj

it probably has dropsy. meaning it has a huge belly and appears to be a balloon.

Zoltar

Thanks agabr123 - I've been trying to feed him peas for a week or so, but he just won't eat anything. Trying to get a decent pic. but my betta is camera hungry and keeps chasing the lens around!

I'm pretty sure now he has dropsy, he's getting bigger everyday. Can anyone recommended a treatment? I see some places suggest epsom salts in the tank, or anti-bs. I am skeptical if anything will work for him now he's so big...

Lucy

Are it's scales sticking out? That's a sure way of knowing if it's dropsy.
It would be a good idea to put him in a quaratine tank.
Here's some info:
Dropsy

11yancazosj

im still thinking that its dropsy. if the scales are sticking out, get some medication ASAP. Best wishes