Sick Neon Tetra, Kink In Tail

This little fellow has been missing for about two weeks.
He is in a 100L tank with 6 x rosy barbs, 5 x cherry barbs, 6 other neon tetras, 6 x pepper corys, 1 x bn, heavily planted.
The parameters are: ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 20 and the tank is about eight months old.
He was nearly translucent, with a kink in his tail, and part of his tail missing. Almost quarter the size of the other neons.
I have put him in a breeder basket and he seems to be getting some of his colour back.
Can anyone advise what I can do to get him back in shape.

(Don't know if you can see the kink in the tail from the photos)

Thanks.

 

Did he escape the net, and is now missing? Thread title might have me off.

I have found that kinky-tail fish grow out of it with more space, whether its physical space, or just a lower population. Depending on the size of the breeding cage, you may consider letting him out. If you let him out, and he still isn't getting better, maybe trim your plants?

With neon and similar tetras, I typically just let whatever is going to happen, happen. I'm not sure how much they cost where you are, but around the U.S. they're usually pretty cheap. Cheap enough, that even with emotional attachment, I don't mind letting them "swI'm it off" in the school. That might even work out better for it, get that tail working in a current, and in a larger space. He may color up too. Dullness can come from the cage, with its stressful, due to lack of hiding spots, and small comparative area.

 

I probably didn't write the right thing. The neon has been in the tank free with the other fish. He disappeared for about two weeks and I found him this morning pale with kink in his tail. I put him in the breeding cage and tonight he has more colour. I think he may have been bullied as he has some of his tail missing and when another fish comes close to the cage he moves away. When I fed him he ate some and quickly swam to the other end of the cage.

 

I have the same prob...guess it must a bad quality neon.

 

That's a little more clear. Keep the little buddy in there for a few days, give some plants for cover (plastic is fine, if you don't want to trim/uproot anything.)

 

That's a little more clear. Keep the little buddy in there for a few days, give some plants for cover (plastic is fine, if you don't want to trim/uproot anything.)

Thanks, just added some plants. Thought I might keep him in there for a couple of weeks to fatten him up a bit and hopefully he'll grow. The other neons aren't interested in him at all. Guess he's just the 'runt'.

I have the same prob...guess it must a bad quality neon.

He's the only one like this out of 10. Guess there's always one.

 

The little one didn't make it through the day.