Treating Neon Tetra Disease?

I'v been talking to some people about this but I'v noticed that on one of my neons the red stripe has faded out and is almost see through at times. I'v been told to separate him/her and treat it with maracyn one and two in case it's a bacterial infection or that columanaries (sp.) the back disease I think. What is your opinion on this. My only problem is that I don't think my mom will let me buy the meds because they will cost more than 10x what I spent on the fish and she wouldn't want me wasting my money on that.

 

Is your neon swimming normally? Does it eat normally? Are there any other things you have observed besides the faded red stripe?

 

They all have it now, but they still school, eat, swim fine, just this pale almost bleached out stripe.

 

Hmm, I don't have any experience with sick fish, so I probably won't be of much help to you. But I do know that loss of color is definitely not a good sign. I have looked at the Disease Chart to see which diseases have loss of color as one of their symptoms. Here is what I found:

Fish TB (tuberculosis)
Symptoms: Inactivity, loss of color or appetite, weight loss, skin defects.
Treatment: Human strength TB medication may help in early stages.  Contagious – disinfect tank, rocks, net, etc. to prevent transmission.  Wash hands and surfaces well.

Septicemia
Symptoms: Sluggishness, lack of appetite, fin damage, reddish discoloration, bulging eyes, clamped fins.
Treatment: Antibiotic treatment in food form is required.

Skin Flukes (Gyrodactylus)
Symptoms: Sluggishness, flashing, spider web lesions on skin, color loss, reddened fins, drooping fins, fin damage.
Treatment: OTC medication for parasites.

Neon Tetra Disease – mostly affects tetras, danios, and barbs
Symptoms: Erratic swimming, weight loss, loss of color.
Treatment: Treatment is difficult – look for a medication that treats gram-negative bacteria or with nalidixic acid as the active ingredient.

Velvet (Gold Dust Disease)
Symptoms: Scratching, small gold to white spots, loss of color, weight loss, difficulty breathing due to gill damage.
Treatment: OTC medication for parasites.

Study the above diseases and observe your fish for any more symptoms. If they develop any, compare them to the diseases here. If these are not helpful, refer to the Disease Chart yourself:

I suppose what you can always do, before diagnosing your fish, is to use salt treatment. Here is more info on that:

 

Any news Atm?