Neons dropping dead

[Sherwin]

Hey guys i have a problem that i think is gettin serious. I bought 5 neons bout 2 weeks back an for some reason they jus started to die of . The 5 i had put in wen the tank was started was still fine till this mornin were one is swimmin at the surface of the tank . They all seem to swim at the surface before dyin . The other tank mates are doin excellent . My temp is at 26 -27 . Is it normal for neons to die of it large numbers . Pls help already lost 5 of them 6 one is on its way out an i really like these little guys .

[fishcrazy]

Hey buddy what's your tanksize,filteration and other fish maybe a pict or two would really helpm
Where the fish "swollen" when swimming up to the surface or scales protruding?

[TankMaster]

Is it normal for neons to die of it large numbers?

Sounds like a disease. This cant be normal.

[Scaly]

The problem with neons is that over time the quality of stock has dropped quite a bit. Often on closer inspection you will see small deformities in a number of young fish in LFS. This may be the case.

Please list you tank mates a the water parameters and when last did you do a water change as it may be a change in you pH or something along those lines. Neons (the recent strain) are quite sensitive to this.

[Laure]

I actually wouldn't worry about this too much. Some will die, and some won't. For that reason I have totally given up on Neons. Cardinals are actually more hardy these days than the Neons you get. Google "Neon Tetra Dissease"...and you will be rather shocked. Forget the Neons...or if you want them...then be prepared to suffer some losses. I would strongly advise you to quarantine all new purchases, especially Neons, for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to your tanks. Sorry about the gloomy picture I paint, but that is the reality we face right now. As pointed out above, most of the Neon Tetra stock available locally is just really poor quality.

[Sherwin]

The fish its with are tiger barbs, a phantom, a cherry barb, molly , sword . An a corry

[Sean J]

I actually wouldn't worry about this too much. Some will die, and some won't. For that reason I have totally given up on Neons. Cardinals are actually more hardy these days than the Neons you get. Google "Neon Tetra Dissease"...and you will be rather shocked. Forget the Neons...or if you want them...then be prepared to suffer some losses. I would strongly advise you to quarantine all new purchases, especially Neons, for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to your tanks. Sorry about the gloomy picture I paint, but that is the reality we face right now. As pointed out above, most of the Neon Tetra stock available locally is just really poor quality.

I agree...

Neons, in my humble opinion, are the single leading cause of most fish related deaths in our hobby. They are totally inbred, which has made them less hardy and more susceptible to carry horrible diseases. These diseases infect the rest of the fish in the tank and could be the reason for a tank death. Not just the neons.

Rather spend the little bit extra and get the cardinals.

[SalmonAfrica]

To be honest, the quality of Neons that I've been seeing over the past year has been getting worse and worse - maybe it's just the ones here in Durban. I don't know whether it's a weak strain that is being produced and sent here, or if there is a regular outbreak of the same disease, or a combination of the two, but personally I won't buy neons until I know that they'll last more than two weeks.

[TankMaster]

My neons are lasting pretty long.....so far...

No deaths yet.

The only way to get really excellent neons is to go to the amazon and net some :) or visit one of your old uncles and check in his tank. He probably has a few old school neons

[butcherman]

Hey guys i have a problem that i think is gettin serious. I bought 5 neons bout 2 weeks back an for some reason they jus started to die of . The 5 i had put in wen the tank was started was still fine till this mornin were one is swimmin at the surface of the tank . They all seem to swim at the surface before dyin . The other tank mates are doin excellent . My temp is at 26 -27 . Is it normal for neons to die of it large numbers . Pls help already lost 5 of them 6 one is on its way out an i really like these little guys .

what water movement do you have in your tank?
i found if the water flow is to strong for then they die like flys.

[Sean J]

what water movement do you have in your tank?
i found if the water flow is to strong for then they die like flys.

Which is also weird, considering they come from rivers... They should be used to current. But these are bred neons. I guess they are not used to flow in a tank.

[TankMaster]

Where about in Durban are you from? Where did you purchase your Neons from?

[Vis]

Must also jump on the wagon concerning the neons. I have lost loads simply
because they are weak from get go. My rummy nose tetras which is suppose to be the
sensitive ones outlast them by far.

[SalmonAfrica]

Besides the problem that may be occuring here, I think too many people think that Neons are actually hardy fish. They're not that bulletproof, really. A lot of people chuck Neons into their newly established tanks, where the Neons probably can't handle the cycle.

[Pistolshrimp]

Tank is cycled, we had 5 at first, and they where healthy and thriving, when we added 5 more we could clearly see they where not as robust looking as the first set, they secind batch now have all died in the last few days and i see we have lost one from the first 5, i think we should get cardinals, all other fish are fine

[Vis]

At most cases you will see that the neon looks very thinned out especially around there
stomic. These are usually dead within 2 weeks. Look for nice rounded, not blown up, ones if you want to get
Neons.

[slayer]

I will also not buy neons any time soon. Bought 24 a few months back only have 5 left currently. Most died within 2 weeks of being bought. The quality of neons currently is really bad.

[Pistolshrimp]

At most cases you will see that the neon looks very thinned out especially around there
stomic. These are usually dead within 2 weeks. Look for nice rounded, not blown up, ones if you want to get
Neons.

When i bought them i really scrutinised them, they looked healthy and full but the ones that are dying develope that thinned appearence before pegging,

[Vis]

They are brought into the country in containers with a 1000 or more neons in one so if one is sick they all most likely get infected.

Bought neons a while back and the are all fine. Every single one I bought since than have died. Maybe there is a really bad thing going around at this moment.

[TankMaster]

Is there any way of strengthening the genes of the fish?

[Vis]

Is there any way of strengthening the genes of the fish?

Go around and collect all the strong survivors from everybody and breed them.

[TankMaster]

The Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi

Soon to be "The Fish With The Shortest Lifespan" - The 2 week trial fish. Please register for Full version :D

[Pistolshrimp]

Lol good one tankmaster, one thing common iv noticed here is everyone say says the lasted 2 weeks, almost everybody, and iv beed reading up on neon tetra disease, the ones i lost exhibited these symptoms, but atleast now i dont have to feel bad, like i was killing my neons

[Vis]

All the neons for the last 2 months got that desease and you are not alone.

LOL tankmaster, the full version is probably a cardinal.

[Pistolshrimp]

So i guess my 2 week trial has ended lol, cardinals get bigger dnt they?

[Sherwin]

Well u guys say like this past two months well i dont know how true this is but a friend told me that neons are not sup to b transported or moved from a tank in winter . Apparently its affects them an they die

[Vis]

Sherwin that is interesting, maybe one should avoid buying neons
in the winter.

My neons are as about as big as cardinals but they do seem to get a few mm
bigger fullt grown.

P.S do not know if I missed it but how are you and pistolshrimp related?

[TankMaster]

Hmmm...blame over breeding and severe inbreeding as well as breeding between abnormal fish.....this weak fish is just getting weaker.

Attempts to restore them will be futile unless you can get your hands on wild caught neons and start a whole new generation.

[Sherwin]

@vis we bros . An well i jus lost another down to 4 out of 10 left . Im just countin them down :-(

[Nirv]

I'm going to chip in and support Cardinals here, better fish in pretty much every way IMO.

[Pistolshrimp]

What difference would buying them in winter make? Thats retarded, and i kept them in a cooler bag on the way home, and the temp was fine that day not extreme hot or cold.

[Sherwin]

Wats wid the name callin . I only sharin wat i heard . I dont know if its usefull or not . Anyway apart from my bro tellin me things on the site that he could have told me in person . How big do cardinals get an my tanks a 2 ft is that big enough for a shoal of about +-8 .

[Ferryman]

Weird, all the neons I bought from Moolis Last year are still happily swimming away in my tank, I'm actually considering buying another 10 cause I just love the blue red fish. striking appearance and universally recognised :)

[Gareth]

I have the same problem, I had 20 Neons and over a period of 2 or 3 moths I am down to 6. they just keep disappearing and there is nothing wrong with there tank mates.

[Vis]

Sherwin they get to about 4cm so you can put more than 8 in there.

[Sherwin]

O cool that a good number was lookin for bout 10 . Well my neons are down to 3 :(

[Pistolshrimp]

The problem is cardinals are like r25 each, gee whiz

[Sherwin]

O wow now i can only afford like 2

[Vis]

Sounds like very expensive cardinals. Have seen them for R14 before.

[Nirv]

R25 is waaaay too much. Do you have other LFS options? They've always been more expensive than Neons but that is ridiculous.

R100 for four small schooling fish? Not a chance. I wonder if Dolphin has prices on cardinals?

[Laure]

R25 is waaaay too much. Do you have other LFS options? They've always been more expensive than Neons but that is ridiculous.

R100 for four small schooling fish? Not a chance. I wonder if Dolphin has prices on cardinals?

Yeah, in his "in stock" list they are R10

Act quickly if you want some!

[Pistolshrimp]

Will look around, maybe look at another option for schooling, maybe some cherry barbs, we have one, its a stunning deep red, too bad only the males are nice

[Nirv]

My girlfriend much prefers the female colouration, strangely enough. I think they complement each other well.