can neon tetras get dropsy

As with all hobbyists, I’m sure you would agree that the health and welfare of our little friends come first. With that, we’re always thinking about diseases. Well, not always but most of the things we do are to help combat diseases.

We want our fish to be as healthy as possible and want to see them chasing each other. (Maybe not over-aggressively.) Oh, the colors we love seeing neon tetras colors. They can only be this colorful while being the picture of health. For more on why neon tetras chase each other and how they get so colorful follow the links.

What’s my point well our fish, in this case, our little neon tetras cant show their colors and or chase each other schooling around looking cool if they are ill. As the article suggests this article is all about dropsy and can neon tetra get dropsy.

Neon Tetra With Dropsy

Can Neon Tetras Get Dropsy

All fish including neon tetras can get dropsy which is a symptom of bacteria, parasites or liver, or kidney disease that causes the fish to build up fluid making the belly & other parts swell up.

Dropsy Disease

Dropsy fish or dropsy disease are fairly common terms but did you know dropsy isn’t a disease? (.) It’s the symptom. Dropsy fish and edema for dropsy in us humans follow either link for more on the terminology between fish and us.

If it’s not the disease itself then what is the meaning of the word dropsy?

Back to dropsy and the fact it’s a symptom, not the disease. Dropsy is the word used to describe fluid that’s building up inside the tissue of the fish. This can and often gives the fish a fat belly making it look pregnant.

There are more symptoms that may manifest let’s have a look at some of those. Hopefully, we can help diagnose it before it becomes fatal we don’t want our neon tetras dying or any fish for that matter.

Neon Tetra Pregnant Or Dropsy 

Probably a good place to start as I’ve just mentioned above. Neon tetra fat belly is something that can happen pretty regularly. You notice one or more of your fish have a bulge on the belly looking bloated.

We need to act quickly is it dropsy or is the fish pregnant? (.) Luckily there are a few telltale signs that we can use to decipher the situation. If the neon is pregnant the abdomen will still be symmetrical. The stomach will look even and towards the bottom of the stomach, she will have developed a bump so to speak.

Her belly will be fat out front more than on the sides if that makes sense. Now if it was dropsy there would be swelling towards the sides. pushing the organs up and out of the way causing a slight bend to the spine. Plus the swelling would not be evenly matched one side may be bigger. Also, the body will develop lumps and bumps across it.

These are important differences that allow us to determine what’s really going on with our fish. Luckily there are more signs to determine if she’s going to lay eggs or not. The female neon will be more playful darting around and the male will be displaying himself dancing and will have a brighter color than usual.

If however, the fish in question is lethargically tired looking losing color, and refusing food there’s a problem and we need to act. We will explain more on in a minute first let’s look at more possible dropsy symptoms.

Neon Tetra Eyes Popping Out

One of the biggest signs of dropsy developing is neon tetra eyes bulging. It will look like their eyes are popping out. This is because dropsy fish as it’s known or dropsy in fish as we would describe forces fluid into the tissue of the fish. This can be anywhere around its body including around the eyes.

This process is called popeye yep popeye. One eye may get bigger than the other or both may get this popeye phenomenon. Fluid gets trapped behind the eye forcing the to protrude under pressure looks and sounds nasty. 

Neon Tetra White Scales

When neon and pretty much any other fish develop dropsy their scales will turn white. This is because the scales start protruding. the swelling pushes their sides bloating the fish and pointing the scales away from the skin. This has now been called the pine cone effect. They will have lost some color as this happens when stressed and ill.

Redness Of The Skin And Fins

All this swelling and repointing of the scales leaves the skin exposed. Causing the skin to become sore inflamed and red. This is believed to be because the skin stretches with so much fluid inside. So much so that small blood vessels pop making the skin and fins red.

Pale Gills

There are still a few more honorable mentions for neon tetra with dropsy. We will get on to how to cure dropsy with some dropsy in fish cure. I know a lot of hobbyists keep betta with neon tetras. So how to treat dropsy in betta fish you will be glad to know is the same as with all fish.

Fish may pale gills as the blood is flushed out from the swelling and fluids being forced around in basic terms the fish has developed anemia,

There are no longer enough red blood cells in the gills so they appear as pale anemia in fish there’s a great read on anemia in fish.

All fish may well experience inflamed anuses and trouble breathing amongst the usual tiredness and lack of appetite.

What Causes Dropsy In Fish

Dropsy is usually caused by a fungal bacterial or parasitical disease. For instance, fungal spores naturally frequent and populate within fish tanks. These spores are normally perfectly ok but if a fish becomes stressed those same spores can be incredibly dangerous. Fungal spores will manifest as cotton wool growths. The mouth gills and even fins of fish become infectious.

As a bacterial disease, there are believed to be some 14 known bacteria. They have the right criteria in that they are what’s called gram-negative aerobic bacterial fish disease. This means that it thrives in well-oxygenated, often very “clean” tanks. Unlike some other diseases that thrive in low O2 and high organic loads. It is caused by the bacteria flavobacterium.

Just like the fungal disease this bacterial disease is common and fairly harmless. Until it meets a fish with a low immune system.

Last but not least is a parasite myxosporidian parasite to be precise. Basically, a tiny worm-like parasite that gets in via spores. And burrows its way into the fish’s muscle and tissue where it releases more spores eventually finding their way to the organs.

In 1994 it was finally discovered that this parasite is what’s known as a two-host life cycle. First, it lives in the water and attaches via spores to the outside of the fish. Then once inside it births more or a slightly different parasite with more spores that then eat their way to the organs. These spores if ingested or if a fish eats another that’s infected are what’s known as NTD neon tetra disease. The second life cycle of the parasite once inside the fish.

Sounds like a nasty piece of work you can read more about this parasite here are a couple of sources.

parasite

Parasite source 2

Parasite source 3

That’s enough about them hay. Let’s move on from those nasty things and look at how to cure dropsy.

Dropsy Fish Treatment

Dropsy cure let’s talk about how we can cure our neons all fish for that matter even those pesky betta fish.  First things first treatment can work but unfortunately it’s not typical. Dropsy has some horrific symptoms as we’ve seen and if it’s a parasite and it’s already eating at organs it’s far too late.

This is yet another reason to catch things early before they have had the chance to develop. There are always signs we as hobbyists need to do our job and be vigilant.

Anyway here are some treatments and cure methods that will do the trick. Remember dropsy is the symptom and there are a few. We need to find the underlying illness and provide treatment geared towards that problem and then give support and care to the fish.

Dropsy Cure Move To Hospital Tank

Ok, first we move the infected fish to a hospital tank. We then add aquarium salt at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Once we have the fish isolated and set up in our fully cycled hospital tank the temperature should be slowly altered. Until we reach 74 degrees F this has been proven to be the sweet spot for helping cure dropsy. 

Feed High-Quality Foods To Treat Dropsy

Next, we need to feed our little fishy friend high-quality flakes supplemented with brine shrimp blood worms and twice a day a peeled/shelled pea. These foods will work on most fish but this list is specific for neon tetras.

Treat The Main Tank For Dropsy Symptoms

While this is going on we need to treat our main tank as dropsy symptoms are highly contagious. Why take risks with the main tank by just leaving it and hoping? Even if the other fish seem ok we still need to do a 50 percent water change.

Clean and hoover the substrate add some aquarium salt the same as above one teaspoon per gallon of water. Bring the temperature down slowly to the above 74f sweet spot.

Adding Antibiotics & Other Medications To Cure The Symptoms 

Now we can treat the tanks with some high-quality medication starting with a multi-fungal treatment here’s one from tetra fungus guardWe can then add kanaplex found here. Read and treat as per instructions both dissolve into the water and the fish absorbs awesome stuff.

When doing your water changes use some water stabilizer to balance your water. It is best to first add the salt and then add the Kanaplex and Tetra fungus guard. Wait for 48 hours and 2 full days then do a water change of 50 percent. (Both tanks hospital and main.)

After water, change add the water stabilizer then repeat the medication combo Kanaplex and Tetra Fungus Guard. We can do this process up to 3 times.

Following the above is the best way of recovering from the illnesses that cause dropsy. You should see results after a week or so but don’t add any affected fish back into the main tank for a further fortnight. This is to make sure the fish is completely recovered.

Preventing Dropsy 

Now, this is how we can effectively cure dropsy. We can eliminate the overriding issues of Bacteria fungal and parasitical diseases. Regular weekly water changes while doing the water change clean the gravel/substrate. Give it a good hoover/vacuum to get rid of any poop Fish do poop. Uneaten food and debris.

More Reading

How Fish poop

Why Fish Poop

Have a look at the water changes and water change articles. They will clarify both the water changes and water clarity and how to get crystal clear waters.

Do fish poop Why and how to fish poop all explain the cycle of the waste and important it can be but also how dangerous fish waste can be.

Water Change And Adding Conditioner

After the hoovering and water change add a good conditioner and some aquarium salt. This will help stave off illness and keep electrolytes in balance. Make sure the filter is working properly do this at the same time as the water change too. Clean the media or sponge but don’t replace it unless old and falling apart. 

Check And Slowly Change Water Temperature

Always check the temperature and water conditions daily. Have enough room for fish to school and swim around in at least 2 gallons per inch. Keep schooling fish like our neon tetras in groups of at least 6 fish id say 9 or more to be safe.

Stresses Of Overfeeding & Overstocking

Have plenty of hiding spaces and feeding areas. Only feed what the fish can eat in 2 minutes. No overfeeding and no overstocking. Make sure the tank is big enough for how big the fish is and for how much space that fish needs. Ie schooling fish need room to swim. stress is the main course of concern for almost all illnesses. Always make small gentle changes that don’t overly affect the fish.

Observing Fish For Illnesses

Make sure to fully acclimatize to any new fish. Keep them in a hospital tank for up to 2 weeks. And observe them make sure they are in good health before adding them to your main tank.

Also when buying new fish you can ask and check what the water conditions are so you have an idea of what you need to do to bring your hospital tank into line with the retailer’s tank. Let’s talk about vitamins fish need them too giving the new fish vitamin b will keep it calm. Stop unwanted stress help the nervous system and immune system as moving from one place to another is stressful.

Another 2 fold pro tip is to do what’s called drip acclimatization when adding the new fish to your tanks. The second part of the tip is this. If you feel there may be some potential stress from other fish you can place that fish into a holding area within the tank and allow the newbie to roam for a day or so.

Last but not least when adding fish to your tank hospital tanks included turning all lights off and don’t feed or turn the lights on until the next day. Doing all these things will eliminate most chances of illness but always be prepared as nothing is foolproof, unfortunately.

Extra Pro Tip Feed Fish A Varied Diet

A great pro tip for all fish, not just neon tetras is feeding them a high-quality varied diet. Always switch things up so they don’t get bored and they get all the essential nutrients. When opening a new package even if flakes or pellets always use within one month of first use.

Fresh brine shrimp bloodworm etc make sure you are happy where you purchased it from. Make it fresh and high quality your fish will thank you for it.

Neon Tetras Can Get Dropsy Conclusion

Yes, it’s true neon tetras can and do get dropsy. Dropsy is a symptom of disease rather than disease. If we act fast we can usually resolve the issue and recover our fish. Always looking at the condition of our tanks and watching for signs of stress will stop dropsy before it has a chance to manifest.

Following the instructions in this article. Will help greatly in preventing those symptoms and if caught early most fish will have a fighting chance. With the medication provided here. But if it’s a parasite. That has spawned twice and is on the inside attacking organs. It’s already too late. Catch any illness early. Thanks for reading and please feel free to look around the blog. For more great tips and tricks and insights into the wonderful world of fish keeping.