![]() ![]() There is some evidence that healthy aquarium fish can fend off neon tetra disease infections under their own steam, and conversely, neon tetra disease seems to be most common when aquarium fish are stressed or otherwise weakened. Toltrazuril has been used experimentally to treat neon tetra disease microsporidian parasites including Pleistophora hyphessobryconis, but thus far there are no medications commercially available. If the aquarium fish recovers, then it can be returned to the main aquarium after a suitable quarantine period. However, because neon tetra disease can be confused with bacterial infections, some aquarists may want to place infected fish in a quarantine aquarium and treat them with antibiotics. There are no effective medications for neon tetra disease, and infected fish are normally removed and euthanized at once to prevent subsequent infection of healthy fish. In one laboratory experiment, an infected neon tetra was placed alongside a group of ten zebra danios, and no fewer than seven of those danios became infected! Treatment This is why isolating infected aquarium fish is so important. Parasites in tissues other than the muscles, for example, those in the gut or kidneys, may release viable spores into the aquarium water in other ways as well, even before the host fish dies. Eventually, the parasites produce large numbers of spores, and when the host fish is eaten by a predator or consumed by a scavenger after death, the spores are then able to get into new fish. Once inside the gut, the parasite spreads throughout the fish’s body and eventually gets into the skeletal muscles where it matures. Under aquarium conditions, this is most commonly some sort of scavenging or cannibalism, the parasites inside a dead fish being consumed by a healthy fish. ![]() Pleistophora hyphessobryconis gets into the aquarium fish through accidental ingestion. Less frequently, it has been reported to affect non-tetras including minnows, danios, goldfish, and even angelfish. The parasite was first identified in neon tetras, hence the common name, but it has also been reported from a range of other tetras as well. It is a single-celled organism that gets into its host by being consumed alongside fish food. The parasite responsible for neon tetra disease is called Pleistophora hyphessobryconis. Some aquarists have coined the term “false neon tetra disease” to refer to bacterial infections with broadly similar symptoms. Unfortunately for the aquarist, several other diseases can cause similar symptoms to neon tetra disease, including systemic bacterial infections, chronically poor diet and/or environmental conditions, and even old age. Usually, the aquarium fish dies within two or three days of the first symptoms of neon tetra disease becoming apparent. In advanced cases, the aquarium fish may have trouble swimming, and the fish may develop odd swellings or contortions indicative of damage to the musculature. The aquarium fish’s colors fade, and sometimes gray or white patches on the flanks become apparent. Infected aquarium fish will often spend less time with their schoolmates than normal, typically hiding away under aquarium plants and showing no interest in fish food. IdentificationĪt very low levels of infection, there may be no symptoms visible at all, and it is usually the case that the more obvious symptoms of neon tetra disease are only apparent on heavily infected aquarium fish a few days away from death. Despite the name, neon tetra disease can affect a range of other tetras besides neon tetras and has been reported from a variety of other aquarium fish as well. Neon tetra disease is difficult to diagnose reliably and even more difficult to treat.
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