Help diagnose fish

This poor female started breathing heavily several weeks ago and has been on the decline since. She has gotten very skinny but she eats like a pig. I thought she might just need to recover some strength. I have been feeding her a little extra, but it doesn't seem to help.
She has been pale, which is understandable, and listless. Doesn't show much energy. Yesterday she started a 2-tone look where the back part of her body is dark and the front is light. It is on both sides and there is a distinctive line.
She is the only on in the tank with any symptoms. I'll make my hubby finally euthanize her today.
Anyone have any idea? One of those weird fish tuberculosis things or something? Just very curious at this point.

What are your water parameters (water test)? What is your water change schedule and are you on schedule? Has you introduced anything new to your tank?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

I don't measure my water parameters anymore. I got way too frustrated with the test kit and trying to interpret the results.

I do a 40-70ish% water change every week, depending on when I remember the hose. No new fish. Everything has pretty much been the same for years.
No other fish are showing any symptoms.

I have some vague recollection of a neurological/nervous system issue that causes this... I will see if I can find info.

What species?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Becca said:

I have some vague recollection of a neurological/nervous system issue that causes this... I will see if I can find info.

Click to expand...

agreed, we've had some past threads on it. I seem to recall that it might be something viral.

Haplochromis thereuterion, Lake Victoria

aw, not one of those!

It could be neon tetra disease, which causes discoloration as it kills muscle tissue.

If this were my fish, and it were in a tank of other fish I valued highly, I'd probably euthanize it. At the very least, I'd isolate and quarantine it.

Neon tetra disease, like many others, is transmitted mostly through nipping/consumption of the diseased animal. As she gets weaker, she's likely to get nipped, and likely to transmit the disease.

Before my husband put her out of her misery (he always has to do that for me), I noticed that she was showing a red area at the top of her eyes, like hemorrhages, or a small split. Don't know if it was because she might have bumped into something during her labored swimming, or if it was a further progression of the disease.

Anyway, I'll dig around the forum and online to see what I can find.
Thanks, everyone.