This is a short educational YouTube case (case nr. 246) by Gerald Bassleer about a Spironucleus (formerly Hexamita) parasitic infection in Neon tetras (Paracheirodon innesi). The video describes clinical signs (some fish becoming skinny and dying), shows microscopic flagellated parasites from the gut/abdomen, and recommends treatments (metronidazole, consider antibiotics for secondary infections) plus supportive measures and references to the author’s books and Patreon for more details.
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Hello, dear aquarist, thanks for selecting this video to understand a disease that can occur with our Neon tetra, Parahydon inisi. Yes, to small tetra, usually coming from breeders can bring certain diseases which can be treated. So watch my video and I show you my microscopic findings so you will understand what can cause a little parasite the losses of your Neon tetra. So I will show you my PowerPoint and that explains well the fish in the aquarium and the parasites that are shown in the microscope. So it's by case 246, the Neotetra with the parasites spiral nucleus. Spiral nucleus used to be called hexameter. You can learn about spiral nucleus and diseases of neon tetras in my books. Particularly the new illustrated guide has an extensive list of diseases on tetras and all the medications you can use to treat spironucleus or hexameter. Also the practical guide has some very detailed information and is available in seven languages. The Neon tetra. Notice the few skinny ones here, particularly in the middle or in the back. They become skinny and some die after a couple of weeks or days. Other ones look fine, look healthy. But it starts with a few that become skinny. And when we examined the internal organs we found in the abdomen and in the gut to small moving flagellated parasites, you can see that here see these little bugs moving around. And of course that is affecting the health of the fish and is causing damage. And I show you here in this observation. Let's go back if I can show you again because this observation is very interesting that you learn to understand that these parasites can be a trouble and that your observation of this parasite can help you to understand this kind of disease. So the Neon tetra, it's important to take quick action because you've seen they have suffering from the parasites. And if you act too late, the damage is too large. So you have to treat it as soon as possible with a medication like metronidazole or other similar medications that should be administered to kill the spinal nucleus. Ask your fish doctor asking your pet shop. At the same time, you might think about applying an antibiotic to control the secondary bacterial infection, depending how advanced the disease is. Because usually the fish will eventually develop bacterial infections. It's like with humans, when you get sick from a viral infection, usually you get secondary bacterial infections that can be treated. A virus cannot be treated. You only can make build up your immune system against it. And that usually happens when you have an infection. Your immune system works and normally defend yourself against the disease. The same for the fish so you can help the fish with a functional fish food to help to to well, to have a good immune or defense system. And in this case, we recommend the use of Lapacho, which is a functional product, to help the fish, particularly when they are still eating. A lot of details on medicating and how to examine fish diseases in is available in my books. Or you can get it also in my Patreon channel where I can teach you fish doctrine, causes of fish diseases, prevention and control during quarantine measures for freshwater and marine. And if you want to see more videos on tetras, well I show you here at the end, a link where you can continue to learn more about diseases on tetras. Also on neon fish. So that is something I wanted to tell you about this spiral nucleus infection that affected the neon tetra. Thank you for watching.
