Diamond tetra jaw problem?

[hank barta]

I purchased 5 diamond tetras (Moenkhausia pittieri) recently. Upon
arrival at home, I noticed that the forward portions of their lips
were whitish, as if they had been running into the side of the tank
or something. About few days later I noticed that one had a reddish
streak on one side of his lower jaw. Since the rest looked good I
took a chance and lulled them out of isolation and put them into my
community tank. For a couple of days it seemed to hold its own though I
noted that it wasn't eating. This morning I found it dead and have now
noticed that one of the other four is demonstrating the same symptoms.

The other three look fine and have pretty good appetites. ;)

How likely is this to be a contagious malady vs. a result of some
previous trauma? Is this something that anyone has seen before?

thanks,
hank

[Flash Wilson]

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 02:13:33 GMT, hank barta > wrote:
> I purchased 5 diamond tetras (Moenkhausia pittieri) recently. Upon
> arrival at home, I noticed that the forward portions of their lips
> were whitish, as if they had been running into the side of the tank
> or something. About few days later I noticed that one had a reddish

Not white as in a growth - like mouth fungus?

> How likely is this to be a contagious malady vs. a result of some
> previous trauma? Is this something that anyone has seen before?

If that is what you've got I find it is a result of poor water
quality and clears up quickly when that's addressed; if that's not
what you've got, please ignore me!

--
Flash Wilson
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Looking for a UNIX/Apache Sysadmin, or help with your website?
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[hank barta]

Flash Wilson > wrote:

> Not white as in a growth - like mouth fungus?

Not at all fuzzy. Just like a white coating or more likely a whitish
bruise. It's right where they would hit if they ran head on into
something.

>> How likely is this to be a contagious malady vs. a result of some
>> previous trauma? Is this something that anyone has seen before?

> If that is what you've got I find it is a result of poor water
> quality and clears up quickly when that's addressed; if that's not
> what you've got, please ignore me!

Worth testing for. No ammonia or nitrites detected and nitrates at
about 10 ppm. Seems good enough.

thanks,
hank

[NetMax]

"hank barta" > wrote in message
news:h90Pb.88105$5V2.138395@attbi_s53...
> I purchased 5 diamond tetras (Moenkhausia pittieri) recently. Upon
> arrival at home, I noticed that the forward portions of their lips
> were whitish, as if they had been running into the side of the tank
> or something. About few days later I noticed that one had a reddish
> streak on one side of his lower jaw. Since the rest looked good I
> took a chance and lulled them out of isolation and put them into my
> community tank. For a couple of days it seemed to hold its own
though I
> noted that it wasn't eating. This morning I found it dead and have
now
> noticed that one of the other four is demonstrating the same
symptoms.
>
> The other three look fine and have pretty good appetites. ;)
>
> How likely is this to be a contagious malady vs. a result of some
> previous trauma? Is this something that anyone has seen before?

Research Columnaris or Flexibactor (white mustache on mouth). Very
contagious, requires antibiotics. If that is what it is, I'd isolate
them again, and hope the bacteria didn't get into your main tank's water
in significant numbers. For red streaking, research Septicimia (or
something like that). Also a bacterial contagion, quite nasty, not as
contagious as Columnaris, a bit slower acting, but just as fatal. If you
have livebearers in your community tank, watch for white patches around
the base and behind the dorsal fin (research Saddleback). I think this
is also Columnaris/Flexibactor, but it exhibits itself a little
differently on livebearers. Rainbowfish have the white mustache and
slime coat goes gray. Tetras often get white patches. I don't usually
see cichlids or catfish affected by this, but Corys in a tank with
Columnaris often get Ich, so their slime coat is being affected as well.

NetMax

> thanks,
> hank

[hank barta]

NetMax > wrote:

> Research Columnaris or Flexibactor (white mustache on mouth). Very
> contagious, requires antibiotics. If that is what it is, I'd isolate
> them again, and hope the bacteria didn't get into your main tank's water
> in significant numbers.

Columnaris certainly sounds like what I'm looking at. Water quality
and changing water conditions are described as contributing factors.
Fortunately water quality is not an issue at the moment, but
with recently purchased fish I'm sure that changing conditions
contributed. I suppose anything that stresses the fish could leave
them susceptible. They are isolated again and I'm treating with
antibiotics.

> For red streaking, research Septicimia (or
> something like that). Also a bacterial contagion, quite nasty, not as
> contagious as Columnaris, a bit slower acting, but just as fatal. If you
> have live bearers in your community tank, watch for white patches around
> the base and behind the dorsal fin (research Saddleback). I think this
> is also Columnaris/Flexibactor, but it exhibits itself a little
> differently on livebearers. Rainbowfish have the white mustache and
> slime coat goes gray. Tetras often get white patches. I don't usually
> see cichlids or catfish affected by this, but Corys in a tank with
> Columnaris often get Ich, so their slime coat is being affected as well.

Fortunately I have no live bearers. Their former tank mates (mostly
other tetras) show no symptoms and are under close watch. I've also
reduced water temperature a few degrees as high temperature was
also suggested as a potential cause. The red streaks were likely
a secondary infection to the Columnaris but should also be held at
bay with antibiotics.

thanks,
hank