OK. I can't give you all the amonia and other specs to my tank but here is the rest of it...

It's a 10 gal tank with 4 neon tetras in it. I've had it going for about 6 months and everything has been moving along just fine. Everyone has been happy and healthy until....

I went on vacation for two weeks (I've been back 2). I bought an automatic feeder at the last minute which caused me to leave the tank lid propped open. I asked my ex to come and check on things while I was gone. I'm glad I did because after 1 week much of the water had evaporated and the food in the feeder had clumped up. He (he's had fish before himself although a long time ago) added filtered water and fed them. He came back a couple of times during week 2 to check on them and feed them.

When I came home my biggest fish looked kind of bloated but seemed otherwise ok. Then the other morning I woke up and he was lodge (?) or resting in a plastic plant (which I've since taken out and left the live plants). I thought he had died so I reached in with the net to get him and when I moved the plant he swam away and headed straight for the surface where he gulped at the surface. I thought for sure I'd come home to a dead fish but I didn't.

After that he started to look white and fuzzy. I did some research but couldn't find all symptoms clustered in one problem. I went to the pet store, talked to a rather humorless associate who adviced me to flush him and get a new one.. sorry wrong answer. When I said that he advised General Cure by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I pulled the filter and gave the tank 1 dose (dose 2 is tonight). My sick fish lost the white stuff, is acting somewhat better and the other fish are going near him again (they are all healthy). But he is still not eating and is still looking bloated.

Thoughts? Idea's? What is wrong with him and is there a second course of action I should take. Or should I end his suffering?

Thanks in advance. - Gabby

First, put the filter back on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fish need air, especially when you are medicating them, as some medications can deplete the oxygen level in the water. Just take the carbon out of the filter. Carbon will take the medication out of the water. Also, letting the filter media dry out will kill all of the good bacteria and the tank will re-cycle when you put it back on.

Do a large water change.... 50% maybe. If there was a problem with the filter, maybe too much food ended up in the tank and it's a water parameter problem. (Get a test kit - liquid works best as the strips are really inaccurate!)

If he's looking better after the medication, keep medicating for how long it says on the label and see what happens. Reduce feeding (so he doesn't get more bloated... although you said he's not eating anyway.) Maybe he's constipated from too much food? What does the bloating look like? When my Cardinals (pretty much the same as Neons) pig out on frozen food, their bellies turn into triangles.... is that when he looks like, or is he rounded everywhere? Not sure on curing constipation.... I've heard of chopped peas to help with some problems..... try researching if that would help?

__________________
20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Thank you all for your input.

Holly - I only took out the filter, I didn't stop the aerator. No worries there. His belly is round and the other fish appear to be normal. And yes, you are right, I need to invest in a test kit.

It's not looking good. Late yesterday afternoon he started having serious balance problems.

I noticed last night (unfortunately well after all the stores closed) that I saw mercury leaking from from my heater. I was going to get them out of there last night but without a heater they'd be gonners in my chilly drafty little house. I'm getting a heater and an emergency bowl at lunch (along with other stuff. It might be too late to save the big guy but the others appear fine. I wonder if he actually ate some mercury.