Black Neon carrying eggs or??

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

Oh noes. That’s worrisome.  The [thingy we don’t know what it is] might be putting pressure on the exit? 😳

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@Chick-In-Of-TheSea yep something like that I suppose. I'm keeping an eye on them. They're really hard to catch- if I decide to do salt soaks to see if it helps they'll end up in a floating breeder in the tank and I'm not sure I want to do that or not- that created a lot of stress for them being separated from their tankmates. So it's really a matter of 6 of one, half dozen of another/catch 22 stuff. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Well folks, just wanted to keep this thread updated. My Black Neon is still alive and kicking! She's still bloated, don't see any redness right now. (took this with the lights already off so sorry for the quality and reflection)

Edited September 14, 2022 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

That’s great @xXInkedPhoenixX! I guess this is her norm.

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

She looks like she is improving compared to the first photos you took in May.

[PineSong]

I’m so glad to see this update. I try to be conscious of the stress of being separated from tankmates, too. It’s great she’s still enjoying her school.

[Robstar]

What a tough fish species they are. This thread makes me want to get some. Thank you for sharing.

[Minanora]

Chonky mama. So strange. I'm glad she's still living her best life. Great documentation.

[Ron Uni]

Any further updates mine is looking like yours now

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

@xXInkedPhoenixX

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@Ron Uni hey there. It's hard to say. So right now one of my Black Neons is still fat like this. I had another one recently that was fat and very pale so I removed "her" (my assumption that it was a female) and treated her with salt baths and Kanaplex. That Neon unfortunately passed. So I cannot say for sure if that Neon is the one in this thread or the other one I see now that is fat but full of color. I have had baby Neons before so it's entirely possible she is full of eggs. I never really was able to diagnose. 

[Ron Uni]

Do you know what pH level helped spawn, I'm reading the like more acidic water to spawn in.

Other places say neutral so, I'm a little confused. I want to make conditions right if she wants to lay her eggs and if not treat her for whatever she's got.

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@Ron Uni, I am an "accidental" breeder. I don't aim to have my fish spawn, they just end up doing it. I run no heater (tank around 74-77, ph between 7.2-7.6 typically, medium buffer, pretty high hardness, Nitrates are usually 25-50. They're in a 20 gallon and I change out 1-2 gallons weekly. 

[Ron Uni]

Thanks for your response, it's been helpful.