How long until death?

[roark fishies]

I have 2 neons in QT with neon tetra disease. I've read alot on ntd but haven't found anything that tells you how long it takes for them to die. My neons have been in QT for over a month and seem to be healthy except for the discoloration in the red band. One of them has a very slightly lumpy body. Other than that they swim around and eat well. Anybody know how long it takes for them to die?

 

[TLH]

It can be difficult to say. They may appear healthy up to the time they die and depending on the fish it may be anywhere from 1-4 months at a guess. I've had one hang around for 9-10 weeks myself.

There is not much hope of survival if you're sure it's NTD so maybe it would be better to think about euthanizing them before the spores burst out.

 

[roark fishies]

I'm fairly sure it's ntd. I was starting to second guess myself though cuz they are still alive and seem fine. I'm prepared to euthanize but I don't want to do it until they act sick or stressed. Besides I'm afraid that I may be wrong and euthanize healthy fish.
What exactly does it look like when the "spores burst out?" That sounds really painful.

 

[TLH]

When the spores burst it's too late and the fish is dead already, or as good as. The spores float in the water and infect more fish, mature inside the fish and eventually burst out from the skin after completing the life cycle and then it all happens over again.

Main symptoms include the colour loss anywhere on the body of the fish, emaciation or loss of equilibrium or a combination of all three.

If you can take a clear pic and post it maybe we could say for sure.

 

[MissFishy]

If the fish are acting healthy and eating well, I would let them live out their lives until something changes. It's a shame to put something to death when it could at least have a little longer to enjoy life.

 

[roark fishies]

There's no emaciation or anything like that. The only thing I notice is faded color on the red band. On the first one it started out as a faded spot on the band. I kept my eye on it and it seemed to go through the tail and eventually faded on the other side. I put it in Qt and kept my eyes on the remaining neons. That's when I noticed another with a very smallish pimple looking thing that caused the fading as well. (The little bump has since disappeared.) He went into qt as well. Like i said, that's been over a month ago and both seem otherwise healthy. No other fish have been infected. And strangely enough the color seems to be slowly returning.
I would do pics but I have dial up and it takes FOREVER to load pics.

If the fish are acting healthy and eating well, I would let them live out their lives until something changes. It's a shame to put something to death when it could at least have a little longer to enjoy life.

That's how I feel about it.
I'm gonna give them a few more months and if they still seem well I'm gonna assume I was wrong on Ntd and put them back in with other fish.