Editing Neon tetra (section)

===Disease===
Neon tetras are occasionally afflicted by the so-called "neon tetra disease" (NTD) or [[pleistophora]] disease, a [[sporozoan]] disease caused by ''[[Pleistophora hyphessobryconis]]''. Despite being a well-known condition, it is generally incurable and often fatal to the fish. However this disease is also generally preventable.<ref name="aquarium-pond-answers.com">{{cite web|title=Neon Tetra & FNT Disease; Sporozoan Fish Infection|website=Aquarium-Pond-Answers.com|url=http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/02/neon-tetra-disease.html|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> The disease cycle begins when [[microsporidian]] [[parasite]] spores enter the fish after it consumes infected material, such as the bodies of a dead fish, or [[live food]] such as [[tubifex]], which may serve as [[intermediate host]]s. The disease is most likely passed by newly acquired fish that have not been quarantined.

Symptoms include restlessness, loss of coloration, lumps on the body as cysts develop, difficulty swimming, curved spines as the disease progresses, and secondary infections, such as [[fin rot]] and bloating.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neon Tetra Disease Treatment & Prevention  |date=22 June 2021 |url=https://tankquarium.com/neon-tetra-disease/|publisher=Tankquarium}}</ref>

A so-called "[[false neon disease]]", which is bacterial, shows very similar symptoms. It is impossible for the home aquarist to determine for certain the difference between NTD and false NTD on the basis of visible symptoms alone, without laboratory backup. This disease has also been confused with [[columnaris]] (mouth rot, mouth fungus, 'flex').

Generally the best 'treatment' is the immediate removal of diseased fish to preserve the remaining fish, although some occasional successful treatments have been performed that include fish baths and a "medication cocktail". The use of a [[diatom filter]], which can reduce the number of free parasites in the water, may help. As with Pleistophora neon tetra disease, prevention is most important and this disease is rare when good preventive measures are performed.<ref name="aquarium-pond-answers.com" />