tetra runt

[swmmnglessons]

I have 4 neon tetras and have just recently noticed that one of them is a runt. He isn't able to close his mouth at all because he doesn't have "fish lips". When he eats, he doesn't even chase after a piece of food, he basically has to float into a piece just right for it to enter his mouth. I've watched him at several feedings and he'll swallow a piece of food and attempt to chew it but then spit it out. I feel terrible because he's literally a third the size of the other tetras and hardly has any color while the others are bright red and blue. Is there any alternate way to feed him so he actually downs food or should I just wait for him to die?

 

[swmmnglessons]

I forgot to mention that he doesn't school with the others. He just kinda hangs out by himself while they play around.

 

[Wowzers]

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can really do about it.

 

[loganj]

neon

You might try isolating him and target feeding him with some fry food. Unfortunately, as Wowzer said, I doubt there is a lot of hope due to the mouth deformity. That's all I can think of.
Logan J

 

[swmmnglessons]

I thought so...hopefully he'll hang in there. I wish you could hand feed them like baby birds...lol