Pleistophora hyphessobryconis infects skeletal muscle, causing whitish patches and progressive spinal curvature. There is no effective treatment. Prevention through quarantine is essential.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Pleistophora hyphessobryconis (microsporidian)
Peak Mortality
100%
Primary Host
Neon tetras, cardinal tetras, other characins
Treatment
✗ None
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
🩺 Clinical Signs
Loss of blue-red coloration, whitish muscle patches, spinal curvature, restlessness, difficulty swimming.
💊 Treatment
⚠️ No universally approved treatment is currently available. The information below covers supportive care and experimental approaches.
No proven cure. Cull affected fish to prevent spread. Fumagillin has been trialed with limited success.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Quarantine new tetras 4-6 weeks. Buy from reputable sources. Never keep neons in same tank with symptomatic fish.