Quote Originally Posted by Hugsplox View Post
I've had a lot of issues with neon tetras over the years. To the point that I just don't even try to keep them anymore. If you want something that in my opinion is more hardy, cardinal tetras get a bit bigger but would look great in a tank your size. Ich is rough, but the API super ich cure has always worked great for me even without raising the temperature in the tank. Might be worth trying next time, although I hope that's the last time you see it for awhile.
I've heard as such in many places, but it has been a long time since I've had any so this is the first time I've really been able to personally observe just how genetically inferior they are, quite sad. Even the singular orphan glowlight tetra I picked up with the black neons is markedly bigger and healthier than all the regular neons combined. I almost went with cardinals too since they're prettier and about match the black neons in size for that perfect "synergy" so to speak, but unfortunately they're over twice as expensive per individual as regular neons and I was already spending hundreds on fish alone.

As for medication, I used Ich X. Really heavy-duty stuff that stains the water (and everything else it touches), but it got the job done extremely fast. Due to on oncoming illness that set me back the past couple months I only managed to do half a week's dosage routine but even that was enough to erase the parasites from the entire tank.