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I have had 4 Black Neons in my 15 for 6 days now. They have all developed a shiny coppery coloured edge to them. It's not spotty of dusty, but it's sparkly and it wasen't there when i bought them from the shop. They are all swimming around happily and eating, they do get bullied a little bit from a largeish male platy in my tank.

Nitrite and Ammonia are 0ppm, and PH is around 7. I keep the temperature at 25C. I hope they're okay. They don't look sick, but i wanted to check.

Also, one of my Albino Corydoras has a little lump where her neck is, or just below, again, she seems healthy, and she's eating fine, but my others don't have this strange lump. She is very fat also. She also has a male and female friend, but she isn't 6 months old yet, so i don't think she's pregnant. She eats like a pig though. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Black neons arent traditionally known for having a shiny coppery edge, although theres so much selective breeding out there , it is possible.

Be cautious though because you could be seeing the first visible symptoms of velvet, or gold dust disease. Ive used esha exit medication with black neons , and its cleared them up no problems.

I don't think it is gold dust desiese, as it is really what a diamond tetra looks like, but bronze, and around their top fins(i don't know the proper names) They all are acting okay, i have just done a water change, they seemed stressed by it, and the coppery edge went. As soon as the tank was back to normal, it came back, and they seemed a lot happier. Any info on my cory? Do you think it could be something to do with that when she was caught, she got a wound thing on both fins, and now the lump is between where she got the wounds? They've healed now. Thanks

The lump might quite simply be scar tissue and nothing to worry about,sometimes old abcesses become hardened tissue and they can remain quite sizeable for years. As long as youre sure the fish's weight is because of its appetite rather than any potential hormone changes associated with cancer things are probably fine. Tumours can make fish lose weight, or radically gain weight.

Other options include swelling because of cauliflower disease, protozoan and nematode infestation (cysts), and a few crustacean parasites, but presumably youd notice a downturn in the health if the fish , and probably some reaction to the irritating swelling.

If you can post a picture of the fish it always gives us more to go on.

Is this "lump" small and rounded, and centered in between the pectoral fins on the belly? If so, it might just be a sign of a plump cory cat. I have one Corydoras with a small protrusion in the same area, that's just a chubby fish for you.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Pretty much. SO, i guess she's just fat. Oh well, at least she has a healthy appetite!