How do you treat fish eyes?

[davelin315]

I am using melafix for a puffer with cloudy eyes and it seems to be helping after the initial treatment. It says it will cure popeye as well, but it's not in a reef setting, and I don't know if it's good for a flame in a reef if that's where yours is (it says it's reef safe, but who knows if those claims are ever altogether true).

 

[Mike&Pam]

Hello. My flame angel's eye turned big and white recently. Almost looks like plastic. He had it on his other eye a few weeks ago but it cleared up on its own rather quickly. Therefore, I thought the same would happen with this one. However, it's been a little while and still no signs of improvement. Is there anything I can do? All parameters are ok. Thanks.

Mike

 

[suckair]

My female tomato clown got a case of the pop eye real bad a month ago. The eye was totaly outside the head and the lens was opquae. Only one eye was affected. It was determined that the problem with the eye was probably a injury not a infection. I felt it best to just leave the fish alone and let the eye heal on it's own. I had my doubts but sure enough after some time it went away and you could never tell today that the fish had a problem.

Just thought I would throw in my experiences.

 

[EmilyB]

Usually popeye, in one eye, is a result of an injury. Cloudy eyes, etc. is a water quality issue, generally water changes, good nutrition will clear this up.

 

[JennM]

There have been many instances of tramatode infestation here lately, and the fish are coming from various wholesalers, all infected, so we aren't just blaming "one" supplier. They mainly infect tangs and angels, but I've seen many other species infected too.

It's a parasite. It infects the gills and the eyes, and it's rather alarming when you see the end result.

I'd FW dip the Flame angel, for 5 minutes in RO or dechlorinated tap water, at similar temp to the tank. Give it the full 5 minutes, because often it takes 2 to 3 minutes for the parasites to die, and then they fall off. When you do this, you'll see what looks like sesame-seed sized things fall off the eyes, and often blow out the mouth and gills. I've seen dipping containers that look like snow globes by the time the 5 minutes are up

.

I'd try this before any medication. I'd do it once today for 5 minutes, and once tomorrow for the same. IF tomorrow's dip comes up clean (no "sesame seeds"), then you got it. If there is evidence in tomorrow's dip, do it again the next day until it dips clean. Usually one or two treatments gets them unless a tankmate is reinfesting.

Popeye is a bacterial infection, and the symptoms are swelling, not that opaque "plastic" like cataract-ish thing you are describing.

IF a dip doesn't yield dead parasites, THEN rule out what I've suggested and look at medication. The 5 minute stress of a FW bath will most likely save you the cost and stress of medicating if it's not necessary.

I've yet to lose a fish to a FW dip, and through my work I've done dozens of 'em.

HTH

Jenn

 

[Scotreef]

Just to add, I have a Blue Queen Angel that had the same symptoms. I did the FW dip and although nothing visably fell off, it cured the problem.

My LFS said that if it's an angel and only one eye is affected then 99.9% of the time it's a paracite which the FW will deal with. They suggested ensuring that the ph was matched with the tank aswell as the temperature.