Bilateral Eye Disease Question

[gwand]

My wild caught male p. pulcher has bilateral eye enlargement with the right eye being cloudy. The female pulcher is not affected, nor are any of the other fish in the 60 gallon tank. Ammonia and nitrite levels are zero. Nitrate is 5-10 ppm. I ordered antibiotic that will arrive Wednesday. My question is whether to treat the entire tank with antibiotics or to sequester the fish and treat him in the quarantine tank? Should I add salt to the water? I tried to get a picture of the fish, but he is almost always hiding. This has been his behavior since he arrived in early October. Thank you.

 

[Colin_T]

Inflamed eyes can be from physical injury or an infection. Infections normally affect one eye as do injuries. If both eyes are swollen the fish could have inflammation in the skull, which is causing the eyes to stick out.

Cloudy eyes are caused by poor water quality or injury. Because only one fish is involved and only one eye is cloudy it's most likely a physical injury rather than a water quality issue.

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Eyes normally heal quickly (within a few days) and clean water and salt usually help. Do a big (75%) water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see if it helps.

Add some salt (1 heaped tablespoon per 20 liters (5 gallons) for 1 week.

If there's no improvement after 3 or 4 days add medication.

Antibiotics work best in bare containers with no substrate, filter, wood or rocks. You can have a small cave in for him to hide in during treatment. You should also wipe the inside of the container and change all the water before you re-treat the tank with antibiotics.

 

[gwand]

Inflamed eyes can be from physical injury or an infection. Infections normally affect one eye as do injuries. If both eyes are swollen the fish could have inflammation in the skull, which is causing the eyes to stick out.

Cloudy eyes are caused by poor water quality or injury. Because only one fish is involved and only one eye is cloudy it's most likely a physical injury rather than a water quality issue.

--------------------

Eyes normally heal quickly (within a few days) and clean water and salt usually help. Do a big (75%) water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week and see if it helps.

Add some salt (1 heaped tablespoon per 20 liters (5 gallons) for 1 week.

If there's no improvement after 3 or 4 days add medication.

Antibiotics work best in bare containers with no substrate, filter, wood or rocks. You can have a small cave in for him to hide in during treatment. You should also wipe the inside of the container and change all the water before you re-treat the tank with antibiotics.

Thanks. If salt doesn’t work and I progress to antibiotics do I house the injured fish in a separate tank away from the other fish?

 

[Colin_T]

Thanks. If salt doesn’t work and I progress to antibiotics do I house the injured fish in a separate tank away from the other fish?

Yes. treat the fish in a separate tank/ container when using antibiotics.