Silver Dollar Cloudy Eye

[paulc855]

Hi, i have a silver dollar which is about 4" and has one eye which has been cloudy for about a month i have tried 2 different types of fungus treatment, both of which have reduced the problem but have never really cleared it up. It does not seem to be affecting the fish as it is still eating well and looks fit and healthy appart from the right eye, none of my other fish have had any symptoms until today when one of my smaller silver dollars is starting to get the same problem and also in the right eye. i do 20-30% water changes every sunday, and check water quality every couple of days. does anyone have any ideas that i could try.

thanks all
Paul

 

[Dangerousdan]

Hi, i have a silver dollar which is about 4" and has one eye which has been cloudy for about a month i have tried 2 different types of fungus treatment, both of which have reduced the problem but have never really cleared it up. It does not seem to be affecting the fish as it is still eating well and looks fit and healthy appart from the right eye, none of my other fish have had any symptoms until today when one of my smaller silver dollars is starting to get the same problem and also in the right eye. i do 20-30% water changes every sunday, and check water quality every couple of days. does anyone have any ideas that i could try.

thanks all
Paul

Hi Paul, you say you check water quality but what are the stats? including pH and hardness
As hardness can some times in my experience cause some fishes eyes to go cloudy.
Dan

 

[swampcat]

What size tank, these babies need a big tank (75 gallon min.), Is your silver $ alone? needs to be in a group of three or more. If in a group are the other silver $ having same problems?

I have silver dollars and have had for many years. Had two live for 9 -10 years just died in past two months. Anyway I have had fungus on their eyes through the years now and again (very seldom).

I presently have red hook silver dollars that are around 5-6 years old who were tank mates with the 9 -10 year old reg silver dollars.

Anyway I used sea salt to clear this problem when I incountered it. One tablespoon to 5 gallons. After fish eyes clear up eliminate salt content by doing your normal water changes. Just remember salt does not evaperate with water and is only removed with water. To much salt can be a deadly mix.

I almost hate to suggest the use of salt ,because This post will be attacked by the anti salt police as always, but it works! As long as its used correctly its safe with almost all fish, even some delicate species when used correctly.

 

[paulc855]

hi swampcat, how long would i need to leave the salt in, is it until the problem has gone or do i add it then do my water changes as usual, also what effect will it have on the other inhabitants of the tank, i have 2 angels, 2cichlinds(dorsiger), 3gourami a rainbow fish and a crab that lives in the filter.
you also mentioned the size of the tank affecting silver dollars i have 3 in total and the tank dimensions are 48lx12wx18h is this big enough nowing that i will be moving the cichlids and angels into a new tank.

cheers Paul

 

[swampcat]

I would only use salt until problem goes away, I personally try using as little foriegn chemicals and materials as possible , I keep tanks as basic as possible unless its an emergency . The most important thing in fish keeping, is the two bacterias (nitrosomonas and nitrobacter) that use ammonia and nitrite as fuel and keeping it alive and thriving in the biological filter, after that ,fish keeping is a breeze.

Three silver dollars should be alright in a 55 gallon. silver dollars need quite a bit of room to swim. they like to dart around and chase one another quite a bit and if not kept in a group of three or more will sometimes torture your other fish, like angel.

I am not at all familiar with groumis and rainbow fish nor a fresh water crab.

Aquarium Pharm Co. that sells Doctor Fish Wells aquarium salt had written in an email sent to me that aquarium salt is safe with all tropical fish if used as directed. Of course they sell the product.

My personal use of sea salt has been done sucessfully with the following oscars, silver dollars, pleco's ( common and bristle) angels, severums, convicts, irredesent shark ( big no no), firemouths, keyholes, festivums, blue rams, blue acaras, kribensis, rainbow shark and even a albino cory which is supposed to be instant death. The crab I have no idea.

*****I would treat a 55 gallon as a 40-45 gallon to compansate for water displacement from gravel ,decorations ,and even the fish themselves!!!!

 

[paulc855]

thanks i will get some today and let you know how i get on

Paul

 

[Dangerousdan]

Anyway I used sea salt to clear this problem when I incountered it. One tablespoon to 5 gallons. After fish eyes clear up eliminate salt content by doing your normal water changes. Just remember salt does not evaperate with water and is only removed with water. To much salt can be a deadly mix.

Aquarium Pharm Co. that sells Doctor Fish Wells aquarium salt had written in an email sent to me that aquarium salt is safe with all tropical fish if used as directed. Of course they sell the product.

My personal use of sea salt has been done sucessfully with the following oscars, silver dollars, pleco's ( common and bristle) angels, severums, convicts, irredesent shark ( big no no), firemouths, keyholes, festivums, blue rams, blue acaras, kribensis, rainbow shark and even a albino cory which is supposed to be instant death. The crab I have no idea.

*****I would treat a 55 gallon as a 40-45 gallon to compansate for water displacement from gravel ,decorations ,and even the fish themselves!!!!

Can i just add here that there a big difference between marine(sea) salt and aquarium salt(Aquarium pharm quote).