Re: Eye Problem with Dwarf Fuzzy Lion

Subject:

Comments:
: : : : : : : : Hi All, : : : : : : : : Today I noticed that the right eye on my Fuzzy Lion has what looks like a clear bubble on it. His other eye is fine : : : : : : : : and the Zebra and Eel is fine. The Ammonia level is 0 and the Nitrite was at .50ppm...it is now 0. Is this an : : : : : : : : injury or infection? Will it go away or do I need to treat it?...and if so with what? I don't have anything here to : : : : : : : : treat him and everything is closed for the holiday. Can anyone give me any pointers? : : : : : : : : Thank you, : : : : : : : : Steven : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Hi Steven! : : : : : : : To be honest, I don't know what the bubble is. It could be so many different things that it's hard to say. It could be the start of a bacterial infection, it could be an injury, it could be the start of gas bubble disease, it could be a reaction to the high nitrite....... : : : : : : : If it was me, I'd do a water change first, then wait a day and see if it's worse or better. Sometimes these things will go away on their own if the water is kept clean. : : : : : : : Sorry I couldn't be of more help! : : : : : : : Post back if it gets worse!!! : : : : : : Hi Barbara, : : : : : : I did a 50% water change this morning and dropped the Nitrite to .25ppm...I added Prime which is supposed to neutralize Nitrate/Nitrite/Ammonia/Chlorine and it didn't seem to make any further change. The eye is getting bigger and he is laying allot (more or less) on his right side and he seems to be gasping for air, but this morning he ate a Ghost Shrimp. I did see him swim around some right before I came up here to the computer. I am planning to go to the LFS tomorrow and get some meds...I might even bring him along so they can look at him. I know how hard it is to try to diagnose things over the net or phone. I appreciate your help, I just hope that I can help him before it becomes irreversible. He is a really neat and beautiful fish and I have already grown attached to him. I'll let you know what happens. : : : : : : Thanks, : : : : : : Steven : : : : : Steven~ : : : : : I don't like the labored breathing....there are two things that could be. The first is Amyloodinium. The signs for this is rapid, shallow breathing, and/or staying in areas of high water movement, or any other symptom that would make you think the fish is having trouble breathing. This is easily treated with copper, but if you suspect that this is what your fish has, you need to start dosing fast. Amyloodinium can overtake a fish very quickly. The other is Brooklynella, usually affects clownfish, other fish can get it too. The signs for this are the fish is listless, refuses to eat, may show labored breathing and in particular, the fish will produce huge amounts of external mucus that it will appear as if it is sloughing off layers of skin. Treatments containing formalin and malachite green are effective against this. Not copper. : : : : : I am sure you realize that it is better to isolate the sick fish in a seperate tank to dose him, especially if you have inverts in the main tank. : : : : : I will keep looking on the net to see if I can find anymore info, but I'm thinking it's the first one, especially since it started so fast. : : : : : Good luck! : : : : Hi Barbara, : : : : You certainly know allot about fish diseases. Have you been in this hobby a long time or are you in "the business"? In eather case I really appreciate your help. I have isolated the Lion in a hospital tank and I will go to the LFS tomorrow morning and get some meds. His eye is REALLY big...it is about the size of a large pea now...I just hope that is doesn't burst. I don't have allot of experience with fish diseases yet. I am relatively new to SW/Reef keeping...I had FW for years, but I didn't seem to have very many problems. I know the water is perfect in the 2.5 gal tank...it is fresh. When I took him out of the larger tank he was anything but listless...I hope this is a good sign. I know that Lions perch allot...but comparing the breathing patterns of the Dwarf Zebra and the Fuzzy, the Zebra was "normal" and the Fuzzy was much more shallow and rapid or labored. If I can figure out a way to take him to the LFS store tomorrow, I will to maybe get a better diagnosis from their medical department. : : : : Thank you again for your help and I will let you know what happens. : : : : Steven : : : : : : Steve~ : : : I'm only a hobbyist who has been keeping fish for most of my life. Like you, it has mostly been FW (and I still have several FW tanks). I have been keeping salt for just over a year now, and even though I haven't had a lot of disease in my tanks, I do read quite a bit. I also have several really good SW books. The last problem I had was a rescued yellow tang. When I got it, it had HLLE, was starved, frayed fins, bleached head and belly, and it had an external parasite on one eye. Now it's fat and very sassy! : : : Always glad to help in whatever way I can..... : : : I hope your lionfish gets better!!! : : Hi Barbara, : : I took the Lion to the LFS today and they said that it is a non-contagious form of Pop-Eye caused by bring the fish up too quickly when it was caught (sort ot like the bends in humans) and it should get better by itself. I have it in it's hospital tank and put Tri-Sulpha in it to treat any possible secondary infections. I will keep him there for 5 days for the treatment. I will let you know how he does. Thank you for your help. : : Take care, : : Steven : Hi Barbara, : Well, My Fuzzy died yesterday. I guess he had more problems than just his eye. It shows how much my LFS knows (or doesn't know). This is sad. He was so cute. Now I don't know if I should get another or if I should just stay with my Dwarf Zebra and Eel in that tank. That was my original idea. I just thought I would let you know the outcome since I said I would. I just wish it was better news. : Thank you for your help and support. : Steven

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL: