Anthias - Injured Eye

DLHDesign · Oct 30, 2017

Not sure how it happened, but I just noticed this today:

Other eye is fine. Eating well. Seems a bit panicky, but not overly out-of-sorts.

Figure I'll just observe. If anything starts to look worse, I've got KanaPlex and Focus (along with several other options) on-hand.

Sound about right?

Maritimer · Oct 30, 2017

If it's just the one eye, I'd try epsom salt first (USP grade, no additives). Reef-safe, and helps to reduce the swelling. I've had it work in a case of unilateral popeye due to (probable) injury.

~Bruce

Humblefish · Oct 30, 2017

^^ Agree with Epsom salt. 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons.

jsker · Oct 30, 2017

Solved

4FordFamily · Oct 30, 2017

Humblefish said:
^^ Agree with Epsom salt. 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons.

Also agree! X4?

DLHDesign · Oct 31, 2017

Sooo... you're saying to use Epsom salt, eh?

Thanks for the ratio, @Humblefish - saved me from having to look it up. ;-)

DLHDesign · Oct 31, 2017

Mixed 1.5c of USP Epsom salt with 4c of tank water, then added it into the return chamber of my sump. Made sure my Mg doser was still set to 0 (it was; I manually dose it in as needed).

DLHDesign · Nov 8, 2017

Pretty sure it's gotten worse... The fish hangs out like this most of the day; seems to be keeping it's good eye on the rest of the tank?
Still eating well. Tank mates bug it more than they used to, but I can't see any sign of injury resulting from it... yet.

Not really sure what to do next here... Suggestions?

Humblefish · Nov 8, 2017

Sounds like it's time for antibiotics. Erythromycin is the antibiotic of choice for eye infections.

He would also probably benefit from an acriflavine bath en route to QT: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acriflavine.282887/

Maritimer · Nov 8, 2017

Agreed, for what that's worth.

~Bruce

DLHDesign · Nov 9, 2017

Thank you for the advice!

We're heading out of town for the weekend and I don't want to rely on my tank watcher to monitor and care for a QT as well, so treatment will have to begin on Monday. The fish has continued to eat well (better than the other Anthias in the tank, in fact).
I've got the acriflavine, but not erythromycin; I'm also running low on Prime. I've got an order for both on the way that should be here by Monday, so I'll be able to follow the instructions provided. Hopefully the delay isn't costly, but I think it's the better option...