Blue-Green Chromis going Blind?

[jeremyg]

I have 2 chromis (2 years old). Both eat well, but one of them has been acting a bit differently than the other when they eat - it will chase food and sometimes extends its lips and holds it there like a vacuum trying to suck up food. It eats plenty though, so it doesn’t appear to be completely blind, but I only just noticed its eyes look different than the other.

here are 2 pictures of the one with the issue:

here is the other one for comparison:

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, it does look like the fish has cataracts. These may get worse over time. There isn't any treatment or cure. Most times these are age related (like with people) but I've been told that in fish, they can sometimes be caused by nutritional issues.

Jay

 

[Saltyanimals]

I have 2 chromis (2 years old). Both eat well, but one of them has been acting a bit differently than the other when they eat - it will chase food and sometimes extends its lips and holds it there like a vacuum trying to suck up food. It eats plenty though, so it doesn’t appear to be completely blind, but I only just noticed its eyes look different than the other.

here are 2 pictures of the one with the issue:

here is the other one for comparison:

I stumbled on this post searching for 'blind chomis' as I suspect this is what happened to mine. I had 3 in a 180 for over a year doing great and aggressive eaters. One died about a month ago and I suspect a 2nd is blind. The potentially blind one seems to hang out in a corner likely because it might find comfort on the tank walls. The one that died a month ago started becoming less active and hide most of the time. No known reasons, but @Jay Hemdal suggested maybe just age. Possible, but these are about 1.5-2 inches at most and purchased smaller initially so not all that old per se. What are the chance of losing 2 out of 3 within months? Maybe some chromis diseases? At least the 3rd is still very active ..for now

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I stumbled on this post searching for 'blind chomis' as I suspect this is what happened to mine. I had 3 in a 180 for over a year doing great and aggressive eaters. One died about a month ago and I suspect a 2nd is blind. The potentially blind one seems to hang out in a corner likely because it might find comfort on the tank walls. The one that died a month ago started becoming less active and hide most of the time. No known reasons, but @Jay Hemdal suggested maybe just age. Possible, but these are about 1.5-2 inches at most and purchased smaller initially so not all that old per se. What are the chance of losing 2 out of 3 within months? Maybe some chromis diseases? At least the 3rd is still very active ..for now

So here is a funny thing - I looked at the pictures again from August, and now I'm less sure that it is cataracts - the white lesions inside the eye look kind of jagged and cataracts have smoother margins.

There is a rare internal eye fluke that might cause this sort of cloudiness but I don't know much about it. There is an external eye fluke, Neobenedenia, but this isn't that issue.

jay

 

[Saltyanimals]

So more mystery...

Some people have commented that certain fish species have expressive eyes. =) i.e. Puffers? Chromis are the exact opposite IMHO. These guys definitely don't and the one that I'm suspecting to be blind has almost lifeless eyes. Time will tell what happens to him... Anecdotal, but I saw a few more post about blind chromis. Not much if you think about the number of these guys sold every year, so maybe it's not all that common. More unknown fish health issues. Thanks!

 

[4FordFamily]

It looked like a fluke to me at first glance, also! What's the current status - has it worsened?

 

[Saltyanimals]

@jeremyg is the OP so I'll stop with the thread bomb. =) I was commenting that I may also have a blind chromis as it doesn't seem to see the food flying by either. Will let him update on his fish status.

 

[tazzette]

I have 2 chromis (2 years old). Both eat well, but one of them has been acting a bit differently than the other when they eat - it will chase food and sometimes extends its lips and holds it there like a vacuum trying to suck up food. It eats plenty though, so it doesn’t appear to be completely blind, but I only just noticed its eyes look different than the other.

here are 2 pictures of the one with the issue:

here is the other one for comparison:

I have one blue-green premise. I'm almost sure he's blind bumps into windows. Rocks, and even my hand is it possible? V is Bryant and if it's normal.