Clownfish has cloudy eyes?

[Salamander-Hime]

I bought my first clownfish about 2-3 weeks ago and I currently have her in QT treating with copper for ich. I noticed today that her eyes look cloudy and I’m new to this so I have no clue what’s wrong, she’s hiding behind the HOB filter too. Any help is appreciated, thank you so much.

 

[Rmckoy]

@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

I bought my first clownfish about 2-3 weeks ago and I currently have her in QT treating with copper for ich. I noticed today that her eyes look cloudy and I’m new to this so I have no clue what’s wrong, she’s hiding behind the HOB filter too. Any help is appreciated, thank you so much.

This can be ammonia burn from water quality issues or a bacterial issue which has developed
Treatment would be either Maracyn 2 or seachem neoplex for at least 5 days but Im also not keen on mixing medications

 

[Salamander-Hime]

This can be ammonia burn from water quality issues or a bacterial issue which has developed
Treatment would be either Maracyn 2 or seachem neoplex for at least 5 days but Im also not keen on mixing medications

I wouldn’t think ammonia burn as I did a 80% water change yesterday to dose new copper (different brand) thank you so much

 

[Salamander-Hime]

This can be ammonia burn from water quality issues or a bacterial issue which has developed
Treatment would be either Maracyn 2 or seachem neoplex for at least 5 days but Im also not keen on mixing medications

I have been treating ich with copper for about two weeks and they are no longer symptomatic, I could remove the copper from the tank and treat with the neoplex, then resptart the copper treatments afterwards if you think that would be okay?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I wouldn’t think ammonia burn as I did a 80% water change yesterday to dose new copper (different brand) thank you so much

Can be from previous water as copper has slight impact on bacteria. What copper product are you using and are you monitoring copper level?

 

[Salamander-Hime]

Can be from previous water as copper has slight impact on bacteria. What copper product are you using and are you monitoring copper level?

I was previously using cuprion and am now using cupramine. Testing every other day with a hanna tester

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was previously using cuprion and am now using cupramine. Testing every other day with a hanna tester

What copper level?

 

[Salamander-Hime]

What copper level?

Just tested now… somehow .47 even though I added a half dose to 7gal of water added to the tank…

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just tested now… somehow .47 even though I added a half dose to 7gal of water added to the tank…

That is strange but in range of .5

 

[Salamander-Hime]

That is strange but in range of .5

Yes I’ll test in the morning and leave it for now….

 

[ggNoRe]

Yes I’ll test in the morning and leave it for now….

I used this on my purple tang in quarantine and it was completely healed in 3 days.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I bought my first clownfish about 2-3 weeks ago and I currently have her in QT treating with copper for ich. I noticed today that her eyes look cloudy and I’m new to this so I have no clue what’s wrong, she’s hiding behind the HOB filter too. Any help is appreciated, thank you so much.

The pictures aren't super clear, but I'm worried because both eyes are involved. If it was just one eye, I would say it is due to a minor injury. Also, with just one eye involved, the fish can still see food. Is this fish still eating? Can you post a short video of it? Copper won't help this, but it also isn't the cause for it.

Jay

 

[Salamander-Hime]

The pictures aren't super clear, but I'm worried because both eyes are involved. If it was just one eye, I would say it is due to a minor injury. Also, with just one eye involved, the fish can still see food. Is this fish still eating? Can you post a short video of it? Copper won't help this, but it also isn't the cause for it.

Jay

Yes she is still eating and her appetite seems normal. Here’s a video. LFS recommended a freshwater dip. But waiting to hear some more opinions first.

 

[MamaMolo]

Are you using RO water? did you confirm TDS is zero and what’s the salinity Level?

 

[Salamander-Hime]

Are you using RO water? did you confirm TDS is zero and what’s the salinity Level?

Yes RO saltwater from my LFS. Don’t have a TDS test but salinity is 1.023

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes she is still eating and her appetite seems normal. Here’s a video. LFS recommended a freshwater dip. But waiting to hear some more opinions first.

You could try a FW dip, but that only helps identify flukes, and clownfish aren't really prone to Neobenedenia flukes (the ones that cause cloudy eyes) and then, if it was that, you would see cloudy eyes on other fish as well.

My fear is that this is a bacterial infection and if it clouds the eyes enough, the fish will not be able to see its food. Many times, fish are able to fight off minor bacterial infections, but not always. Then you need to dose with an antibiotic in a treatment tank. One possible medication would be Maracyn 1, Erythromycin.

Jay

 

[Salamander-Hime]

You could try a FW dip, but that only helps identify flukes, and clownfish aren't really prone to Neobenedenia flukes (the ones that cause cloudy eyes) and then, if it was that, you would see cloudy eyes on other fish as well.

My fear is that this is a bacterial infection and if it clouds the eyes enough, the fish will not be able to see its food. Many times, fish are able to fight off minor bacterial infections, but not always. Then you need to dose with an antibiotic in a treatment tank. One possible medication would be Maracyn 1, Erythromycin.

Jay

Was able to get Maracyn today and will treat her when I get home, should I transfer her to another tank and pause her copper treatments in the mean time?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Was able to get Maracyn today and will treat her when I get home, should I transfer her to another tank and pause her copper treatments in the mean time?

The fish haven’t been in copper for a full treatment. I guess I would remove half the copper with a water change, dose the Maracyn and then after that treatment, bring the copper back up for another two weeks.
In some cases, Maracyn harms beneficial bacteria, so test the tank for ammonia daily.
Jay

 

[Salamander-Hime]

Bad news guys, her eyes are just getting worse and now they almost appear to be popping out.
the also got stuck to the filter intake while I was at work and upon closer investigation her fins seem a bit tattered.
today she is just laying on her side on the bottom of the tank gasping. I have restarted a second course of maracyn but is there anything else I can do to help her? Thanks.
Additionally I had to remove the airstone from the QT tank as it was creating many micro bubbles with the maracyn on the top of the tank and I believe making of difficult for the fish to get oxygen.