Coral Beauty gone blind?

[Steve Jones]

My Coral Beauty has been in QT after a Brooks outbreak in my DT. The 76 fallow period has passed. I've moved the Pajama Cardinal Fish back into the DT. I am hesitant on the CB. The CB had a bad bacterial infection a couple weeks ago. Made it through with meds but since then he's been sluggish and not eating. And to top is off, I think he may have gone blind. See the attached video. In the past this action would have spooked him and he would have swam off. I couldn't even have gotten this close to him before even. Is it possible he's gone blind? I should add that he only swims slowly now and near the bottom and I watch him bump into the PVC pipes.

 

[Duke4Life]

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @eatbreakfast

 

[Tahoe61]

Yeah that does not look right at all the way the fish reacts, my CB would be going nuts and challenging me if I was that close to the tank. The coloration for the CB is poor as well.

The question is what meds did you use?

 

[Steve Jones]

Furan-2 and Tetracyline. That's what I could get my hands on. Dosed as per instructions. It seemed to clear up the infection. But I can't get him to eat. Tried adding garlic and selcon and no effect. The cardinal fish was in the same tank and dosed with the meds as well and is fine. Reacts to me and swims up when I add food and eats. So he's gone back into the DT.

 

[Duke4Life]

Good call not to move Steve!

 

[Steve Jones]

I can even use a long dropper and get right in front of his nose and slowly release some brine shrimp (was one of his favorites). He does nothing. Actually jerks away a little if he bumps into the floating shrimp. It's like he can't even see it. And I could have never gotten a dropper that close to him before the infection.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Something is most certainly not right, and he does seem to be blind.

The good news is that in captivity it is possible to maintain a blind fish, but things may have to change a little.

First, try a stationary food, such as clam on the half shell, to determine if he can find and eat it using his other senses. If he can find it and eats, then that's a good sign. And that will determine further steps.

 

[Steve Jones]

Crazy question - where do I get clam on the half shell?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Crazy question - where do I get clam on the half shell?

Ocean Nutrition sells them, or you could go to the supermaket seafood section and shuck them yourself.

 

[Steve Jones]

Seafood section? LOL. Never been in a small town in KY, have ya?Guess I'll look at Ocean Nutrition. Or see if I can find a grocery in Bowling Green that carries them.

 

[Duke4Life]

Seafood section? LOL. Never been in a small town in KY, have ya?Guess I'll look at Ocean Nutrition. Or see if I can find a grocery in Bowling Green that carries them.

Here's the easiest way 2 open, freeze for 24hrs and use some tank water 2 defrost, this makes it easier to open the shells. Steve I know 2 places here in town that carry them.

 

[Steve Jones]

Found a place in Bowling Green that carries them. They close at 8 so in wouldn't make it there so will go get them when they open tomorrow at noon.

 

[melypr1985]

He does appear to be blind. Did he ever have an infection in the eyes? Did they get all swollen and milky? I'm wondering what caused him to go blind? Clam on the half shell is a good idea. He still looks pretty bad... how long did you do the furan 2 for? Sometimes it takes longer than the prescribed 10 days to clear them up.

 

[Steve Jones]

Didn't seem to have an eye issue though the infection seemed to be near the eyes - along the ridge of his "nose". I ran what was listed in the Furan and TC instructions. I think it was about 6 days of treatment total.

 

[Steve Jones]

He does appear to be blind. Did he ever have an infection in the eyes? Did they get all swollen and milky? I'm wondering what caused him to go blind? Clam on the half shell is a good idea. He still looks pretty bad... how long did you do the furan 2 for? Sometimes it takes longer than the prescribed 10 days to clear them up.

Do you think I should medicate more? I've got a full complement of meds now if there is something other to use.

 

[Untamedrose]

Thats horrible :/
If you cant find clam in a half shell. ....what about shrimp deshelled rubber banded to a rock(course take it out in a few hours before it goes bad)

 

[Humblefish]

I would continue to treat (6 days in antibiotics probably wasn't long enough) and see what happens. Some grocery stores sell littleneck clams and/or black mussels. You can buy a bunch of them and freeze for future feedings.

 

[Steve Jones]

I would continue to treat (6 days in antibiotics probably wasn't long enough) and see what happens. Some grocery stores sell littleneck clams and/or black mussels. You can buy a bunch of them and freeze for future feedings.

I've restarted Kanaplex. Anything I should hit it with? I have a full complement of meds now.

I have clams liked up tomorrow from a small LFS about 35 miles from here.

 

[Humblefish]

I've restarted Kanaplex. Anything I should hit it with? I have a full complement of meds now.

I have clams liked up tomorrow from a small LFS about 35 miles from here.

Do you happen to have erythromycin? That is the best antibiotic for eye infections. If not, Kanaplex will do... and you can also add Furan-2 & Metroplex to this to widen the spectrum.

 

[Steve Jones]

Do you happen to have erythromycin? That is the best antibiotic for eye infections. If not, Kanaplex will do... and you can also add Furan-2 & Metroplex to this to widen the spectrum.

OK. Back on Erythromycin, Kanaplex, Furan-2 and Metroplex.

Also have some clam defrosting now. Hopefully the CB will go for them.