Eye bubble

[KTinner]

Saw this anthia at a fish store and was curious. Anyone know what’s going on?

 

[fishguy242]

@Jay Hemdal can explain this.

 

[sesbalders]

I feel like that when I’ve had too much beer

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Saw this anthia at a fish store and was curious. Anyone know what’s going on?

That is mechanical induced trauma. It is one of the worst cases of it that I've seen though, usually the bubble ruptures before it gets that large. I don't know the mechanism that creates the gas, but it is caused by a strike injury - sometimes the fish just wiggling back and forth in a net is enough to cause it.

Here is an article I wrote on fish eye diseases if you want to take a deep dive into it:

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay