Freshwater Angel w/ "cataracts"

[govolsguy31]

Hey guys, I know I'm reaching a bit here, as this obviously isn't a freshwater forum, but thought I'd at least ask.

I have a planted freshwater aquarium with angels, leaf fish and a few barbs/ tetras. One of the angels appears to have a "cataract" on one eye. Other eye is perfectly fine. No other issues with any fish. Any recommendation on what to do... or is there anything to do? If it's a physical issue, there may not be, but if there's a chance it's a sign of something else, maybe there's some dosing that could help treat. It's progressively gotten worse over the past few weeks or maybe even month.

I can try to post pics if that would help this evening when I get home.

@Humblefish @melypr1985

 

[melypr1985]

I might be able to help you with this tomorrow when I'm at work. I can post some pictures of a few fish we have that have something that sounds similar. In their case, they were sick when they arrived. They were treated by the eye thing remains. I'm not a freshwater person at all, but I work with some really great ones. When I'm at work I can ask around. Post some pictures and I'll show them. Just be sure they are the very best pictures you can get... clear, close and in focus.

 

[govolsguy31]

I might be able to help you with this tomorrow when I'm at work. I can post some pictures of a few fish we have that have something that sounds similar. In their case, they were sick when they arrived. They were treated by the eye thing remains. I'm not a freshwater person at all, but I work with some really great ones. When I'm at work I can ask around. Post some pictures and I'll show them. Just be sure they are the very best pictures you can get... clear, close and in focus.

Thanks Mel. I'll do the best I can this evening. He (or she) has been in this tank for nearly two years now, so its not a shipping/ transport stress or disease.

I appreciate your help regardless!

 

[Humblefish]

If the "cataract" is due to eye trauma or even a bacterial/fungal disease; then dosing Melafix and/or Pimafix often works for FW fish. Not so much with SW fish, however.

 

[melypr1985]

If the "cataract" is due to eye trauma or even a bacterial/fungal disease; then dosing Melafix and/or Pimafix often works for FW fish. Not so much with SW fish, however.

I believe that's what they did at the store for the sick fish... they all ended up with a pupil (sometimes one, sometimes both) that were "silvered" It's really odd. I'll take pictures of them as well for comparison.

 

[Maddlesrain]

Like Humblefish suggested, a medication might help. I've had good luck dosing medications on most of my freshwater fish, just make sure you keep the oxygen content high so your fish don't suffocate because some of those medicines strip the water of oxygen. Also, scaleless fish can fall victim to some of the harsher meds, so if you're treating your whole tank, make sure all your inhabitants can handle it. If it hasn't progressed too far, before medicating, I've been able to get rid of white eye films by cleaning the tank for a few consecutive days. Do you have a picture of your angelfish?

 

[govolsguy31]

Here you go. These were hard to get, actually. He was thinking I was going to feed them and was quick to turn the other way to see me. LOL.

Here's a pic of his "good" eye for reference. Both of his eyes have been red from day one when he was just a little guy.

 

[govolsguy31]

@Maddlesrain @Humblefish @melypr1985

 

[Maddlesrain]

I have an angelfish who looks VERY similar, red eyes and everything.

Looks like an infection to me. I've used, what I believe, was the API Fungus Cure. It comes in a powder, and turns everything fluorescent green, but always helped my fish which had similar looking eyes or discolored fins. Medications always scare me a little as I've had some bad experiences with them, but this one never seemed as harsh.

Also, not sure how safe this is with plants! I only ever used it on my big aggressive fish which couldn't be housed with live plants. I'd put the plants in a bucket during the treatment period, or just treat your angel in a separate tank if you can.

 

[melypr1985]

Here you go. These were hard to get, actually. He was thinking I was going to feed them and was quick to turn the other way to see me. LOL.

Here's a pic of his "good" eye for reference. Both of his eyes have been red from day one when he was just a little guy.

I'll show my friend's at work tomorrow and see what advice they can send if any.

 

[govolsguy31]

I have an angelfish who looks VERY similar, red eyes and everything.

Looks like an infection to me. I've used, what I believe, was the API Fungus Cure. It comes in a powder, and turns everything fluorescent green, but always helped my fish which had similar looking eyes or discolored fins. Medications always scare me a little as I've had some bad experiences with them, but this one never seemed as harsh.

Also, not sure how safe this is with plants! I only ever used it on my big aggressive fish which couldn't be housed with live plants. I'd put the plants in a bucket during the treatment period, or just treat your angel in a separate tank if you can.

Great thinking! I'll wait for @melypr1985 to see what she and her buds think tomorrow. If nothing different, I'll do that treatment. I'll move the plants to a bucket so I don't have to stress him out any more than I already am. I have some driftwood in there for the catfish and pleco. Probably should pull that out too, wouldn't you think? Seems like that could absorb the meds. I know the carbon has to come out. I may go ahead and pull he carbon tonight to let it run the evening without it.

 

[govolsguy31]

I really appreciate all three of your folks' help. This forum and the people here always amaze me.

@melypr1985 @Maddlesrain @Humblefish

 

[Maddlesrain]

Great thinking! I'll wait for @melypr1985 to see what she and her buds think tomorrow. If nothing different, I'll do that treatment. I'll move the plants to a bucket so I don't have to stress him out any more than I already am. I have some driftwood in there for the catfish and pleco. Probably should pull that out too, wouldn't you think? Seems like that could absorb the meds. I know the carbon has to come out. I may go ahead and pull he carbon tonight to let it run the evening without it.

Removing the wood certainly wouldn't hurt anything, I probably would, just in case.

I haven't used this method in years, but if you do use medication and it doesn't work after the first round, another approach is to use a salt treatment. I'm not even sure if the salt itself does anything or just cleaning out the tank, but back when I first started off in the fish hobby, I used to put about a tablespoon of API aquarium salt in the tank per 10 gallons or so. I always put a little less than they recommended, but I remember doing that after a big water change when my fish started looking sick. Again, I haven't done this in a very long time (probably 6 or 7 years), but I never had any losses in the few years I did use this method. I can't remember why I stopped, I think I most likely bought a fish which I read couldn't handle the salt content.

 

[Humblefish]

Does the "growth" appear to be inside or on top of the eyeball?

 

[govolsguy31]

Does the "growth" appear to be inside or on top of the eyeball?

It's hard to tell, but I think on top, on the outside.

Do they have LASIK for fish??

 

[Humblefish]

It's hard to tell, but I think on top, on the outside.

Do they have LASIK for fish??

I wonder if it could be a fungal growth? Those are much more common in FW than SW fish. Personally, I would QT him and try the Melafix + Pimafix combo unless Meredith's coworker has a better idea. It has been many years since I've treated FW fish.

 

[optibob]

That looks like a corneal ulcer secondary to bacteria or fungus, definitely not a cataract which only sx intervention would help, typically bacterial infection is more rapid in destruction , fungal a bit more slowly . Good luck in treating

 

[govolsguy31]

I wonder if it could be a fungal growth? Those are much more common in FW than SW fish. Personally, I would QT him and try the Melafix + Pimafix combo unless Meredith's coworker has a better idea. It has been many years since I've treated FW fish.

@Humblefish Am I safe to treat both of these at the same time, or should I do one for a day or two and then the other?

 

[Humblefish]

@Humblefish Am I safe to treat both of these at the same time, or should I do one for a day or two and then the other?

Yes; I've combined them many times on both FW & SW fish.

 

[melypr1985]

OK. So I showed the guys at work and they agreed the best course of treatment would be kanaplex + metroplex. they said it may not help, but it should since it appears that this is on the outside of the eye. Up to you, but that's the best I got