Painful to watch....

[flfireman1]

I recently purchased a pair of swallowtail Angels. They are currently in a 55 gallon QT I purchased them separately and introduced at the same time into the QT. They are currently in Chloroquine Phosphate. I've had them for about 5 days eating well and minimal bossing being done by the male.

This morning I woke up to find the female with her left eye protruding. Is this a result of disease or injury? The strange thing is when I purchased this fish at the LFS there was another female in with the female I purchased, with the exact protruding eye.

Is there anything I can do to treat? Will she loose that eye. The eye is not cloudy at all.

Thanks
Eric

 

[Greybeard]

Ouch. What a shame.

I'm planning a pair of Genicanthus angles in my new system... likely Lamarick's. Gorgeous fish.

Popeye... could be many causes, usually bacteriological. Tetracycline was the treatment, back in the day, but that advise is probably 15 years old. Somebody with more recent experience, perhaps?

 

[prsnlty]

These links may be of help to you. Sorry about your fish.

Fish disease index & Pictorial
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/285708/
Fish treatment guidelines with chart
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/283450/

 

[Gweeds1980]

Can be fixed... most common cause is a bacterial infection... the eye pops out due to pressure from a build up of white blood cells. Could have been from damage to the eye, or more likely from ammonia burns to the eye.

First up, check ammonia levels... deal with that if there is any.

Then treat the bacterial infection with antibiotics... kanaplex is good here.

If treated early, there's a decent chance that swelling will reduce and a full recovery will be made... if the eye goes cloudy then chances are she'll be blinded.

If you don't treat, the eye may explode and that kind of trauma will likely mean death.

 

[flfireman1]

No ammonia in the aquarium and the male is also in with her and is looking absolutely perfect. Very active and feeding well. Asides from the eye, she eats everything I put in.

 

[Humblefish]

I believe this is a gas bubble due to improper collection: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2014/8/fish

Genicanthus are deep water angels, and are often brought to the surface too quickly.

 

[Tautog]

That stinks, I fish a lot, but this looks like a bacterial infection, not from the bends, usually the bends will pop both eyes and stomach

 

[flfireman1]

I believe this is a gas bubble due to improper collection: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2014/8/fish

Genicanthus are deep water angels, and are often brought to the surface too quickly.

Would this appear itself so long after collecting?

 

[Gweeds1980]

No ammonia in the aquarium and the male is also in with her and is looking absolutely perfect. Very active and feeding well. Asides from the eye, she eats everything I put in.

Is she swimming ok? As I understand it, gas bubble disease usually comes with buoyancy problems...

 

[4FordFamily]

I believe this is a gas bubble due to improper collection: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2014/8/fish

Genicanthus are deep water angels, and are often brought to the surface too quickly.

Possible to "express" the bubble, if so?

I agree this looks more serious than standard "pop eye". How quickly did this progress to what we see here?

 

[Humblefish]

Would this appear itself so long after collecting?

A gas bubble can form weeks/months after collection. I would try a little Epsom salt (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) just to see if that has any impact on the swelling. Probably won't, but no harm in trying.

 

[aykwm]

Agree with gas bubble, since both angels developed similar symptoms. Also because I believe angels are collected at deeper depths compared to other fish like tangs or other reef fish so the difference in pressure might cause it if not acclimated properly.
Epsom salt should reduce the swelling and heal it up

 

[Humblefish]

Possible to "express" the bubble, if so?

I agree this looks more serious than standard "pop eye". How quickly did this progress to what we see here?

Since it is external, I would dose diamox/acetazolamide before trying something more invasive.

See links below:

http://seahorse.com/faqs/seahorse-medicines/diamox-acetazolamide

http://seahorse.com/forum/diamox

 

[Humblefish]

Note to self: Would food soaking diamox/acetazolamide be effective in treating a gas bubble which formed in the swim bladder?