Popeye in Hawkfish

[artieg1]

Have had a bonded pair of hawkfish for 3+ years. Because I QT all fish, have not had any illness or deaths in tank in 3 years. However, an eye inflammation showed up in one of the hawkfish several weeks ago, and it is just not getting better. See photos, including the one showing the other hawk, who is fine. No issues with any other fish. I've been waiting it out, assuming it will go away (irritation?). But now I am worried because the affected hawk is not eating, either because it cannot see or does not have an appetite. Is it time to remove the fish and treat? Or keep waiting?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Have had a bonded pair of hawkfish for 3+ years. Because I QT all fish, have not had any illness or deaths in tank in 3 years. However, an eye inflammation showed up in one of the hawkfish several weeks ago, and it is just not getting better. See photos, including the one showing the other hawk, who is fine. No issues with any other fish. I've been waiting it out, assuming it will go away (irritation?). But now I am worried because the affected hawk is not eating, either because it cannot see or does not have an appetite. Is it time to remove the fish and treat? Or keep waiting?

That's really strange for one hawkfish to have severe bilateral exophthalmia and its tankmate is fine.

Generally, when one eye is involved, it is due to mechanical injury. When both eyes have severe popeye, that is usually due to barotrauma (like from supersaturation) or more rarely, a bacterial disease. We can rule out barotrauma because that would have affected both fish equally.

That leaves a bacterial infection. The fish not eating is a bad sign. That fish does look pretty thin. One idea would be to move it to a treatment tank and dose with erythromycin (Maracyn 1).

Jay

 

[artieg1]

That's really strange for one hawkfish to have severe bilateral exophthalmia and its tankmate is fine.

Generally, when one eye is involved, it is due to mechanical injury. When both eyes have severe popeye, that is usually due to barotrauma (like from supersaturation) or more rarely, a bacterial disease. We can rule out barotrauma because that would have affected both fish equally.

That leaves a bacterial infection. The fish not eating is a bad sign. That fish does look pretty thin. One idea would be to move it to a treatment tank and dose with erythromycin (Maracyn 1).

Jay

Jay thanks! Man, you responded in like 5 minutes. That is faster than US healthcare system for humans...

 

[Unitylover]

Jay thanks! Man, you responded in like 5 minutes. That is faster than US healthcare system for humans...

LOL TRUE

 

[artieg1]

That's really strange for one hawkfish to have severe bilateral exophthalmia and its tankmate is fine.

Generally, when one eye is involved, it is due to mechanical injury. When both eyes have severe popeye, that is usually due to barotrauma (like from supersaturation) or more rarely, a bacterial disease. We can rule out barotrauma because that would have affected both fish equally.

That leaves a bacterial infection. The fish not eating is a bad sign. That fish does look pretty thin. One idea would be to move it to a treatment tank and dose with erythromycin (Maracyn 1).

Jay

Jay, the hawk has been in hospital tank for 6 days, using both erythromycin and kanaplex, and the swelling of eyes has gone down and almost back to normal. But the hawk seems like its vision is not back correctly. I fed PE mysis and he went bananas; he could smell it, and kind of see it. But could not strike accurately at all, and sort of gave up after a while. Is it possible his eyesight was (temporarily?) impaired by the swelling? @Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay, the hawk has been in hospital tank for 6 days, using both erythromycin and kanaplex, and the swelling of eyes has gone down and almost back to normal. But the hawk seems like its vision is not back correctly. I fed PE mysis and he went bananas; he could smell it, and kind of see it. But could not strike accurately at all, and sort of gave up after a while. Is it possible his eyesight was (temporarily?) impaired by the swelling? @Jay Hemdal

Sorry, the swelling could have damaged the optic nerves. Try feeding it bits of mysid in a pair of forceps or similar. With time, it might get better.
Jay

 

[artieg1]

@Jay Hemdal
So swelling in the eyes is gone, back to normal. Hawkfish is eating, but his vision looking *forward* is clearly impaired. He can see to the side, but striking in a forward motion is still haphazard. He will eventually get the hunk of PE mysis, but not at all efficient. I assume I should fatten him up in hospital tank, where there is no food competition, in the hopes that his vision improves, before reintroducing to DT? If swelling has gone down completely, I assume I can discontinue erythromycin?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal
So swelling in the eyes is gone, back to normal. Hawkfish is eating, but his vision looking *forward* is clearly impaired. He can see to the side, but striking in a forward motion is still haphazard. He will eventually get the hunk of PE mysis, but not at all efficient. I assume I should fatten him up in hospital tank, where there is no food competition, in the hopes that his vision improves, before reintroducing to DT? If swelling has gone down completely, I assume I can discontinue erythromycin?

I would run the erythromycin for five to seven days. Then, hold the fish in the QT for a few weeks to see if its sight improves. Be sure to test for ammonia in your QT after running erythromycin.
Jay

 

[artieg1]

I would run the erythromycin for five to seven days. Then, hold the fish in the QT for a few weeks to see if its sight improves. Be sure to test for ammonia in your QT after running erythromycin.
Jay

Thanks! Will do!

 

[artieg1]

@Jay Hemdal
Just an update. I reintroduced the hawk to the DT. Swelling in eyes gone. The other hawk (it's mate/friend) went *bananas* and was swimming circles around it. So far the affected hawk is eating, hits the food about 50% of the time, which seems like enough accuracy to survive. All good so far!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal
Just an update. I reintroduced the hawk to the DT. Swelling in eyes gone. The other hawk (it's mate/friend) went *bananas* and was swimming circles around it. So far the affected hawk is eating, hits the food about 50% of the time, which seems like enough accuracy to survive. All good so far!

Are you SURE the intentions of the other hawk fish are honorable and not aggressive?
Jay

 

[artieg1]

I too was nervous at first, and I am sure the activity stressed out the reintroduced hawk. But after 24 hours the pair are back to normal behavior, hanging out together on rocks. Knock on wood...