Swollen Cloudy Eye on Leopard Wrasse in QT

[TechnicalFisher]

Obtained a Leopard from LiveAquaria a little over a week ago and she has been in QT with a yellow assessor and Hi Fin goby during that time. This am I noticed her right eye is swollen and cloudy. Left eye looks ok. Also noticed a small mark on her tail. Haven't started Prazipro yet, was planning on starting this week though. She is swimming/behaving normally and eating some of the frozen food in providing.

Should I proceed with Prazipro assuming that the Popeye could be related to flukes or try some other remedy before doing the Prazipro regimen? Many thanks.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Here's a mediocre pic of the eye. Also, other fish appear normal.

 

[ngoodermuth]

You could do the prazi-pro against flukes, have you noticed any yawning or scratching?

The eye might be secondary to flukes, but may still need additional treatment. Epsom salt can be used, and if that doesn't work - an antibiotic.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Thanks @ngoodermuth . No yawning or scratching, only noticeable issues are the eye and the small mark on the tail. Will start prazi tonight. Can epsom salts be used while treating with prazi or is it best to dose one thing at a time?

 

[Humblefish]

I personally would do a FW dip to confirm/rule out flukes: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

If flukes show, proceed with Prazipro. If no flukes show, it might just be swelling (dose Epsom salt) or possibly the start of an eye infection (dose erythromycin).

If you suspect flukes have made it to the eyes, you always want to perform a FW dip (to force any flukes out of the eye) before dosing Prazipro. Prazi causes flukes to spasm before they dislodge and that's gonna cause extreme discomfort to a fish if it happens someplace sensitive like inside their eye.

 

[melypr1985]

Agreed with the freshwater dip, though these fish try to bury and if the sandbed provided isn't deep enough they can injure an eye or part of their body while trying to bed down for the night. Just a thought.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Thanks @Humblefish and @melypr1985. Eye looked no better but also no worse this am. I did the freshwater dip this am and no flukes came off. She's buried now so can't see where things stand.

Given absence of flukes should epsom be the next step? Or if it's possibly an injury better to give it a wait and see period?

Also, was planning on prophylactic prazipro as part of QT. With Leopard wrasse is that advised if no flukes seen in freshwater dip?

Thanks again!

 

[melypr1985]

Thanks @Humblefish and @melypr1985. Eye looked no better but also no worse this am. I did the freshwater dip this am and no flukes came off. She's buried now so can't see where things stand.

Given absence of flukes should epsom be the next step? Or if it's possibly an injury better to give it a wait and see period?

Also, was planning on prophylactic prazipro as part of QT. With Leopard wrasse is that advised if no flukes seen in freshwater dip?

Thanks again!

prazi is still recommended since even if you saw now adult flukes come off the fish, that wouldn't tell you if there were eggs on him.

Epsom salt is a good idea and can't hurt. You might give that a couple days to see if it helps, but you will likely need to go to an antibiotic if she doesn't show improvement within a couple days.

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree I would prazi anyway, and buy metroplex, furan 2, and kanaplex and have them on hand just in case!

Just out of curiosity, is there any copper in this system?

 

[TechnicalFisher]

No, no copper in the QT.

I was going to ask which antibiotic I should use- is there on that's broad spectrum that would be preferable/recommended in this instance?

 

[Humblefish]

I was going to ask which antibiotic I should use- is there on that's broad spectrum that would be preferable/recommended in this instance?

Erythromycin is the antibiotic of choice for eye infections. Combining it with minocycline would broaden the spectrum of treatment, but that is optional.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Thanks @Humblefish. Finally found some API EM locally this afternoon but have to travel tomorrow night. It indicates one dose every 24 hours for two doses followed by 25% water change and the repeat. I've got to travel tomorrow night and coming back Monday so won't be able to do full regimen and don't trust it to my fish sitter given need for water change. Am I better off at least getting one treatment in tonight or should I wait and start Monday? Leopards eye still looks no better and no worse.

 

[Humblefish]

Am I better off at least getting one treatment in tonight or should I wait and start Monday? Leopards eye still looks no better and no worse.

I would go ahead and get in one treatment tonight. If an infected eye remains untreated for too long, it can lead to permanent blindness or even loss of the eye.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

I would go ahead and get in one treatment tonight. If an infected eye remains untreated for too long, it can lead to permanent blindness or even loss of the eye.

Thanks very much. I went ahead and treated this morning. A couple of follow-up questions: 1) Would it be OK to get my fish-sitter to dose another round of the EM tomorrow morning if I won't be able to change the water until Monday? 2) The eye is still swollen- any benefit to doing a dose of epsom salts again to see if that helps? Is that safe to do with the EM in the tank?

Thanks again for your continued help!

 

[Humblefish]

1) Would it be OK to get my fish-sitter to dose another round of the EM tomorrow morning if I won't be able to change the water until Monday?

Yes, that is fine. However, a 25% WC is required before administering the third dosage.

2) The eye is still swollen- any benefit to doing a dose of epsom salts again to see if that helps? Is that safe to do with the EM in the tank?

Yes, you can and I would dose that in conjunction with erythromycin to help ease the swelling.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Thanks @Humblefish- I returned from my travels to find that the Leopard's eye was somewhat less swollen (though not normal) but still quite cloudy. Good news is that she's otherwise looking good and is active in the tank.

I have done a 25% water change and have dosed the third of EM. Is the fact that the first two doses didn't resolve the cloudiness an indication that I should consider another antibiotic or can it take several doses to resolve? I regret that I couldn't go straight through the doses but had to travel and didn't trust someone else to change the water.

Another question, I've held off on doing my prophylactic treatment of prazipro until I get through the EM treatments. Is that a good idea or should I be moving forward with Prazi as well.

As always, thanks very much.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I would still hold on the prazi-pro for now, unless you have confirmed or suspected that flukes are actually present.

Antibiotics are notoriously slow-acting in fish. You might be able to administer a fourth dose since the timing was a bit off, @melypr1985? Then maybe give it a few more days after that to see if it improves before deciding on other antibiotics.

 

[melypr1985]

Right. You want the meds to be constantly in the water for it to be effective. If you missed a dose or had a gap in treatment, then it's totally normal for the cloudy eye to not have resolved just yet. These meds are slow acting anyway, so I would keep going with the treatment for now.

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Great, will do. Thanks!

 

[TechnicalFisher]

Ugh, suddenly realized this am while checking on the QT that I never removed the carbon from the HOB filter insert. Should I assume that none of the EM has stayed in the system and essentially start treatment over or is it likely the small amount of carbon contained in the penguin filter would not have stripped all of the medication out?