Triggerfish swollen eye

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

We have just picked up a pair of Blue Throated Triggerfish this morning. We had chose and reserved them last week. Today the male was hiding in a pipe when we went for them so we didnt really get a look at him before we took him home. We had matched salinity in the QT to the LFS so had them in the Qt quickly,left the light off and left them to settle. After a few hours,we went to have a look at them and the male has a swollen eye. We are not sure if he has injured himself while getting netted/bagged etc,injured himself straight away in the QT or if it was already like that.I dont think its cloudy as far as i can see and it is just one eye. I have added some Epsom salts to hopefully take the swelling down. I am just wondering,if it doesnt go down or goes cloudy and i have to treat with medication,what should i use? We have Kanaplex,Metroplex,Focus,Furan 2,General Cure and Selcon for their food but no access to Erythromycin. We are in the UK,thanks very much

HotRocks · Feb 23, 2019

It could be an injury. If so epsom salt (as you have done) and neoplex would be the best thing.

A methalyne blue bath or rally bath may help prevent infection as well. (Don't know if those are available to you)

The other possibility is flukes causing the eye to be irritated, a FW dip could confirm this. If so then you'd want to dose general cure.

HB AL · Feb 23, 2019

Crazy computer

HB AL · Feb 23, 2019

Computer went nuts triple post

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

Hello HB AL, dont think i got your original post,just the extra 2. Hello HotRocks,i do have Reef Rally if the swelling doesnt go down,dont have Neoplex.As for flukes, i will be dosing with a couple of rounds of Prazipro as soon as i am happy with their eating,or do you think i should dose the Prazipro straightaway? Is it safe with Epsom salts? Thanks

Big G · Feb 23, 2019

Lizfrank1234 said:
Hello HB AL, dont think i got your original post,just the extra 2. Hello HotRocks,i do have Reef Rally if the swelling doesnt go down,dont have Neoplex.As for flukes, i will be dosing with a couple of rounds of Prazipro as soon as i am happy with their eating,or do you think i should dose the Prazipro straightaway? Is it safe with Epsom salts? Thanks

Epsom salts will elevate the levels of magnesium in the tank a very small amount. 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of tank water. Ok to re-dose the following day one time.
Prazipro is ok with the Epsom salt. Just remember that it contains oxybispropanol which uses some of the O2 in the tank. So add a powerhead aimed up at the surface of the tank so it is actively rippling the water surface to greatly increase O2 in the tank water.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

Hello @Big G,@HotRocks,so i think i should probably just start Prazipro straightaway. I wouldve been starting it in a couple of days anyhow. If i do start Prazipro and then the eye goes cloudy or looks infected,would i be able to use anything else at the same time or not? I already have an air stone and powerhead in the tank so O2 depletion will be fine with Prazipro.

Big G · Feb 23, 2019

Lizfrank1234 said:
If i do start Prazipro and then the eye goes cloudy or looks infected,would i be able to use anything else at the same time or not?

Yes, use the Rally as a bath: 90 minutes temperature matched to the tank and aerate the entire time with an air stone/bubbler.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

Ok thanks @Big G, i will start Prazi and see how the eye progresses. I will dose Epsom salts again in 48 hours in case it is just an injury/swelling.If it gets worse,i will give a Reef Rally bath. I was already planning Prazipro(2doses) and then copper for 30 days after that so i will just continue with that and take a different action if the eys gets any worse,does that sound right? Thanks

HotRocks · Feb 23, 2019

Lizfrank1234 said:
Ok thanks @Big G, i will start Prazi and see how the eye progresses. I will dose Epsom salts again in 48 hours in case it is just an injury/swelling.If it gets worse,i will give a Reef Rally bath. I was already planning Prazipro(2doses) and then copper for 30 days after that so i will just continue with that and take a different action if the eys gets any worse,does that sound right? Thanks

Sounds like a plan. @Big G has you covered! He gives Excellent advice

.

I often use GC + Antibiotics during copper without issue. I create an immense amount of oxygenation. I even run double powerheads on larger QTs. 55 gal +. I also run airstone in all QTs.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

I always run an airstone and powerhead in Qt also,sorry for the double post,my wifi is on and off at the minute

HotRocks · Feb 23, 2019

Lizfrank1234 said:
I always run an airstone and powerhead in Qt also,sorry for the double post,my wifi is on and off at the minute

All good I fixed it, the WWC live sale has the site a bit laggy today.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 23, 2019

Thank you @HotRocks

HB AL · Feb 23, 2019

Ya I think the WWC LIVE SALE had things screwed up, cuz I saw my same post 3 times. Basically I said I’ve had fish bang there eye against a rock in the past and it would heal on it’s own within a week. Your situation is different since you just got the fish so it could be a lot of different things causing it. I said to wait for the eye med pros to chime in and follow there recommendations. Sounds like they chimed in, follow there recommendations it will end up healing fine hopefully. At worst it loses the eye and is blind in one eye like a trigger I had 20+ years ago and lived a normal life with one eye.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 25, 2019

Ok,so have dosed epsom salts twice with 48 hours inbetween. Also,dosed Prazi 2 days ago. The male with the affected eye is still not eating anything and stays in his pipe most of the time. The female has started eating flake and mysis today. The male doesnt appear distressed really,just shy. Have managed to get a couple of photos but not great quality. My plan was to give the epsom salts a week to hopefully reduce swelling. By then,the second dose of prazi will be due. I am worried that the eye may be slightly cloudy although i dont think its any worse than it was. Will it be ok to wait until both rounds of prazi have been completed and then dose Furan 2,Metroplex and Kanaplex or should they be dosed at the same time as prazi? Or do i need to sit tight and try to get him eating? Dont really want to try and catch him for a Rally bath if i can help it as its possible that the last time he was netted was when it occured,thanks

HB AL · Feb 25, 2019

Doesn’t look that bad really in those pics. Getting it to eat at this point I would make it priority #1. Squirt some thawed frozen in front of it or try live brine if you can get some.

Lizfrank1234 · Feb 25, 2019

Hello @HB AL , ive tried the frozen mysis right in front of him,no interest but the female had no interest either until today. I will try to get some live brine if he doesnt eat soon,thanks

HB AL · Feb 25, 2019

If they dont eat the live brine then it's the meds suppressing there appetite. The med pros should know how long it might last. But a fish that doesn't eat is never a good thing. Good luck with them hope it works out.