Volitan Lionfish has eye issue

jasonrusso · Jan 6, 2022

I got a volitan lionfish last week. He's in his own QT tank right now. He eats like a pig and is personable.

Tonight, I noticed that he has a clear bubble over his eye. It's totally clear. It doesn't seem to be bothering him and he sees just fine. I threw a feeder in and he picked it up immediately.

I'm inclined to just watch it for a few days to see what happens. If a anything, I'd put some Epsom salt in.

KrisReef · Jan 6, 2022

I think that's a cornea, but I'm not an eye doctor. Looks great!

Karen00 · Jan 6, 2022

From what I have read Epsom salt as a treatment is for freshwater only because the main ingredient is mg which is already in saltwater.

Maybe @vetteguy53081 or @Jay Hemdal can comment on the eye. I'm sure others will be looking at this section as well. He sure is a beauty! I hope he's OK.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 6, 2022

Looks like a bacterial infection that never progressed. Velvet and flukes generally are issues with eyes but this is not the case.
One other possibility is light ammonia burn pointing to water quality
Hearing that it’s eating, vitamin soak what you’re feeding will help boost the immunity system
Keep an eye on it. It should improve and not worsen. If it does, mardel Maracyn 1 will be the medication of choice

Jay Hemdal · Jan 7, 2022

jasonrusso said:
I got a volitan lionfish last week. He's in his own QT tank right now. He eats like a pig and is personable.

Tonight, I noticed that he has a clear bubble over his eye. It's totally clear. It doesn't seem to be bothering him and he sees just fine. I threw a feeder in and he picked it up immediately.

I'm inclined to just watch it for a few days to see what happens. If a anything, I'd put some Epsom salt in.

Epsom salts won't work - magnesium sulfate is the fourth salt used in sea salt, adding a little bit more only raises the salinity a bit. It is a freshwater treatment only.

The two causes of clear bubbles in the eye are supersaturation and mechanical trauma. Supersaturation usually involves both eyes, but look for any point where there could be an air leak on the suction side of a point, or where a pump can suck in air (like through a vortex). It is unusual for this to happen in a QT the way most of them are set up.

That leaves mechanical trauma as the likely cause. The lion may have gotten startled and ran into something in the tank, although the common way for this to happen is when they are flopping in a net. A little bubble develops, and then, that pulls on the tissue, adding more to the bubble. There is no cure, but some cases resolve on their own. I talk about it in this article:

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay Hemdal

jasonrusso · Jan 7, 2022

Jay Hemdal said:
Epsom salts won't work - magnesium sulfate is the fourth salt used in sea salt, adding a little bit more only raises the salinity a bit. It is a freshwater treatment only.

The two causes of clear bubbles in the eye are supersaturation and mechanical trauma. Supersaturation usually involves both eyes, but look for any point where there could be an air leak on the suction side of a point, or where a pump can suck in air (like through a vortex). It is unusual for this to happen in a QT the way most of them are set up.

That leaves mechanical trauma as the likely cause. The lion may have gotten startled and ran into something in the tank, although the common way for this to happen is when they are flopping in a net. A little bubble develops, and then, that pulls on the tissue, adding more to the bubble. There is no cure, but some cases resolve on their own. I talk about it in this article:

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay Hemdal

So I guess I will just observe for now. It could be trauma. The tank is admittedly too small. He was supposed to be an Antenneta and I was surprised by how big he was. He might have run into something going for food.

I didn't use a net and there is just a HOB and sponge filter in the tank.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 7, 2022

jasonrusso said:
So I guess I will just observe for now. It could be trauma. The tank is admittedly too small. He was supposed to be an Antenneta and I was surprised by how big he was. He might have run into something going for food.

I didn't use a net and there is just a HOB and sponge filter in the tank.

I've tried removing the gas in eyes like this with a syringe - and it has never worked for me. The bubbles always return, and the extra handling of the fish makes the trauma worse. I think you need to just watch it, but the fish may lose its eye, and there is a chance of secondary bacterial infection.

jay

jasonrusso · Jan 9, 2022

So the eye seems to be healing by itself. These 2 pictures are from 2 days ago and today. I use the stripe for reference. The stripe was 1/2 the bubble in the first one, now it's just on the front.

Karen00 · Jan 9, 2022

jasonrusso said:
So the eye seems to be healing by itself. These 2 pictures are from 2 days ago and today. I use the stripe for reference. The stripe was 1/2 the bubble in the first one, now it's just on the front.

So happy to see it looks like he's healing! Keep us updated. He is a beautiful fish!

jasonrusso · Jan 9, 2022

Karen00 said:
So happy to see it looks like he's healing! Keep us updated. He is a beautiful fish!

Thanks! It wasn't what I ordered, but he is doing great. Took to stick feeding on day 2!

Karen00 · Jan 9, 2022

jasonrusso said:
Thanks! It wasn't what I ordered, but he is doing great. Took to stick feeding on day 2!

Not what you ordered? That sounds interesting. What did you order?

jasonrusso · Jan 9, 2022

Karen00 said:
Not what you ordered? That sounds interesting. What did you order?

Antenneta lionfish. A medium sized lionfish. Then I get this baby volitan!! They refunded my money when I sent them pictures

Karen00 · Jan 9, 2022

jasonrusso said:
Antenneta lionfish. A medium sized lionfish. Then I get this baby volitan!! They refunded my money when I sent them pictures

Wow, they refunded your money and didn't ask for you to return this guy (which I always find mindboggling and so stressful for the creature involved)? Again... "Wow".

I'm sure this baby is thankful to be with you!

jasonrusso · Jan 9, 2022

Karen00 said:
Wow, they refunded your money and didn't ask for you to return this guy (which I always find mindboggling and so stressful for the creature involved)? Again... "Wow". I'm sure this baby is thankful to be with you!

I can't imagine asking for a return, lol. 99.9% wouldn't make it. Even with the professionals shipping (this one was Live Aquaria) the bag was leaking. (3 bags in fact). He had a broken dorsal spine, so I wonder if that one pierced the bag.