Wrasse with one bulging eye

[Ben.QLD2]

Hi all,

Just seeking input on my Red Coris Wrasse that has developed one bulging eye overnight.

Please see the attached photos.

Conveniently, I also have a photo of the same eye a few days ago which shows no problems.

Because it appeared overnight, and is only one eye, I'm thinking it's a sudden trauma/acute injury.

My treatment plan is to conduct a daily bath in antibacterial product just to prevent a bacterial infection.

Obviously keep a close eye on it and treat accordingly if anything arises.

Cheers,

Ben.

 

[TCoach]

Please provide pictures under white light.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all,

Just seeking input on my Red Coris Wrasse that has developed one bulging eye overnight.

Please see the attached photos.

Conveniently, I also have a photo of the same eye a few days ago which shows no problems.

Because it appeared overnight, and is only one eye, I'm thinking it's a sudden trauma/acute injury.

My treatment plan is to conduct a daily bath in antibacterial product just to prevent a bacterial infection.

Obviously keep a close eye on it and treat accordingly if anything arises.

Cheers,

Ben.

Known as popeye can stem from injury or infection. Generally ethromyacin is the cure but treat for at least 5 days in quarantine using seachem kanaplex also keeping an eye on ammonia

 

[TCoach]

Looks like the pictures just posted. Looks like some sort of injury or popeye.

Either way, it need to go into a QT tank and be treated. Dosing Maracyn (erythromycin) 5x over 10 days should help it cure.

Since it is a wrasse, you can add a container of silica sand for it to sleep in. Also, keep a watch on ammonia since the antibiotics will negatively impact your biological filtration.

Thanks,
-TCoach

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi all,

Just seeking input on my Red Coris Wrasse that has developed one bulging eye overnight.

Please see the attached photos.

Conveniently, I also have a photo of the same eye a few days ago which shows no problems.

Because it appeared overnight, and is only one eye, I'm thinking it's a sudden trauma/acute injury.

My treatment plan is to conduct a daily bath in antibacterial product just to prevent a bacterial infection.

Obviously keep a close eye on it and treat accordingly if anything arises.

Cheers,

Ben.

Almost certainly trauma induced. Unlikely to have an infection component since the skin is undamaged.
Can you see any actual gas bubbles in the sclera of the eye? When those show up, they often don’t resolve.
I often suggest erythromycin for eye injuries, but to be honest, I suspect these tend to get better or not, despite that treatment.
Jay

 

[Crabby48]

Hard to see in picture if infected but I don’t think so. Fish probably injured it. I never medicate if I don’t see infection as they heal on their own 99 percent of time. Give fish time and keep water clean. Make sure fish doesn’t get stressed. It needs to relax and heal. Feed good healthy foods

 

[Ben.QLD2]

Thanks everyone. The wrasse is a bit sorry for itself, moping around etc. At the time of this reply it's just about to finish a 90 minute bath in water from the tank mixed with Aminacrine and Methylene Blue, just as an infection preventative. I plan on doing this daily, or until it becomes too hard to catch. I got lucky today as it hovered near the auto feeder. Hopefully it will just heal on its own. I'll provide an update when I have one. Cheers.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks everyone. The wrasse is a bit sorry for itself, moping around etc. At the time of this reply it's just about to finish a 90 minute bath in water from the tank mixed with Aminacrine and Methylene Blue, just as an infection preventative. I plan on doing this daily, or until it becomes too hard to catch. I got lucky today as it hovered near the auto feeder. Hopefully it will just heal on its own. I'll provide an update when I have one. Cheers.

Don't forget that one of the most common causes of eye injury is from the fish flipping their head around in a net. Catching it up for daily antibiotic dips can be counter-productive.

Jay

 

[Ben.QLD2]

I'm pleased to announce that the eye swelling has reduced by about half and the wrasse looks happier.

I'll update again tomorrow, and with a photo.

 

[Ben.QLD2]

Update - much improved, swelling/bulging gone but it has a slightly cloudy lens, likely some bruising or remaining inflammation. No sign of infection.

Please forgive the photo quality and blue light. Considering there's no problem to show now, I didn't go to much effort.

 

[Tub Life]

Almost certainly trauma induced. Unlikely to have an infection component since the skin is undamaged.
Can you see any actual gas bubbles in the sclera of the eye? When those show up, they often don’t resolve.
I often suggest erythromycin for eye injuries, but to be honest, I suspect these tend to get better or not, despite that treatment.
Jay

I observed today that my pintail wrasse has developed a bulging eye.
There does not appear to be any open wounds.
I do seem to see gas bubbles in the eye.
I am located in Canada so I am not able to acquire any medications.
Do you mean that this will be fatal? or just that the wrasse may lose its eye?

Thanks.

 

[Tub Life]

Update - much improved, swelling/bulging gone but it has a slightly cloudy lens, likely some bruising or remaining inflammation. No sign of infection.

Please forgive the photo quality and blue light. Considering there's no problem to show now, I didn't go to much effort.

Hey,

Has your wrasse made a full recovery?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I observed today that my pintail wrasse has developed a bulging eye.
There does not appear to be any open wounds.
I do seem to see gas bubbles in the eye.
I am located in Canada so I am not able to acquire any medications.
Do you mean that this will be fatal? or just that the wrasse may lose its eye?

Thanks.

That looks like a trauma induced injury. There is no medication for this, just time to see if it heals, and to try and keep it calm and not let it run into something again, possibly damaging the other eye.
If the air bubble is small enough, it will resorb, and then the swelling will go down. This can take over a month though.

 

[Tub Life]

That looks like a trauma induced injury. There is no medication for this, just time to see if it heals, and to try and keep it calm and not let it run into something again, possibly damaging the other eye.
If the air bubble is small enough, it will resorb, and then the swelling will go down. This can take over a month though.

OK, thanks for the info.
Unfortunately, the wrasse spent the day in hiding.
Did not even come out during feedings.

 

[Tub Life]

Wrasse appears to be eating again now. He has definitely thinned out. (My fish are mostly chubby, so even though thinned out, not skinny yet lol)
Eyeball looks to be about 50% better. No longer looks like it will pop off and float away.