Chalk Bass's Eye Completely Puffed Out

[Mister_Palmer]

So I just noticed my CB's eye looks like it's kind of exploded or something.
Very very big and expanded...

Any ideas?

Did another fish do this, or is it something that can happen?
Cures? Can I do something to help it??

It was 100% fine late last night.

Pics

 

[nonstopfishies]

If it happened that quickly I would have to say it was from trauma(running into rocks or something). Pay close attention to it and if it seems to worsen or get infected you will have to pull the fish and QT with some antibacterial treatments.

 

[jhentr]

Wow, overnight is extreme. Hopefully it'll go down on it's own with good water and diet. But a QT might speed it up.

 

[Mister_Palmer]

Just a bit of an update...
It's gotten worse, and now it's in both eyes.

Hasn't eaten since last Sunday, and the eyes are getting progressively worse. A LFS has told me that in 80% of cases it goes away on it's own...

I'm concerned about the eating, and the long term effects.
At some point do I think about putting it out of it's misery? I mean is it awful for this fish?

This is current.

 

[lagatbezan]

Dont give up on him. Put him in a qt and treat with antibiotics like kanamycin or Maracyn2 ASAP. It's most probably an bacteria infection. Try not to net it and catch it using some sort of container. This way not causing more trauma to the eye.

 

[Mister_Palmer]

Dont give up on him. Put him in a qt and treat with antibiotics like kanamycin or Maracyn2 ASAP. It's most probably an bacteria infection. Try not to net it and catch it using some sort of container. This way not causing more trauma to the eye.

I tried catching him earlier, and it's just impossible with the net.
So, I'm assuming a container would be even harder.

If I did put him in QT, wouldn't he still starve if he's not eating?

What's the recovery time?

 

[lagatbezan]

I would imagine within a couple of days in qt with antibiotics he should improve and start eating again. I think sometimes fish go even longer then a week without eating and still be okay.
Try this if you haven't already: get a clear container, put it in the tank and let it sit for a few hours. Then use the net to try to slowly direct him into the container.

 

[BBraker]

When one eye has exopthalmus, I usually suspect trauma, but when BOTH eyes are affected, the chances go up that it is/was a supersaturation event. It still could be trauma, but it would have had to hit its head twice, once on one side and once on the other - possible, but less likely.

Look for chances of supersaturation - a sump that is allowed to run low and suck air, ANY leak on the suction side of a pump, returning water to the tank below the waterline, etc.


Bill

 

[Mister_Palmer]

Look for chances of supersaturation

Can you elaborate a little, or explain supersaturation?
I can't find a lot online about it...

I don't have a sump, just a pump for my HOB Skimmer, and 3 Power Heads.
Something malfunctioning might have caused this?
But wouldn't that do the same to the other fish?

Thanks.

 

[BBraker]

Ryan,

You're correct - if there are other fish in the tank and they are unaffected, then you can probably rule out supersaturation. That leaves mechanical damage as the likely cause. Bacterial causes would have come on much more slowly.

Supersaturation occurrs when air is injected into the water under pressure, and then is not allowed to de-gas properly (like spraying down on the surface of the water). Little air bubbles in the tank don't cause this - they are just unsightly.

Bill