clarkii with swollen eye

[mattsilvester]

Hi Folks.
Please help.
My clarkii clown has a swolen eye - it is swollen up to nearly twice is normal size, and looks clowdy. He also seems a little lethargic. What could this be, and how can I treat it.

Thanks
Matt

 

[leebca]

If you think it might be Popeye, these are some thread with guidance on that:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=572323
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=561991
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5777657

Check this thread for a discussion on cloudy eye and causes:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=685797

In general, the thing to do is immediately get the fish into a hospital tank. A hospital tank is setup like a QT, so if you're unsure of how to do this, check out:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.htm
However, with you're experience, you probably know how to setup a hospital tank.

Anyway, treat with antibiotics immediately.

Good luck with the reading! :reading:

 

[mattsilvester]

leebca,
Thanks for the reply.
I have been observing the clown for the last couple of days, and I have come to the conclusion that it probably isn't pop eye after all.

Recently the flame angel and clown have been fighting - they were never exactly good buddies, but in this last week it seems to have gotten worse. The clown did have a torn fin (which has since cleared up) - which would further support injury from fighting. I think the clowns eye has got injured from a battle with the flame angel.

The eye is quite cloudy, and is swollen up to twice its usual size. It seems to have gone down a little bit, though not much. In the mean time, the fighting seems to have gotten worse, so I am going to have to get theflame angel out of the tank.

Would should I then do - let the clown in the tank, and hope hisey heals and returns to normal - or should I remove the clown also for some sort of treatment - if so, what can I treat with.

The thing is, myclown is quite attached to what he thinks is his anemone (it is in fact a large sacrophyton toadstool coral). I am concerned that the stress of being caught and put in a q-tine type setting might do him more harm than good.

Thanks for your help,
regards, Matt

 

[mattsilvester]

Lee - forgot to say - if I am going to treat with an antibiotic - is there a commercially available product that you would recommend?
Thanks

 

[leebca]

Diagnosis is the most important first step to helping your fish.

IF YOU ARE SURE you have concluded the eye is an injury, then you've outlined the two courses you have to choose from: Separate the fish then either 1) treat the injured fish; or 2) don't treat the injured fish.

I could best provide guidance if I was sure you were feeding the injured fish the best possible and correct diet AND included multivitamins in its food, or soaking its food in same, AND were providing extra fats in its diet AND were providing beta glucan in its food during its recovery. If all these were true, then I would risk the fish staying where it was, with close observation at least twice a day for developments.

At any sign that the fish's condition is worsening, move the fish to a hospital tank and treat with an antibiotic. I prefer the use of Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish for two reasons: It can migrate into the fish's internal system and help the fish deal with an internal bacterial infection and; it contains an appetite stimulant which should help it eat more of the above mentioned food additives. In the hospital tank the best nutrition and the above additives are a must.

Separate the fish immediately as you said. Don't wait. Also, don't wait on setting up your hospital tank. Do it now so you don't have to make a mad scramble for it later. Also, obtain the medication of your choice and be prepared to administer to the fish at the 'drop of a hat.' An antibiotic is good to have on hand, but remember, it has an expiration date so purchase AFTER reading the expiration date on the package. If your LFS doesn't stock it, get it on line from almost any of the major fish supply house.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[mattsilvester]

Hey Lee,
Thanks again for the response.

Diet wise - I do not feed, nor have I ever fed specific vitamins etc. My fish get a varied diet of frozen food, including:
squid, mysis, mussel, spirulina brine & omega brine, marine cusine, and red plankton. I also feed a sheet of nori daily, and a good quality marine flake food. The clown is still eating well, as ever - he is just finding it a little difficult to actually grab the food, as I imagine his focus is a bit out, only have one good eye to see with. But he is eating perfectly ok.

I have had this guy for 5 or so years, he's always been as tough as nails, and I have never had a problem with him. His other tank mates include a chocolate (mimic) tang, and a regal (hippo) tang - two fish that my experience has shown are good inidcators when anything is wrong with the system - the clown being by far the most hardy fish in the tank.

My task now today is getting a 2.5" flame angel out of a complex reef structure - I want this guy out either way, and I'd like to at least give the clown a day or two benifit of the doubt where he is. Late last night, the clown and the flame were going at at like every 10 minutes - so I turned off the lights to send them to sleep.

On your advice, I wil be setting up te hositpal tank (my q-tine tank is 4*1*1 - so its areasonable size), ready for the clown should things go wrong, and I'll be tracking down the treatment you suggest today, just to be sure.

Thanks again for your help.
Regards,
Matt

 

[mattsilvester]

Hi Lee,

Just thought I'd attach a pic of his eye. The cloudiness seems to have improved by 30 or 40%, but the swelling has increased if anything!!!

Can you diagnose anything from this pic?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[leebca]

Popeye. Good photo BTW.

Caused by gas build up in the eye cavity. Gas comes from bacteria or possibly air trapped.

Assuming bacterial, the fish should immediately be removed to the hospital tank and treated. Since the bacterial problem is behind the eye, I would use Maracyn Two for saltwater fishes. That antibiotic does penetrate into the fish. To the treatment water I would also add Maracyn One for Saltwater fish. Both antibiotics are compatible with each other.

Fish sometimes die from this condition. I wouldn't wait any longer to take action, since you observed the condition is worsening.

Good luck! :rollface:

 

[TerryB]

I agree with Lee that this fish needs antibiotics. An alternative is to feed the fish Focus with Maracyn-Two added to it. Focus is a polymer that contains nitrofurazone. You can add some Maracyn-Two to the Focus and put it on the food. If you haven't done this already, make a large water change using well aged and aerated saltwater. Do you have a lot of fine air bubbles in your water?

Terry B

 

[mattsilvester]

Thanks guys,

Gonna get him out A.S.A.P.

Regards,
Matt