Is my angel sick?

[deadxero]

I have a juvanile Coral Bueaty with an odd look to one eye. Last night it looked to be enlarged and covored with a mucous like subastance. Today it has cleared up, but still looks larger than the other eye.

Is it possible that there was simply something irritating the eye and it will heal up, or am I more likely to be seeing a disease? What can I do to tell the difference, and what might I do to help the fish get healthy as fast as possible.

 

[PuffersKick]

Most likely a parasite. Angels are prone to getting them. The best thing to do is a freshwater dip.

 

[deadxero]

How long should I leave the angel in FW for it to be effective? Should I perform the dip repeatedly over time until the parasite is gone?


Thanks for the help.

 

[Jerry W]

Doubtful it's a parasite, and dipping the fish in FW will likely not acomplish much. What you're seeing can be caused by different things. Trauma to the eye is one. The fish may have scraped itself against a rock, or there may have been aggression from another tank mate. Another consideration is compromised water quality. This can trigger bacterial infections. Try a large water change using well aged/aerated altater. This may be all you need to do. If the condition doesn't improve, you can quarantine the fish and try antibiotic therapy.