Blind

smlarson72 · May 2, 2021

I bought a beautiful Sailfin tang. We added her to our tank and we noticed she wasn’t acting right. She kept hitting her nose on the rocks, glass - just about anything. I thought maybe she was stressed and would settle down. We waited a long while and started to watch her again. She has continued to hit the rocks, tank wall, heaters. Then we watched her run headfirst into our puffer - numerous times. I put the net down in the tank and it did not phase her (all my other fish scattered). I got her out and she is in the sump. So upset.

vetteguy53081 · May 2, 2021

Photos would really be helpful.
generally three reasons this will happen:
a- high ammonia
b- Flukes
c- Injury.

To eliminate item b, Give the fish a freshwater dip in a clean preferable dark bucket for 5 mins or if it gets very ornery beforehand. Assure the temperature is same as display tank and add a pinch of baking soda for ph. Return it to display tank.
Look on bottom of container for what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales- Those are flukes.
If nothing- good, no flukes. Next is ammonia and nitrate- verify those. IF using an API kit, you may be getting false readings in which they are higher than results are showing. Get a second opinion from a trusted pet store that does NOT use API kits for testing. Do a 30% water change regardless.
If water is verified Good, treatment would be ethromyacin which is known also as Maracyn 1. PetsMart I believe carries this stuff

smlarson72 · May 2, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Photos would really be helpful.
generally three reasons this will happen:
a- high ammonia
b- Flukes
c- Injury.

To eliminate item b, Give the fish a freshwater dip in a clean preferable dark bucket for 5 mins or if it gets very ornery beforehand. Assure the temperature is same as display tank and add a pinch of baking soda for ph. Return it to display tank.
Look on bottom of container for what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales- Those are flukes.
If nothing- good, no flukes. Next is ammonia and nitrate- verify those. IF using an API kit, you may be getting false readings in which they are higher than results are showing. Get a second opinion from a trusted pet store that does NOT use API kits for testing. Do a 30% water change regardless.
If water is verified Good, treatment would be ethromyacin which is known also as Maracyn 1. PetsMart I believe carries this stuff

I do use an API. When I just tested they came back at 0. Here are some pictures I was able to get.

resortez · May 2, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Photos would really be helpful.
generally three reasons this will happen:
a- high ammonia
b- Flukes
c- Injury.

To eliminate item b, Give the fish a freshwater dip in a clean preferable dark bucket for 5 mins or if it gets very ornery beforehand. Assure the temperature is same as display tank and add a pinch of baking soda for ph. Return it to display tank.
Look on bottom of container for what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales- Those are flukes.
If nothing- good, no flukes. Next is ammonia and nitrate- verify those. IF using an API kit, you may be getting false readings in which they are higher than results are showing. Get a second opinion from a trusted pet store that does NOT use API kits for testing. Do a 30% water change regardless.
If water is verified Good, treatment would be ethromyacin which is known also as Maracyn 1. PetsMart I believe carries this stuff

I second this.

GaryE · May 2, 2021

I had a foxface that went blind. He did all of the things yours is doing, plus didn't eat.

I finally had to put him out of his misery. Rather upsetting.

Lost in the Sauce · May 2, 2021

Do you believe the fish was blind when you received it? Was this an online order or LFS?

vetteguy53081 · May 2, 2021

What???
Eyes not cloudy...hmmm
If you have a nem... stinging is possible but this may be sepsis or even a stroke which happens with yellow tangs.
Let’s get a second opinion

@Jay Hemdal

smlarson72 · May 2, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
What???
Eyes not cloudy...hmmm
If you have a nem... stinging is possible but this may be sepsis or even a stroke which happens with yellow tangs.
Let’s get a second opinion

@Jay Hemdal

I got her from my

Lost in the Sauce said:
Do you believe the fish was blind when you received it? Was this an online order or LFS

Lost in the Sauce said:
Do you believe the fish was blind when you received it? Was this an online order or LFS?

Sorry. My phone went crazy. I got her from my LFS. I buy all my fish from them. I’ve never had a problem with them. They had said she was acting a little funny but we were thinking it was because she was on an end tank. There weren’t any rocks in there with her. I asked if she was eating and they told me she was. They offered to feed her but I told them I trusted them, which I do. I called and talked to them on the phone. They said I can bring her back and they will switch her out if I want. They said they will put her back in their hospital tank and monitor her.

smlarson72 · May 2, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
What???
Eyes not cloudy...hmmm
If you have a nem... stinging is possible but this may be sepsis or even a stroke which happens with yellow tangs.
Let’s get a second opinion

@Jay Hemdal

I do have nems in the tank. I didn’t see her go near them. They are tucked down in the rocks.

vetteguy53081 · May 2, 2021

smlarson72 said:
I got her from my

Sorry. My phone went crazy. I got her from my LFS. I buy all my fish from them. I’ve never had a problem with them. They had said she was acting a little funny but we were thinking it was because she was on an end tank. There weren’t any rocks in there with her. I asked if she was eating and they told me she was. They offered to feed her but I told them I trusted them, which I do. I called and talked to them on the phone. They said I can bring her back and they will switch her out if I want. They said they will put her back in their hospital tank and monitor her.

Take advantage of that

smlarson72 · May 2, 2021

Take advantage of that

vetteguy53081 said:
Take advantage of that

My husband took her back today. We took a video showing her swim right into the black net to show them what she is doing. The owner put her back in their hospital tank. They are going to give me another Sailfin Tang. Poor thing! She was beautiful!

vetteguy53081 · May 2, 2021

smlarson72 said:
Take advantage of that

My husband took her back today. We took a video showing her swim right into the black net to show them what she is doing. The owner put her back in their hospital tank. They are going to give me another Sailfin Tang. Poor thing! She was beautiful!

I agree but all sailfins are a beauty