Eye injury or infection

[sc50964]

He came in like this a few days ago and has been in copper. I first thought it’s an eye injury but there appears to be some fuzzy things on it…, this is the best shot I can get with him. He is eating well but I need help to diagnose what’s wrong with the eye.

I have API EM ERYTHROMYCIN and it’s mostly to treat eye issues but I’ve never used it so any input on using it to feed or as a bath would be helpful. Thanks

 

[MnFish1]

Unfortunately I can't see the injury or eye in the videos you posted due to R2R's handling of videos. Generally speaking - it's difficult to tell whether it could be flukes, an infection (followed by an injury) or an injury alone. I would consider adding a broad spectrum antibiotic to your current regimen. Apologies - I'm in and out of the forum - I know there is a table somewhere that explains which reef medications are compatible with copper, etc. Best wishes!

 

[vetteguy53081]

He came in like this a few days ago and has been in copper. I first thought it’s an eye injury but there appears to be some fuzzy things on it…, this is the best shot I can get with him. He is eating well but I need help to diagnose what’s wrong with the eye.

I have API EM ERYTHROMYCIN and it’s mostly to treat eye issues but I’ve never used it so any input on using it to feed or as a bath would be helpful. Thanks

Looks like a result of injury and is severely infected to the point there may be retina damage. With the accelerated stage of this damage, recovery is uncertain however, I've seen many fish with one good eye that functioned normally. Best chance for treatment with no assured results is use of Maracyn (not maracyn oxy) which is ethromyacin and is effective for many eye issues

 

[sc50964]

Looks like a result of injury and is severely infected to the point there may be retina damage. With the accelerated stage of this damage, recovery is uncertain however, I've seen many fish with one good eye that functioned normally. Best chance for treatment with no assured results is use of Maracyn (not maracyn oxy) which is ethromyacin and is effective for many eye issues

Thx. If I leave it untreated, will the infection spread?

I can simply move him over to a separate tank and treat him with API EM ethromyacin

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thx. If I leave it untreated, will the infection spread?

I can simply move him over to a separate tank and treat him with API EM ethromyacin

Untreated will worsen and possible loss of eye

 

[sc50964]

Untreated will worsen and possible loss of eye

okay so do I add any bio filter to this new QT? I assume not since that will counter the antibiotics.

So if when ammonia goes up , is it safe to use prime with this antibiotics?

 

[Tired]

The best way to deal with ammonia in a sterile QT is water changes, and lots of them. Make sure to add any and all medications and treatments to the new water before you put it in the tank, so the level never goes down.

 

[vetteguy53081]

okay so do I add any bio filter to this new QT? I assume not since that will counter the antibiotics.

So if when ammonia goes up , is it safe to use prime with this antibiotics?

Bio media from previous tank always helps
Change water when only necessary as you are reducing/removing some of the treatment

 

[sc50964]

Bio media from previous tank always helps
Change water when only necessary as you are reducing/removing some of the treatment

Doesn’t biofilter just break down the antibiotics right away or much sooner?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Doesn’t biofilter just break down the antibiotics right away or much sooner?

Not a filter unit- Bio-Media such as sponge or marine block

 

[sc50964]

Not a filter unit- Bio-Media such as sponge or marine block

Let me try again. Doesn’t denitrifying bacteria get consumed by antibiotics?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Let me try again. Doesn’t denitrifying bacteria get consumed by antibiotics?

At very low level

 

[Jay Hemdal]

He came in like this a few days ago and has been in copper. I first thought it’s an eye injury but there appears to be some fuzzy things on it…, this is the best shot I can get with him. He is eating well but I need help to diagnose what’s wrong with the eye.

I have API EM ERYTHROMYCIN and it’s mostly to treat eye issues but I’ve never used it so any input on using it to feed or as a bath would be helpful. Thanks

Is it just the left eye? Is the right eye cloudy at all? I ask because that is how I generally tell injury from flukes when it comes to fish eyes - injuries are almost always just one eye, and flukes almost always involve both eyes.
Jay

 

[sc50964]

Is it just the left eye? Is the right eye cloudy at all? I ask because that is how I generally tell injury from flukes when it comes to fish eyes - injuries are almost always just one eye, and flukes almost always involve both eyes.
Jay

Just one eye. Should I treat him with prazi or antibiotics? He already went through one round of prazi & his eye hasn’t improved.

 

[MnFish1]

Let me try again. Doesn’t denitrifying bacteria get consumed by antibiotics?

No it doesn't automatically

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Just one eye. Should I treat him with prazi or antibiotics? He already went through one round of prazi & his eye hasn’t improved.

With just one eye involved, it is most likely an injury and not flukes. You can treat eye injuries in a treatment tank with Erythromycin (Maracyn 1) but if you would need to catch the fish and move it, there is a risk of further damage. If the other eye gets damages, it won't be able to see well enough to eat.

Eye injuries often heal on their own - but can take a month or so.

Jay