Luck be a Lady

fishguy242 · Aug 4, 2025

Just a bump damage should heal on it's own hopefully

LadyMac · Aug 4, 2025

fishguy242 said:
Just a bump damage should heal on it's own hopefully

Really hope so. :( it was to her eye and on the dead coral piece I have in there which is pretty sharp.

LadyMac · Aug 5, 2025

Figured I’d do a blackout with the tank. I forget, but I think last time with the AIO I did like a week blackout changing the floss out frequently. Since ostreopsis is in the water column at night maybe I can get the majority of it out this way, and then since I’m feeding twice a day it’ll help build some nitrates and phosphates.

LadyMac · Aug 7, 2025

I was handed a literal hand full of thin of thin striped hermit crabs… LOL. I’ve contacted the local reef shop to see if they would take them in as I’m pretty sure they’re from the beach (though no clue which) and a couple are rather large.

I have no idea what to do with them otherwise.

LadyMac · Aug 7, 2025

Was able to get in touch with the local shop. They’ll be taking them in Saturday.

They are currently in the sump. I’m sure that’s not ideal, as they’re large and the sumps small, and also they were not QTed and wild caught. But it was that or still close them somewhere with zero water for days. I’ve read they’d be fine for about three but…. I don’t want to kill em.

No cool stuff as trade but at least they’ll be out of my tank and somewhere they can be cared for properly.

LadyMac · Aug 10, 2025

Ok so I’m wondering if she bumped her face at all. I noticed when I brought her home she had a dip in her forehead. I forget if I posted about that here or on Facebook :

You can kind of make it out in those two shots. Her cheeks have also been white the entire time.

A few days after this dip had gotten larger:

The next day was when I blew the rocks off causing her to dart under the rock and o noticed her eye. It was only the one side.

I left her be with the blackout hoping she would be fine once I turned the lights back on. However, Yesterday i removed the towels and turned the lights on and she now has no eyes and the dip is much much larger:

I’ve never had this happen. She is now staying mostly hidden, and I’m trying to figure out a plan to put her in the Shu box for observation.

So the question is, should I euthanize her? Everyone else seems fine. No one has bothered her, that I’ve seen. I’m confident I can net her easy enough if she comes out of the back. Is it at all possible she could adapt with the lack of eyes, if I spot feed her. Looking at quality of life here. I’ve had bettas blinded with diamond eye but reef fish are a lot different.

Also, what could this possibly be? Stress? A disease? Bacteria? Maybe I should have observed her better at the shop :(

LadyMac · Aug 10, 2025

As suspected, netting was simple. She’s in the box. I’ll try for another shot if I need to but this is a lot more clear.

Fudsey · Aug 10, 2025

@Jay Hemdal Any help?

LadyMac · Aug 10, 2025

More photos.

I offered her food, she did take in a piece of shrimp. Chewed it a bit, spat it out. So I’m not sure if she’s just trying to get a feel for it, or going off instinct (food hit senses, try to eat)

I’m heartbroken over this. I think culling is the best way to go,

Jay Hemdal · Aug 10, 2025

LadyMac said:
More photos.

I offered her food, she did take in a piece of shrimp. Chewed it a bit, spat it out. So I’m not sure if she’s just trying to get a feel for it, or going off instinct (food hit senses, try to eat)

I’m heartbroken over this. I think culling is the best way to go,

Sorry - I've never seen this before - looks like a virulent bacterial infection destroyed the tissues on its eyes and head. I can't believe that the brain / nervous system isn't also infected.

I think euthanasia is the best option here:

Fish Euthanasia

Euthanasia Euthanasia is a word derived from two Greek words that roughly translates to “good death”. In other words, euthanasia is the painless killing of an organism. In general usage, there is also the underlying understanding that euthanasia is performed on terminal patients only. This...

www.reef2reef.com

LadyMac · Aug 10, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
Sorry - I've never seen this before - looks like a virulent bacterial infection destroyed the tissues on its eyes and head. I can't believe that the brain / nervous system isn't also infected.

I think euthanasia is the best option here:

Fish Euthanasia

Euthanasia Euthanasia is a word derived from two Greek words that roughly translates to “good death”. In other words, euthanasia is the painless killing of an organism. In general usage, there is also the underlying understanding that euthanasia is performed on terminal patients only. This...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you, I think euthanasia is also the best course of action.

LadyMac · Aug 11, 2025

She’s gone :( I thought about if she could adapt like she was. But watching her with that brine shrimp, I knew that it was basically a sensory reflex. I gently netted her, she put up no fight. Of course she didn’t. And I told her I was sorry. Laid her in the medicated bath. She was gone swiftly.

I hate losing fish, especially young ones. Now I will monitor the remaining four in the tank to ensure they are fine. So far they are acting like normal. Flotsam farting out of rocks to eat, Jetsam perching for fly bys. Bob and Selma begging under the food portal.

Today I have to clean the house, and then I think I’m going to play with my ten gallon.

kevgib67 · Aug 11, 2025

LadyMac said:
She’s gone :( I thought about if she could adapt like she was. But watching her with that brine shrimp, I knew that it was basically a sensory reflex. I gently netted her, she put up no fight. Of course she didn’t. And I told her I was sorry. Laid her in the medicated bath. She was gone swiftly.

I hate losing fish, especially young ones. Now I will monitor the remaining four in the tank to ensure they are fine. So far they are acting like normal. Flotsam farting out of rocks to eat, Jetsam perching for fly bys. Bob and Selma begging under the food portal.

Today I have to clean the house, and then I think I’m going to play with my ten gallon.

Sorry Bev.

LadyMac · Aug 11, 2025

kevgib67 said:
Sorry Bev.

Thank you, it’s ok. I should have known better. Should have looked at her better. I will from now on. I got a bit comfy with having zero fish issues aside from old age with the bettas.

LadyMac · Aug 11, 2025

Oh. And instead of playing with the tank, I decided I’d just get my art area straightened up. I’ve got to get on the ball and get some art done and out so I can get some money coming in. I have a plan for a piece but idk how it’ll look or if it’ll be something anyone would want because of the “gimmick”.

Black canvas, grey scale fish. Except it glows in the dark with blues red green and white. Idk if I can pull that off but I want to try. Could be cool. Could turn out like crap lol.

For now, here’s the desk/ easel and the nose of a dog I’ve spent way more time on than I’d like to admit. Noses are hard.