New to saltwater having issues with fish.... disappearing or bacterial?

[Phil11]

Hello, I have a 40 breeder set up with a sail fin tang. I seen the fish when I started a small maintenance of cleaning my pump/prefilter/pump case, filter sock change. Then about 30/40 min later my tang had a cloudy puffy eye.

 

[Phil11]

Hello, I have a 40 breeder set up with a sail fin tang. I seen the fish when I started a small maintenance of cleaning my pump/prefilter/pump case, filter sock change. Then about 30/40 min later my tang had a cloudy puffy eye.

If anybody could help it would be much helpful and thankful. Puffeye or cloudeye

 

[Mhalko]

Is there anyway you could get a better picture of the eye? I know it’s gonna be hard but that will only help people see the problem easier.

 

[Jcagle09]

Sorry to hear. I am fairly new too but I will try and get someone with some info. Welcome to R2R and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

[Phil11]

Im trying but my night light run was on ill try to snag a small video

 

[sfin52]

Im trying but my night light run was on ill try to snag a small video

Flip on the whites for a couple of min to get a pic. Won't hurt anything.

 

[sfin52]

Sorry to hear. I am fairly new too but I will try and get someone with some info. Welcome to R2R and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanks for the link. In sure the others will stop buy as well.

 

[Katrina71]

#reefsquad

 

[sfin52]

Look similar to pop eye. Did it freak out when you started working on the tank

 

[Phil11]

I couldn't attach the full video but in these pictures you can see the red around the eye. I feed a variety of frozen foods a day + a sheet of vegi-weeds every-other day. she eats healthy and has always been a good tank make to others. her name is Susan

 

[Katrina71]

I've read about this happening when the pH is low too

 

[sfin52]

Could be a injury as well. Especially with a skittish tang

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Sounds like popeye. It's usually from an injury that causes fluid to build up and push the eye out. They usually recover on their own given the right circumstances. Low stress, high quality food, vitamins and maybe an antibiotic would help.

I will mention politely, since im not sure you are aware. A 40 breeder is way too small for a sail fin tang. That fish needs a 180 gallon tank when grown out. The stress of being in a small tank could cause further health problems.

 

[Hemmdog]

It's most likely a bacterial infection, check your maintenance schedule, how often do you do water changes - how much % of the tank?
What do you feed your fish, does it have enough vitamines?
Start filtering over carbon to remove anything your skimmer can't, and replace / clean any filter sponges you may have.

In addition to that you can move them to a qt to start treating for a surface infection with a antibiotic such as Nitrofurazone.

Source: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/index.php?threads/cloudy-eye-s.78353/

Also read: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cloudy-eyes.335948/ & https://www.thesprucepets.com/popeye-in-saltwater-aquarium-fish-3888404

Are their eyes swollen?

According to the 3rd link it could be 'Popeye'

I quote:

"The treatment for Popeye is the same as for almost any other bacterial infection which is the administration of a good saltwater aquarium fish broad spectrum antibiotic such as tetracycline, chloramphenicol or kanamycin which will kill the invading bacteria. The earlier the treatment is administered, the better the odds of a full recovery.

Since the antibiotics used for the treatment of this condition can damage the biological filter in a saltwater aquarium, if the other occupants of the show tank do not show signs of Popeye, it is best to remove the affected fish to a Quarantine Tank for treatment."

All though, I'd always put them into a QT, you don't want a treatment of any kind to get into your DT, you can easily dump the water that you put into the QT after you're done treating them.

Good luck!

 

[Katrina71]

Do you have a hospital tank?

 

[sfin52]

I second @Robin Haselden. High water quality, low stress, good food it usually takes care of it.

My chulk bass had this happen when I scared it and it dove into a rock. A few days later all good.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Looks like an injury to me as well. If it gets worse you could treat with antibiotics in a hospital tank.

 

[Phil11]

I did a API master saltwater test kit and it was low on all levels. I did dip the tang shortly after i got it, because i seen 2 small white spots on it. she was also following my cleaner shrimp around almost looking for it to clean her (idk if thats normal for a tang). After the dip the fish looked great always ate well and looks healthy.

 

[Phil11]

It is very possible for an injury i would insist because it was a bit of a task to catch her for the dip. If it is an injury, will vitamin/antibiotic feeding help? I do have a spare tank around but have never cycled it. Would trying medicated food be okay for a day?

 

[Phil11]

Sounds like popeye. It's usually from an injury that causes fluid to build up and push the eye out. They usually recover on their own given the right circumstances. Low stress, high quality food, vitamins and maybe an antibiotic would help.

I will mention politely, since im not sure you are aware. A 40 breeder is way too small for a sail fin tang. That fish needs a 180 gallon tank when grown out. The stress of being in a small tank could cause further health problems.