Pajama Cardinal Loss of Color, Swollen Clouded Eye

[Tnops]

Hello, one of my Pajama Cardinal has a cloudy and swollen eye with pale colors. It came with 2 other pajama cardinals that I purchased at the same day and at the same location a couple of days ago. It came paler than the others but the swollen and cloudy eye started to develop after. No other fish in the tank show any signs of problem. It still eats although not nearly as energetic as the other cardinals. Any idea on what it is and how I deal with it?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Is it breathing faster than the other ones?
Do you have a treatment tank you can move it to?
Jay

 

[Tnops]

Is it breathing faster than the other ones?
Do you have a treatment tank you can move it to?
Jay

It doesn't appear to be breathing faster than the other ones and I can't move it to any other tanks

 

[Jay Hemdal]

It doesn't appear to be breathing faster than the other ones and I can't move it to any other tanks

I’m worried about the general cloudiness to the fish’s skin and some fin erosion. Looks bacterial to me, but dosing your DT with antibiotics isn’t a good idea. Erythromycin in a treatment tank would be the best option I think.
Jay

 

[Tnops]

I’m worried about the general cloudiness to the fish’s skin and some fin erosion. Looks bacterial to me, but dosing your DT with antibiotics isn’t a good idea. Erythromycin in a treatment tank would be the best option I think.
Jay

any idea on how I can set one up on the spot? I don't have any filter media in the sump really

 

[Jay Hemdal]

any idea on how I can set one up on the spot? I don't have any filter media in the sump really

The only option would be to use those bacteria in a bottle products.
Here is another option: set up a 2x daily antibiotic bath in a bucket of seawater, a heater and an air stone. The cardinal should be easy to catch, move it to the bucket dosed with antibiotics at 2x the label dose, for two hours, twice a day (making a new bath each day). That way, you don’t need to set up another whole tank.
Jay

 

[Tnops]

The only option would be to use those bacteria in a bottle products.
Here is another option: set up a 2x daily antibiotic bath in a bucket of seawater, a heater and an air stone. The cardinal should be easy to catch, move it to the bucket dosed with antibiotics at 2x the label dose, for two hours, twice a day (making a new bath each day). That way, you don’t need to set up another whole tank.
Jay

Woke up today and the sick one disappeared :/. It is either hiding super deep in some hole, died in the hole and is stuck, or jumped out and the cat got it.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Woke up today and the sick one disappeared :/. It is either hiding super deep in some hole, died in the hole and is stuck, or jumped out and the cat got it.

Sorry to hear. You need to be aware that the issue could be contagious, so watch the others very closely over the next week.
Jay