Puffer eye issue

[Ks4726]

@Jay Hemdal

This puffer has been at my lfs for almost a year. Through the months its lost weight and they marked the price down quite a bit to get rid of it. I took it home because im a sucker for disabled fish. I really didnt want a puffer to be honest but I feel I have the time to give it the attention it needs. My 450 gallon is a better home than the tank it was in. It acts like a typical puffer, I haven't fed it yet but im sure it will eat.

Could you diagnose the eye? I know its not fixable. I believe it can somewhat see through it a little bit still, because sometimes it has the ability to move before it hits something on the right side, but other times it hits glass. It can dodge the black overflow and rocks it seems. What happens to a fish eye when its totally not functional? Will it loose it?

 

[DarthRaiderBob]

You are probably going to have to hand feed him. Looks like abrasion from rubbing his eyes on the glass.

 

[Ks4726]

Which is fine. I cant prevent that happening but it will happen less now. It was in a 3 foot cube now it has 8 feet to swim.

 

[littlefoxx]

Awe poor dude. Im glad you rescued him though is he going to go in your predator tank??

 

[Ks4726]

Yeah, nobody had an issue with it. Just busy swimming laps. Not in a stressed out way either. Just kinda gliding around. Didn't eat this morning. Ill get some huge feeding tongs though.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal

This puffer has been at my lfs for almost a year. Through the months its lost weight and they marked the price down quite a bit to get rid of it. I took it home because im a sucker for disabled fish. I really didnt want a puffer to be honest but I feel I have the time to give it the attention it needs. My 450 gallon is a better home than the tank it was in. It acts like a typical puffer, I haven't fed it yet but im sure it will eat.

Could you diagnose the eye? I know its not fixable. I believe it can somewhat see through it a little bit still, because sometimes it has the ability to move before it hits something on the right side, but other times it hits glass. It can dodge the black overflow and rocks it seems. What happens to a fish eye when its totally not functional? Will it loose it?

If the other eye is clear, this is most likely a cataract from some previous injury. I've kept puffers fine with just one eye. The sunken belly is an issue though. While it could be from internal parasites, it is more probably due to not being fed enough over a long period. You'll want to target feed that to try and change the course of it becoming skinnier.

Here is an article I posted on fish eye health. I think there is an image of a french angel with an eye injury similar to your fish's:

https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-the-eyes-have-it-a-review-of-eye-health-in-aquarium-fishes/

 

[UNREEFER]

How long has he had this issue with his eye? If he had this for a long time, it would be permanent.



He will have issues with depth perception with the state of his eye so he might bump into stuff here and there. Also may have trouble knowing exactly where his food is and might miss trying when trying to bite. He still would be able to feed himself though.

He can live a long life but puffers do depend on both eyes a lot more than other fish. The bigger they get, the more need for it since their eyes are wide apart.


If he has been losing weight, it may be worth using deworming medicine to see if it helps. However there is always a chance it’s something internally wrong causing him to lose weight. Just know that most puffers when on deworming meds, it does suppress their appetite.


A little “pro tip” to get a puffer to eat or at least try to bite food (may spit it out still) is take food and bump it into mouth. I usually use bamboo tongs found in the reptile section. It’s a natural reflex. It works with about 80% of puffers in my experience.

Finally try to find out what the puffer was eating last successfully or try a bunch of different types of seafood. They can be extremely picky.

 

[Ks4726]

How long has he had this issue with his eye? If he had this for a long time, it would be permanent.



He will have issues with depth perception with the state of his eye so he might bump into stuff here and there. Also may have trouble knowing exactly where his food is and might miss trying when trying to bite. He still would be able to feed himself though.

He can live a long life but puffers do depend on both eyes a lot more than other fish. The bigger they get, the more need for it since their eyes are wide apart.


If he has been losing weight, it may be worth using deworming medicine to see if it helps. However there is always a chance it’s something internally wrong causing him to lose weight. Just know that most puffers when on deworming meds, it does suppress their appetite.


A little “pro tip” to get a puffer to eat or at least try to bite food (may spit it out still) is take food and bump it into mouth. I usually use bamboo tongs found in the reptile section. It’s a natural reflex. It works with about 80% of puffers in my experience.

Finally try to find out what the puffer was eating last successfully or try a bunch of different types of seafood. They can be extremely picky.

Like I said I just got the puffer it was at my lfs for quite a few months. I did notice its gotten skinnier over that time but I really didnt monitor if the eye has gotten worse over the time. If I have to target feed I will. Im just trying to help the fish out.

 

[Ks4726]

If the other eye is clear, this is most likely a cataract from some previous injury. I've kept puffers fine with just one eye. The sunken belly is an issue though. While it could be from internal parasites, it is more probably due to not being fed enough over a long period. You'll want to target feed that to try and change the course of it becoming skinnier.

Here is an article I posted on fish eye health. I think there is an image of a french angel with an eye injury similar to your fish's:

https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-the-eyes-have-it-a-review-of-eye-health-in-aquarium-fishes/

Thank you for the diagnosis. The other eye is clear. Like I said, its gotten skinnier through the months, i know I can give it the attention it needs better than the fish store can. They have so much going on. Ill read your article though. Thank you.

 

[Ks4726]

The other eye is totally fine.

 

[littlefoxx]

The other eye is totally fine.

How big is he??

 

[Ks4726]

How big is he??

8 inches id say. I went to get ghost shrimp for my stubborn radiata(which is another whole story) Got it for 74.99. They marked it to 99 bucks and they were having a whole store sale celebration and I got more off at the counter. One eye or not its a deal.

 

[littlefoxx]

8 inches id say. I went to get ghost shrimp for my stubborn radiata(which is another whole story) Got it for 74.99. They marked it to 99 bucks and they were having a whole store sale celebration and I got more off at the counter. One eye or not its a deal.

Yeah! They are super cute too! Radiata lions are soo cool, always wanted one but after finding out Im deathly allergic to their venom I cant have lions anymore my boyfriend wont ever let me get another lion either even if I promised to wear heavy duty gloves

Oh well no more predators except my morays for me anyway! Is this the same tank with your grouper??

 

[Ks4726]

Yeah! They are super cute too! Radiata lions are soo cool, always wanted one but after finding out Im deathly allergic to their venom I cant have lions anymore my boyfriend wont ever let me get another lion either even if I promised to wear heavy duty gloves

Oh well no more predators except my morays for me anyway! Is this the same tank with your grouper??

Yes it is. Queen, emperor, koran, 2 nigers, 1 bursa trigger, radiata, ost, clown tang, 2 cloudy damsels, miniatus, and a puffer in a 450. .I feel im overstocked due to future adult sizes. I cant say no to a fish in need though.

 

[Ks4726]

Yeah! They are super cute too! Radiata lions are soo cool, always wanted one but after finding out Im deathly allergic to their venom I cant have lions anymore my boyfriend wont ever let me get another lion either even if I promised to wear heavy duty gloves

Oh well no more predators except my morays for me anyway! Is this the same tank with your grouper??

Oh and I went to take a pic of my lion for you and my missing coris wrasse decided to pop up. Missing for the last two weeks, figures it was in the sand but I was starting to think it was a goner. Super happy on that.

 

[littlefoxx]

Oh and I went to take a pic of my lion for you and my missing coris wrasse decided to pop up. Missing for the last two weeks, figures it was in the sand but I was starting to think it was a goner. Super happy on that.

Ooo thats a beautiful lion!!! Which coris wrasse do you have??

 

[Ks4726]

Gaimard

 

[Dom]

@Jay Hemdal

This puffer has been at my lfs for almost a year. Through the months its lost weight and they marked the price down quite a bit to get rid of it. I took it home because im a sucker for disabled fish. I really didnt want a puffer to be honest but I feel I have the time to give it the attention it needs. My 450 gallon is a better home than the tank it was in. It acts like a typical puffer, I haven't fed it yet but im sure it will eat.

Could you diagnose the eye? I know its not fixable. I believe it can somewhat see through it a little bit still, because sometimes it has the ability to move before it hits something on the right side, but other times it hits glass. It can dodge the black overflow and rocks it seems. What happens to a fish eye when its totally not functional? Will it loose it?

Looks like a cataract.

 

[Ks4726]

And yeah, I put krill on a skewer in front of the puffers mouth and it inhaled it.

 

[littlefoxx]

Gaimard

Oh cool! Does it have the full male colors??