Royal Gramma - one eye white inside (not outside)

Orlando_V · Dec 17, 2021

Hi all, My Royal Gramma was doing fine until a few weeks ago. I notice he started hiding a lot and only peaking out occasionally to eat. I noticed last week that one of his eyes
seems to have turned white inside. The cornea is clear and there are no signs of other disease. Other than that he seems somewhat normal except that he is hiding more lately. He used to be quite outgoing. I had a maroon clown in with him which I removed so as to eliminate any bullying. They seemed to get along fine but the clown was a bit of a bully and I heard stories of maroon clowns becoming even more aggressive as they age so I removed him since I want a peaceful tank if possible. That was a few weeks ago and the gramma does seem to be peaking out more frequently now but as mentioned...they EYE! Is there anything to be done? (The other eye is fine.)

vetteguy53081 · Dec 17, 2021

This is likely a damaged cornea. I had a fish which had this and no health effects
Your best chance of recovery IF possible will be use of Maracyn one which is ethromyacin in qt tank for 5-7 days

Jay Hemdal · Dec 17, 2021

Orlando_V said:
Hi all, My Royal Gramma was doing fine until a few weeks ago. I notice he started hiding a lot and only peaking out occasionally to eat. I noticed last week that one of his eyes
seems to have turned white inside. The cornea is clear and there are no signs of other disease. Other than that he seems somewhat normal except that he is hiding more lately. He used to be quite outgoing. I had a maroon clown in with him which I removed so as to eliminate any bullying. They seemed to get along fine but the clown was a bit of a bully and I heard stories of maroon clowns becoming even more aggressive as they age so I removed him since I want a peaceful tank if possible. That was a few weeks ago and the gramma does seem to be peaking out more frequently now but as mentioned...they EYE! Is there anything to be done? (The other eye is fine.)

I know getting good fish pics is tough, but I can't really make up anything other than the white color here. There are three possibilities: a simple eye injury, internal eye flukes or external Neobenedenia flukes. A fourth option, cataracts can be ruled out because the white seems off-center to the eye's lens.

Was this fish ever treated with praziquantel?
How long have you had this fish?

Jay

Orlando_V · Dec 17, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
I know getting good fish pics is tough, but I can't really make up anything other than the white color here. There are three possibilities: a simple eye injury, internal eye flukes or external Neobenedenia flukes. A fourth option, cataracts can be ruled out because the white seems off-center to the eye's lens.

Was this fish ever treated with praziquantel?
How long have you had this fish?

Jay

Hi Jay, I have the fish about 6 months. Never sick nor treated as long as I've owned it. I sort of sense that he and the maroon clown had a royal squabble. But it is a sickly sort of white that accompanies infection. It is totally internal though. The white is what can be seen inside the eye, not on the surface of the eye.

Orlando_V · Dec 17, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
This is likely a damaged cornea. I had a fish which had this and no health effects
Your best chance of recovery IF possible will be use of Maracyn one which is ethromyacin in qt tank for 5-7 days

Hi, that sounds reasonable. Do you think (as I do) that the eye is blind or do you sense he reacts to stimuli on that side?

Jay Hemdal · Dec 17, 2021

Orlando_V said:
Hi Jay, I have the fish about 6 months. Never sick nor treated as long as I've owned it. I sort of sense that he and the maroon clown had a royal squabble. But it is a sickly sort of white that accompanies infection. It is totally internal though. The white is what can be seen inside the eye, not on the surface of the eye.

I would just observe it for now then, could just be a minor injury.

Jay