Experiencing cloudy vision for three months.
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SeaBreeze8 - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:53 am
Experiencing cloudy vision for three months.
Hi, I'm hoping for some advice on my blue electric acara. I've had a tough time with fish keeping, and I'm worried about my blue guy. I used to keep him with my 2 convicts, but they were bullying him, not letting him eat. He got really skinny and developed a cloudy eye - I'm talking pretty bad. I thought it was a bacterial infection, so I treated the tank twice with different meds. I kept him in a mesh breeder to recover, but it didn't help. Then I tried salt baths and longer recovery times in the breeder, feeding him separately. Still didn't work. Now he's in a 5-gallon tank, and he's eating fine, but his eye's still cloudy. He acts blind - can't see food, has to guess. It's been 3 months, and I'm worried it's permanent. Please help me out. I know I don't have all the knowledge or money, but I've done my best for my 3 fish. I'd really appreciate any advice.
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coltin - Posts: 1040
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:07 pm
Re: Experiencing cloudy vision for three months.
I'd be happy to help you help my poor blue acara. To start, I can try to take some pictures and videos of him, but I gotta figure out how to get them on YouTube first, lol. I'll make sure to hold my phone sideways so it doesn't look all weird.
As for the tank, it's a 5-gallon, and I'm not really sure the exact dimensions, but I can try to measure it if you need me to. It's been set up for a pretty long time, I think over a year now.
I do have a test kit, but I'm not really sure how to read it, so bear with me. The ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, nitrate is around 10, and pH is 7.6. I have a hang-on-back filter, and I clean it every 2 weeks or so. I just take it apart and rinse it in some old tank water.
I try to do water changes every week, around 25-30% each time. I do gravel clean the substrate, but I'm not really sure if I'm doing it right. And yeah, I do dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank. I use those little tablets you can buy at the pet store.
As for food, I just feed them whatever flakes or pellets I can afford, usually once or twice a day. I know it's not the best, but like I said, I'm doing the best I can with what I have.
As for the tank, it's a 5-gallon, and I'm not really sure the exact dimensions, but I can try to measure it if you need me to. It's been set up for a pretty long time, I think over a year now.
I do have a test kit, but I'm not really sure how to read it, so bear with me. The ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, nitrate is around 10, and pH is 7.6. I have a hang-on-back filter, and I clean it every 2 weeks or so. I just take it apart and rinse it in some old tank water.
I try to do water changes every week, around 25-30% each time. I do gravel clean the substrate, but I'm not really sure if I'm doing it right. And yeah, I do dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank. I use those little tablets you can buy at the pet store.
As for food, I just feed them whatever flakes or pellets I can afford, usually once or twice a day. I know it's not the best, but like I said, I'm doing the best I can with what I have.
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graye - Posts: 398
- Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:05 pm
Re: Experiencing cloudy vision for three months.
The eyeball itself may be damaged, I've seen that a few times before. The fish can live with it, though it's not ideal.
However, I have to say, keeping a fish in a 5-gallon tank when you're on a tight budget is a challenge. Ideally, it needs a much larger tank - at least 20 gallons would be more suitable for your acara.
One option could be to keep an eye out for free or cheap tanks in your community, like those given away on community billboards or even ones people throw away on garbage day. I used to run an aquariums-in-schools program and we'd often find tanks that were still in good condition, just needing a bit of TLC.
Another possibility is to see if a local pet store would be willing to take your convicts in exchange for a larger tank for your acara. It doesn't need tankmates, as you've already seen, but stores usually aren't interested in taking in injured fish.
However, I have to say, keeping a fish in a 5-gallon tank when you're on a tight budget is a challenge. Ideally, it needs a much larger tank - at least 20 gallons would be more suitable for your acara.
One option could be to keep an eye out for free or cheap tanks in your community, like those given away on community billboards or even ones people throw away on garbage day. I used to run an aquariums-in-schools program and we'd often find tanks that were still in good condition, just needing a bit of TLC.
Another possibility is to see if a local pet store would be willing to take your convicts in exchange for a larger tank for your acara. It doesn't need tankmates, as you've already seen, but stores usually aren't interested in taking in injured fish.
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SeaBreeze8 - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:53 am
Re: Experiencing cloudy vision for three months.
I understand why you'd want all the tank details, but honestly, I'm just looking for your best guess on my blue acara's eye. I do take care of my convict tank, with weekly 50% water changes and gravel vacuuming - it's well established. As for the 5-gallon tank, I do daily spot cleaning and 25% weekly water changes. I know, I know, it's not ideal, but I'm just proud I got him out of that mesh breeder thing. Now, about his eye - is it permanently damaged or am I missing something? Should I try more meds or salt baths? It's been months, so I'm assuming it's just not getting better. He's basically blind now.