Bala Shark

[ycycle]

I have just noticed that both my Bala Sharks have blood red eyes. Is this normal or is this a disease.

They appear well otherwise and no other fish appear to have these symptoms.

I'm wondering if the Lemon Barb is beating them up.

The water parameters are fine.

PH 7, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitirites and Nitrates at 40.

Any ideas please.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Have you checked your ammonia? Also, how big is the tank, how long has it been set up for, and what other fish are also in this tank?

 

[WILDER]

Are the eye's also bulging out.

 

[WILDER]

Is the blood behind the eyes, not bleeding in front of the eyes.

 

[ycycle]

Hi Thanks

All the Water parameters are good. The tank was set up in January 2005 and has been stable since February/March 2005.

Ammonia is still at 0, Nitrite 0, PH 7, Nitrate 40

The tank is 5ft x2ftx2ft approx 125 gal.

I'm using a Eheim 2217 and 2250.

Neither of the Bala's eyes are bulging and it doesn't look like Pop-Eye. There are no missing scales and there is no bodily damage.

They share the tank with a small MBU Puffer, 2 Silver Dollar, 3 Plecs, 1 Lemon Barb, 1 Albino Loach, 6 Peppered Cory's, 6 Black Widow Tetra, 6 Mixed Tetra and about 20 Young Sailfin Mollies.

Apart from the Lemon Barb all the others are very friendly, although the Barb thinks its a Silver Dollar. It tries to beat up the MBU but always loses. The Bala's are showing no other signs of distress. They are not swimming oddly or displaying any signs of rapid breathing.

The only sign of illness is the blood red eyes.

 

[ycycle]

The Eyes are red right out to the edges. You can see the black part of the eyes and the outer membrane covering the eye. The area around the outer edge of the eye is also red.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest neverheard of it, was'nt saying it was popeye you can get others things with bulging eyes, so it dosn't look like bleeding behind the eyes, no swelling on any other part of the fish, so let get this straight the eyes are blood red, but they don't look like they are bleeding is that what you mean,

 

[ycycle]

To be honest it looks like the fish has bloodshot eyes. Like people get. There are some rocks in the tank which it could have injured itself on but there are no other signs. I'm totally lost. One of the Bala's has a slight pink tinge to his eyes but the other looks like dracula after a night on the town.

 

[WILDER]

If the other one is getting a pink eye sounds like it could be an infection.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I have never heard of this either. I typed {fish "red eyes"} into google, but that didn't come up with anything other than red eyed tetras.

I would be cautious about the pufer, as they are bad comunity fish since they are so agressive.

 

[ycycle]

Any idea about a possible treatment. We have Melafix, Myxazin, and several other.

What would you suggest???

 

[tttnjfttt]

In general it is best to not medicate unless you know what you are medicating. If you have a big enough hospital tank, you can isolate them and add salt and melafix, since both are more general tonics than specific meds.

I'm hesitant to jump to bacterial infection, because I think it might be something irritating their eyes. I don't think it is agression because it is in both eyes of two different fish.

Have you changed anything recently? The water conditioner, the food you feed, introduced any new tankmates, etc? Also, call your water company, and ask if they have changed anything recently, as that might be irritating them as well.

 

[ycycle]

Thanks

I do have a hospital tank and if it is aggression I do have another tank aswell with just corys, Neons and Molly Fry in so they could be moved if necessary.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Also, please do call the water company, just to rule out any changes in the water as an irritant.

 

[ycycle]

Will do. Thanks