Blind Cave Fish

[Ludwig Venter]

At feeding time, they are the first to "notice" that there is food in the tank and they go frantic. Have a close look at 'em..... There seems to be a pinhole eye there, so maybe they've just got tunnel vision and are not completely blind?? They are also vicious fin nippers in my experience. Not a very desirable fish to keep.

 

[Butch]

And your point is?

I think the blind cave tetra is very desirable fish in aquarium trade, as long as you have suitable tankmates for them or keeping them in species tank.

 

[FeroX]

Omg...sit down and think about it for 2 seconds. What would be the point of eyesight with a fish that lives in darkened caves? Do you know why our pupils expand and contract? To allow light in or to block out light. So if a fish had a pinpoint eye it would serve him no purpose as very very very little light could get through. So no, they have no eyes, they have heightened other senses, such as smell, which is why they get to the food the fastest, not because they have some microscopic eye.

I'd love to set up a 10g darkened cave biotype for some blind cave fish, and have plans to do so.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

They are certainly blind.

They navigate via smell and their lateral line, which is an organ used to detect movement and vibration in the water.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I think I read somewhere that when they are born, they have eyes and can see, but as they grow their skin grows over their eyes and they become blind. That's obviously because they don't need them in the pitch black water.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

The reason they seem like fin nippers is because they will nibble at anything they run into, not just fins.