Help/advice On Eye Problem

[Winterlily]

This not even about one of my own (yet). I saw this beautiful male betta in a LFS 2 weeks ago. One eye just fine and perfect, one eye completely clouded over/opaque/whatever. Very hard to describe, but looked like he sort of had a rounded piece of something (same color as him - sort of a cream) over the entire eye. I told the people there about it - I figured, not knowing any better myself, that it was something like Cloudy Eye, bacterial, and needed meds.

We went back today for some miscellaneous supplies. I expected to find him either sold, or completely better. Nope. He was still there - eye still exactly the same. I went to the owner and asked what the story was - wasn't it something that was responding to meds? He sort of flippantly said "He might have been born like that, or even the eye got damaged in shipping." That was that. If I'd thought about it, I should have taken a pic with my cell phone camera so I could post it here, but I didn't think of it. I may go back tomorrow for that very purpose though if you think you need it.

Anyhow. I can be a bit of a bleeding heart and now I'm worried about this little guy. If it is something non-illness, no one is gonna buy him. If he IS ill, no one is gonna buy him and he needs to be medicated, the poor thing. I'm feeling some big need to rescue him, basically. But. I have NO interested in bringing in something super contagious and putting my other guys at risk. I mean, separate tanks and all that, yes, but one splash of water....... You know?

Can you tell, in any way, from my description, what it sounds like? What would it look like if indeed it WAS an old injury or something he was born with? If it IS an illness, wouldn't you expect the other eye to be involved too, after this much time?

Oh, I should add in case it matters, that the rest of him - body and fins - looks good I think. He does not flare, though. I watched him with his neighbor who was flaring at him and he did not flare even a tiny bit. Even when he definitely (I think) saw him. Tough to miss, they were directly next to each other.

What should I do here? What's it sound like to you guys? Do I need to go back tomorrow and take his pic for you?

 

[BettaChick14]

If you feel a need to rescue him. Why not? As long as you have a big enough tank and supplies. It's up to you.
As for the eye problem I don't know. A picture would be nice. But don't go out of your way just for a picture. If you decide to get this betta then get a picture.

 

[Winterlily]

Well... while I feel a need to rescue the poor thing, since I don't know what I'm dealing with at all I'm also concerned about putting my other, healthy, guys at risk. (Like I said, if it's something super contagious, just one splash of water could transfer it...) That's not fair to them, then, you know? Was hoping to get some input as to what it might be - but I was afraid that would be tough without a picture. May go back first thing in the morning and get one for you guys.

 

[BettaChick14]

Yes it would be good to get the diagnosis before you buy it. But what if you put it in it's own tank? You said you don't want to contaminate the other bettas. But your not sopposed to put male bettas with any other bettas.

 

[Winterlily]

He would be in his own tank of course, but it would be right next to the others. Probably overly paranoid, but like I said, something super contagious could be spread, I'd assume, with just a splash of water from his tank into the one right next to it. Or my stupidly forgetting not to do something like share the test tubes or something, you know? Unlikely, yeah I know, but if the folks here feel it might well be something very contagious, I'm not sure the risk is fair to my guys already here and healthy, you know? If it's likely not contagious or at least not VERY contagious, then I'd probably do it.

Anyone have any thoughts on what it might be, or shall I just go ahead and try to get a pic tomorrow?

 

[BettaChick14]

Hi!
I have to say yes, you are being very paranoid.(LOL) Not a bad thing because you care a lot for your fish but I really think that will not happen. Anyway: I did a little research for you and:

If the fish's eye (around the iris) is cloudly (not the iris but around it) then it could be Gram Negative bacterial infection.
you can treat it with: Amoxicillin -or- Gentamycin.

If the entire eye is cloudy then it could be a parasite, i.e., flukes. Check the tank for parasites. If found, treat the entire tank with De-Los.

Here is the link to some information I found:
http/www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/eyes.html

 

[Winterlily]

Nope - it's the entire eye, but it's not just like a film sort of like cataracts look or something, it's like a thickening.

I think I'm going to have get a picture. <lol> (And thanks for the research and the link!)

 

[BettaChick14]

Your welcome!
I don't know if eye problems are that serious. I have heard stories of people keeping perfectly healthy fish that only had one eye.

 

[Winterlily]

Okay guys - I added a slew of photos of this little guy to my post in the Emergency section. Please do have a look there (here's the link) - I didn't want to post all the pics twice - and let me know if you can identify what might be going on with this guy so I know if I ought to get involved here or not.... Thanks!

 

[Winterlily]

Just giving this a *bump* up. In my post just before this, there's a link to the ER section post in which I posted pics of this poor guy's eye (and mouth, and head, and fins, and and and and...)

 

[lilacamy931]

Im not sure on diagnosis but Wilder is pretty good on his stuff, as long as separate tank, always get separate siphon to ensure not cross contamination equipment, always wash hands inbetween tanks something antibacterial and that should keep everything away from your tank. Think it was suggested elsewhere somewhere with things like this always boil the equipment after or poor a kettle of hot water over the equipment to kill the nasties.

Have you gone for him or still considering?

 

[Winterlily]

Still debating ... but am about 90% decided to rescue the poor thing. He'll die there for sure as they aren't treating at all. Figure I'll keep him in a separate room altogether, do maintenance at an entirely different time and with completely different equipment. Not positive yet, really, but close. What would you do, do you think?

 

[lilacamy931]

If I had the room to house I probably would..I have recently decided to try not to support the bad stores in my area as much (though limited) especially when it comes to poor beaten up fish, but this case is different as it could be a genetic problem, it could be something unique to him, either way he does need help and the store is not likely to treat him for his specific needs as that means they spent money on a fish, so I really think I would as long as a tank separate.

As long as you have separate equipment and carefill on cleaning you really should be fine. But the above would certainly hope to ensure nothing cross contaminates and bet would make you feel better too!

 

[betta fish]

Go get him he's lovely, the only thing that looks worrying to me is his left eye, it is far too swollen, everything else looks fine, doubt they are keeping him in very clean water judging by the pics, plenty of tlc and clean water and he should recover, best of luck with the little guy!

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks so much - I think I shall. Just cannot bear to think of him suffering there, ill, like that. I will let you all know!