Think My Balloon Molly's Become Blind In One Eye...

[wendyngd]

Hi-

What started out looking like a cataract 2 weeks ago, is now looking like the eye is swollen and covered by a white/gray shell (now attached to eye, I believe). Tried treating it for fungus, but no response yet. Unfortunately, I was away for a week or so and couldn't administer daily meds (nor cancel trip)

Other than that, her health, appetite (she's a little shiney white vacuum!), and attitude --quite lively--does seem fine. I'm only a little concerned because I really don't think she can see out of her left eye and sometimes is jarred off her path by one of my male molllies chasing the female..Any suggestions? I've read that fish can live one-eyed or even blind with good lives! Thankfully, she seems okay otherwise!

Thanks. Wendy

 

[WILDER]

Right size of tank in gallons or litres, how many fish and which type.
And water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Cloudy eye is not a desease it itself its a symtom of a desease need to check water quality first.

http/www.webguru.com/wiki/Fish_Eye_Diseases

 

[wendyngd]

Right size of tank in gallons or litres, how many fish and which type.
And water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Cloudy eye is not a desease it itself its a symtom of a desease need to check water quality first.

http/www.webguru.com/wiki/Fish_Eye_Diseases

Hi-

Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated!! I HEAR YOU'RE OUR RESIDENT DISEASE EXPERT! (Lucky forumers) Happily, Awoke today to find my sweet balloon molly's eye doing much better!! Looks like the fungus or outer shell has dropped off. Not sure if she has any sight on that side. Used Aquarisol (-filter) and raised temp to 85 degrees like it said on the bottle for the last 2 days!! I didn't wwant to do any medicating before we went away because it would have been a one-shot deal and all the meds we had required daily dosing for 5 days.

Have 10 gallon tank with 2 adult female mollies--1 dalmation and one balloon, and then five more growing molly fry who are about 3 mos. old--ranging from tiny-tiny, to medium size.

I'm sure you're right about the water. Our water quality was not doing well just before we did a 98 percent change 3 weeks ago, before we left town for a conference--when the stats were just fine!! Although, using those test sticks, I can never seem to get the ph above 6.5 . It's always stable--just can't gt it higher--even with ph+. Have to have my husband break-out the testing kit with the test tubes to make sure I've been getting accurate readings.

We actually thought her eye might have gotten bruised on the fish net when we were cleaning the tank a few weeks ago. The white shell didn't show up till the next day or two. (But as you said, the fungus could easily have been started by the less than favorable conditions of the water before we changed it--even though we do monitor very closely and try to adjust chemistry accordingly.)

I don't use anything that directly measures ammonia content. I thought that I could detect it from the nitrates, especially, and the nitrites....

THANKS FOR THAT LINK TO FISH DISEASES! I had checked out anything I could find in a search for eye diseases on the forum and on Google.

With good fishy wishes,


Wendy

 

[WILDER]

I going to get you a brackish link by mmonks that your problem.
Plus livebearers need a ph region of 7.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=137887

 

[wendyngd]

I going to get you a brackish link by mmonks that your problem.
Plus livebearers need a ph region of 7.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=137887

Hi-

Thanks for the link! I did forget to mention that I had added aquarium salt a week or so ago--and when I did a 25 percent water change yesterday, I added some more.

Other than ph Up, I need some good suggestions about how to get my ph up. I'll have to do a search. Thanks again.

Warmly & Fishily,

Wendy

 

[WILDER]

http/www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

 

[wendyngd]

http/www.drhelm.com/aquarium/chemistry.html

Hi- Thanks for the link. Looks really good. I had a rough day. I woke up to feed the 5 3 mo. old molly fry and the 2 adults- 1 dalmation female and my shiny white balloon molly with the "bad eye." And the balloon molly (the little vacuum, I've called her) was nowhere to be seen!!With the short time I had before I had to leave for work, I took a small fishnet and tried to find her. FOund lots of white rocks, but no molly!! I am truly heartbroken, 'cause she had such a cute little personality and grew on me even more recently as I tried to treat her sick eye. I imagine (ickkk) that she died during the night and became "breakfast" for the other fish. No trace of her at all. (Hopefully, she's in fishy heaven)! She was isolating a little yesterday....

I think I ought to get a cat--or some other pet that has a longr lifespan than these lovely fish. It's very hard for me to keep losing a fish every few months. Sometimes I find it overwhelming just to read how many topics on these forums contain phrases like: "My poor betta died today., etc."

I know there's an art to keeping tropical fish and I'm still learning. I actually have stopped naming the fish because I thought it might help me become less attached to them. But, it doesn't and they charm me every time!

Thanks for all the support and advice.

Love, Wendy

 

[WILDER]

Sorry bless her R.I.P.
Been where you have kept losing fish, there no go in livebearers anymore.
Usually there not in good shape when you are buying them.
I would try and find a breeder, or get some hardy tetras
Don't give up its mainly down to bad lfs.