Dat undecimradiatus with cloudy eyes

Hi all,

I desperately need some advice about eye problems with dats. My largest dat (9 inches) started to develop a cloudy eye, which is only affecting the pupil, not the whole eye. The cloudiness is not affecting the outer lens, but the inner one. It looks almost as though it has developed a cloudy cataract. It can't really see out of this eye any more, but it does seem to be able to sense shapes and shadows. Research revealed that it could either be a gram negative bacterial infection, or eye flukes. I know water quality can be implicated, but my water is always pristine, so i know that's not it. Fish medications are very limited in the U.K. I have tried interpet's Anti Internal Bacteria, Slime and Velvet treatment, and Acriflavin, over the past few months, and it has made no difference. i have also applied Mixacxyn directly to each eye, which also hasn't helped. Now it's other eye is starting to to go cloudy the same way, starting at the top. But, this time there is a 1mm bright white object at the edge of the iris, but under the outer lens. Is this eye flukes? I am now concerned because i don't want fishy to go blind. Does anyone know what this may be and how to treat it with meds available in the U.K.? I have been looking into antibiotics, but apparently they should always be a last resort, so i thought i would try a post on here first. It would also appear that all of my dats have dat disease, so i don't know whether this could be the reason. However, currently it is very stable and looking the best it has in two years. Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated,

I will see if i can get any photos to post up

Cheers,

Mike

Hi Ade,

you have come to my rescue again!!! Cheers! it is really appreciated. Your prognosis is as expected. I wasn't holding out much hope either. i will P.M. zoodiver today. i think a trip to the vets is in order!!!! If i can find one that will treat fish!!!! I would hate for it to go blind, i love it to bits! I have put a lot of time and effort into all of my tigers. YOur right about one thing... how the hell do you treat something which is between the outer and inner lenses??!!!

Thanks for your useful comments,

Cheers,

Mike

Hi Ade,

good to hear from you again. Okay i can now tell you the following;

i have stopped using RO. I am now using my RO unit as a HMA filter, so no more salt! i am defo happier with this, as there is no buffering ,no waste water, and no marine salt in tank. So thanks for that advice. I did this the same night T1 suggested it - no mucking about!!! lol!!!

I also sent piccies to the icthyologist who is P.M.ing dead dat. He is an absolutely amazing guy when it comes to fishies, and he has stated the following.

Use of RO/salt wouldn't do this because a) salt does was too low. b) All of the datnoid genus can cope with brackish conditions, at least for a short while, (I was using hardly any salt) c) Lack of fresh water minerals wouldn't do this over such a short period of time, especially as i am feeding a good diet, which will likely have most of what they need anyway.

In short, None of my other NNT's have this, so water quality hasn't caused this. He has stated the following;

Hi Mike

There are three causes of cloudy eye; bacterial - though that would
effect the other fish. Eye flukes, or nutrition (such as vitamin
deficiencies). You cannot really tell which unless by a process of
elimination. If it's the same systemic bacterial infection that has
killed your other fish then it will be throughout the fish and an
external application of antibiotic won't help. You may wish to ask a
local vet for some broad spectrum antibiotic (such as baytril) and lace
the food with it.
If its flukes then there is nothing that can be done. The flukes reside
inside the lens - away from any blood supply (thereby avoiding the
immune system) and away from any medication route. In any case very few
people want to treat them. All eye flukes have a complex life cycle and
fish are only one host in it - the flukes need another host (bird) to
complete their life cycle. So it cannot pass onto any of your other
fish. And this fish must have been exposed to the infectious stages in
the wild - there was nothing you could have done.
It could be nutritional but then I'd expect more fish to develop the
problem - unless it's a nutrient they particularly need as they mature.
Best route is the antibiotic one.

So it's a difficult one i'm afraid. I going to take his advice and get a broad spectrum antibiotic in the water or food. I'll let you know how that goes.

With regards to the Dat disease, early indications are that whatever attacks dats severely damages the gill tissues - essentially turning them to pink 'mush'. However, he found NO evidence of bacteria or fungus. He is currently trying to obtain specialist dyes for further analysis. I will keep you all posted on this one. I am hoping he can identify the pathogen, and hopefully suggest a course of treatment, but there are apparently a few funguses and bacteriums that cannot be treated - so lets hope for the best!!!

I just want to say a big thanks to you and T1 for all of the really helpful advice. I can't thank you enough!! I absolutely adore tiger fish, and i want to give them the best i can!!

Cheers,

Mike

bump