Lap missing an eye

Nim Dibbley

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2010
725
34
61
CA
Im not sure what happened, but i noticed during a water change my lap is missing an eye. There are a total of 7 bichirs, a black ghost knife and a and tail giant gourami in the 240 gallon tank. anyone have this happen before? will he be ok? here is a pic
1609927_727235880700979_2925238110880471478_n.jpg

1609927_727235880700979_2925238110880471478_n.jpg
 

Askaleymanfish

Aimara
MFK Member
May 15, 2014
2,308
636
135
Danville Virginia
Im not sure what happened, but i noticed during a water change my lap is missing an eye. There are a total of 7 bichirs, a black ghost knife and a and tail giant gourami in the 240 gallon tank. anyone have this happen before? will he be ok? here is a pic
View attachment 1042881
Holy s*** dude .... That sucks ..... Um only thing I can say is I had a oscar awhile back with my lap ... I had to get rid of it because the oscar kept pickin at the lap ... I noticed that the oscar always went for my laps eyes ... It was doin some major damage around the eye... So maybe the gourami or knife ripped his eye out .... I'm sry for your lap tho that really does suck


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Nim Dibbley

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2010
725
34
61
CA
I have seen the gourami mess with all the bichirs. but usually just when they are swimming in the water column. that lap is one of the least active ones in the tank and i have never seen the gourami mess with that one at all. would another bichir do that? ive basically had the same fish in the same tank for the last couple of years. ive traded or sold some of the bichirs but the ghost knife and gourami have been there since the beginning. i have read about ghost knifes eating the eyes of other fish, but i didnt think that would include beady little bichir eyes.
 

rodger

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2008
3,343
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Kansas City
Polys aren't sight feeders so it won't affect it. I imagine the GG did it. Absolutely not the knife. Polys aren't prone to fighting so doubtful one of them.

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Nim Dibbley

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2010
725
34
61
CA
Polys aren't sight feeders so it won't affect it. I imagine the GG did it. Absolutely not the knife. Polys aren't prone to fighting so doubtful one of them.

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how are you so certain it wasn't the knife?
 

Aw3s0m3

Piranha
MFK Member
May 6, 2012
3,188
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81
Over there
I think it may be the gourami as well. Is the lap active at night? Both of mine are so I'm guessing that the gourami just nipped him and took the eye at night. It sucks but I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure to keep the water clean and add salt so that it doesn't get infected. Maybe do something about the gourami since it's pickin on everyone


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rodger

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2008
3,343
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Kansas City
how are you so certain it wasn't the knife?
I have never known even the largest BGK to eat anything larger than a baby guppy.

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Burbotman

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2006
2,136
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Canada
Bichir will be fine, have seen healthy bichirs missing both eyes. Too bad it happened. I would recommend feeding at lights out to ensure Bichir is not out competed on food
 

JamesF

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 29, 2005
1,862
4
36
48
Thunder Bay
One of my laps has been with one eye for the last 7 years or so. It was definitely another bichir that did it, as that was the only tankmates. Most likely had her head grabbed while going for food.
I wouldn't rule out a BGK. They are nasty buggers that will eat anything that can fit in their mouth. When mine was only about 7" long he would eat full grown guppies eagerly and generally harassed the bichirs non stop.
 
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