Dat with cloudy eyes???

[Auricom1]

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,

Please note, i know my setup is spot on for these guys, all water parameters are correct, lighting is subdued, etc. The tank was set up specifically for them after much research. Water changes are 50% once per week. Tank water is turned over 9 times per hour. Extra aeration via a pond pump which adds microbubbles to water. UV sterilizer. Diet is bloodworm, earthworm, occasional prawns and Hikari cichlid gold, when they will take them. All other tigers ar fine, but they are smaller.

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

Cheers,

Mike

 

[calioutlaw1a]

It is highly unlikely that these are eye flukes. Eye flukes have a very complex life cycle, requiring fish, fish-eating birds, and snails to complete their life cycle. The only way I can see this being a possibility is if you've recently introduced snails to your aquarium, directly or indirectly on plants, driftwood, decorations, etc. If this is somehow eye flukes, treatment is almost impossible, but the larvae will die eventually. Any damage that they may have done will be permanent.

Cloudy eyes have also been associated with vitamin A deficiency. If this were the issue, we would expect to see both eyes effected in multiple fish.

I did a quick search for the active ingredient in Interpret Anti Internal Bacteria, but couldn't find anything. This is important to know, because if this is a bacterial infection that was not responsive to this treatment, then a stronger bactericidal treatment should be used, such as KanaPlex (active ingredient Kanamycin).

How old is the Dat? This could potentially be an age-related cataracts, or cataracts caused by trauma or some other disease. Cataracts usually affects both eyes, with one eye clouding up before the other.

I'm sorry about your Dats! Hope all goes well, you are doing a great job.

 

[Auricom1]

Hiya,

thanks for your very informative reply. I don't think it is flukes to be hhonest, but i do have to consider all possibilities. The dats are no more than four years old i reckon. (I've had them for nearly 3 years). So they are only sub adult really. I have never heard of Kanaplex, is that a U.K. treatment? There seems to be very few people with dats in the U.K. and even fewer with Undecimradiatus, so there is nowhere i can go for advice. Apparently there may be a vets nearby that have some experience with fish, so this may be my next port of call. It's such a beautiful fish, it deserves every chance to be healthy.

Thanks for your advice,

Cheers,

Mike

 

[calioutlaw1a]

KanaPlex is made by SeaChem and is not available in the U.K. We have a lot of meds available in the U.S., but it looks like your best bet is to go to the Vet to get your Dat checked out.