Eye problem

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seanh

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Feb 27, 2013
51
28
51
London
Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
20
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
41-50%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Does anyone know what this that is starting to cover my Channa aurantimaculata's eyes? It's started in one eye and then moved to the second eye and has gradually got worse.

I have increased the water changes to weekly (was doing every 2/3 weeks previously) with hope that cleaner water will help improve the condition but no luck yet. There is mixed info on the intenet on how frequently (and how much) to do water changes with SH's but I can't help but feel this has caused (or at least contributed to the issue).

Approx 700ltr tank, no tank mates. Diet primarily consists of prawns, massivore and worms.

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Doesn’t look like cloudy eye, maybe cataracts?

I did think that. I have dealt with cloudy eye in cichlids I had in the past and with some good water maintenance it soon cleared up. This is definitely not that and does look like it could be cataracts which is something I haven't had to deal with previously.

It would be good to get other opinions in case it isn't that though.
 
Cataracts are possible - I’m not sure how common they are in snakeheads though.
Dirty water could play into the issue, even if not the cause. Snakes are known to tolerate high nitrate, but I would still wager that keeping it undetectable would yield a far healthier fish in the long run.
On the chance that it’s bacterial, you can try a broad spectrum antibiotic like kanaplex.
 
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