I am such a softie! Advice needed :)

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Dispatch273

Dispatch273

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 22, 2011
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A few weeks ago my LFS got in a bunch of 3" cubans. There was one that got beaten up pretty badly and had both of his eyes removed by the other fish. Every time I go in there I expect to not see him swimming around, yet he's always there right in front, begging for me to take him home. I always leave without him and feel terrible about it afterwards. Well today he got the best of me and I brought him home:screwy: They gave him to me for free since he has no eyes. Has anyone ever had an eyeless fish live to adulthood before? I'm pretty sure I'll have to hand feed him since he can't see his food. I have him in a 40 gallon breeder by himself right now. Anyone have any suggestions for me? Is it even worth trying to save him or should I just put him to sleep? He doesn't seem to be in any pain and there are no open wounds in his eye sockets. He's very skinny and has a pretty sunken in stomach. Should I treat him for parasites or just wait and see if I can get some weight on him? I'll get some pictures of him later for you guys to see. He's a pretty sad sight :(
 
We had a blind oscar for awhile at my work in our sick tank. He barely ate because he couldn't tell the food was in the tank until it had sunk to the bottom. Eventually he starved to death. I'd highly advise you keep it alone so it has no competition for food. Even that might not be enough.
 
Here is a picture of the poor guy. Sorry for the dirty glass lol

noeyecuban12212004.jpg
 
Poor thing, if he can't see food or eat wouldn't you think it be better to humanly euthanize him?
 
I had a blind fish for a while until i had to leave for college and handed him to someone else to care for him. He lived for 5 years with hand feedings
 
I currently have 5 blind fish right now. best thing to do is make the food is to move the food around nearby his mouth and/or use live so that there is odour to the food so that he feels the vibrations.

blind fish are unique in their own way good luck
 
An idea would be to train him to know when you are ready to feed. Maybe splash your hand in the water just a little to alert him that you are there with food. After a while, maybe he will pick up that the splashing means that dinner is being served.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to give him a few weeks to see if I can work something out for him. I was able to hand feed him some frozen blood worms to him. I did leave a few on the bottom of the tank right in front of him. When I looked a little while later they were gone. He seems to be exploring the tank and looking for food along the bottom. He always seems to be along the bottom of the tank, probably as a security thing I guess. He doesn't seem to be lethargic, just careful with his swimming. I'd say if in 4 weeks he hasn't gained any weight I do think I'll humanely euthanize him. At least I'd have given him a better chance than he had at the LFS. I have a thing for rescuing animals and I'm already attached to this little guy lol.
 
wantokeeptrout said:
I currently have 5 blind fish right now. best thing to do is make the food is to move the food around nearby his mouth and/or use live so that there is odour to the food so that he feels the vibrations.

blind fish are unique in their own way good luck
Click to expand...

something youre not telling us about your fish keeping methods :P ?
I´m just kidding, i´ve had fish that were missing an eye before and they live perfectly normal lives, but ive only had a fully blind fish once and sadly he didnt last too long, just refused to eat even when I put it near his face.

out of interest how long would you say the fish was alive in the LFS before you brought it home? cause if its survived in an LFS blind im sure it can do it in a tank on its own.
 
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