White eyes

[Nick660]

Hi, I'm posting here rather than in diseases section because I'd like input from some pleco experts please.

Here's a pic of my bristlenose. His eyes have gradually become more and more opaque over the last 6 months, to the point where they are now completely white! The fish still seems to behave normally with no other signs of disease. I've had him 4 years and he was fully grown when I got him.

Anyone seen this before?
I'm wondering if it's something that happens to some plec's with age?

Cheers.

 

[jconley]

Check your pH, probably consistently on the low side. The eyes always go white on the pleco as a first indicator of acid pH. Of course your pH could have been low once, 6 months ago, and he got a secondary infection after the initial burn. Or it could be a simple infection. A whole lot of maybes...lol. Check your pH and get some Melafix or Maracyn Plus.

 

[Nick660]

Hmmm, I must admit that I've had problems in the past with low pH

Strangely though, this has only noticeably developed since I changed the fish stock in that tank and have had my pH stable at 7.8 ever since.
I've got some fronts in there so I've been adding a small amount of Epsom Salts - maybe that might have something to do with it?

 

[davo]

small amount of epsom salt shouldn't do anything. Eye infection of some sort, could be a fungus or a bacterial infection. http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/eyes.html

 

[Nick660]

Thanks for the info/input. The eyes seem to have become progressively cloudy from the inside out - from blue initially to white.

I'll treat for bacterial infection and see what happens.