Sudden blindness in Fire eels

[HumanBean]

Hello Everyone,

Wanted to ask if anyone knows why this happens in fire eels ?
Is this due to some genetic condition or some external factor ?

I raised a baby fire eel from hardly four inches to over two feet in 4 years . 3 days ago it had white spot in the eyes and I am pretty sure it's blind. ( Not responding to light and movement).
In terms of water parameters of the that eel is in ,. All the params are 0. I use proper testing kit not the strips to check the water quality.

90% water change weekly.

Any thoughts anyone ?

 

[Deadeye]

Do you have pics?
Did the eyes go completely white/cloudy or by white spot do you mean ich?
I know eye flukes can cause blindness (though that’s usually a saltwater thing), and I’m pretty sure bacterial infections can too.

 

[HumanBean]

Do you have pics?
Did the eyes go completely white/cloudy or by white spot do you mean ich?
I know eye flukes can cause blindness (though that’s usually a saltwater thing), and I’m pretty sure bacterial infections can too.

Eyes ar e totally white. No ICH.

I don't have pics at the moment but I can share later

 

[Deadeye]

Bulging at all or just white?
Sounds like a potential bacterial infection.
kno4te

 

[HumanBean]

Bulging at all or just white?
Sounds like a potential bacterial infection.
kno4te

Hmm. I mean if there is a remedy let me know I can try?

 

[HumanBean]

No difference in eye size and no bulge

 

[Deadeye]

If bacterial, kanaplex or Maracyn 2 might help. I’d wait for what the pros say though.

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

Hello Everyone,

Wanted to ask if anyone knows why this happens in fire eels ?
Is this due to some genetic condition or some external factor ?

I raised a baby fire eel from hardly four inches to over two feet in 4 years . 3 days ago it had white spot in the eyes and I am pretty sure it's blind. ( Not responding to light and movement).
In terms of water parameters of the that eel is in ,. All the params are 0. I use proper testing kit not the strips to check the water quality.

90% water change weekly.

Any thoughts anyone ?

Agree with Deadeye- most likely a bacterial infection, although I haven´t heard of it acting that fast or becoming so severe. Also want to comment that 90% is a massive amount of water being moved- granted, extra water changes certainly don´t do anything bad, but may upset/imbalance your biological filtration system somewhat, although in this scenario, with the fish being potentially ill, extra water changes would be vastly helpful with clearing up any illnesses. I usually use Kanaplex and small doses of aquarium salt for bacterial infections, although I´ve seldom had to deal with them and regret to say that I do not have a list of any other Fire Eel-safe medications. The problem with fire eels and other spiny eels is that they´re quite sensitive to meds, being scaleless fish, and copper-based medications and chemicals like formeldehyde aren´t tolerated as well; this may be slightly problematic. I´ve only treated Yellowtail spiny eels and a few Half-bandeds before, and they would become increasingly stressed out at levels of medication that were tolerated well by other scaled fish. I hope this helps in some way. Sorry I couldn´t provide any more information.

 

[HumanBean]

Wondering if I can put it in melafix mixture which will be in a bucket. Don't want to add the medicine in aquarium ?

 

[Deadeye]

Melafix isn’t really that effective, so I doubt it would even do much.