Think that something is wrong

[ncompany]

One of my damsels eyes looks redish orange and it looks like it is sticking out from him. I had just noticied this tonight has anyone heard or seen anyhting like this? Should I TRY to catch him and put him qt?

[Charlesr1958]

A session within a QT and some antibiotics would be advisable. Also, could you provide the details of your system? Age, filtration, stocking and so on. I ask because such problems with fish usualy stem from an overload of organics allowing bacteria to run amuck and start attacking your fish.

Fish Disease Pictorial Guide (http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/disease.html)

Chuck

[ncompany]

Tank is around four months old around 45 pounds of LR and a fluval 305 I have a four stripe damsel (one w/ problem) orange tail damsel, coral beauty, singapore angel, 10 red and blue leg crabs, 3 turbo grazers, 3 nassarius snails, 1 sand siffter starfish. The four sripe has been in the tank since the very early stages, he was given to me during the cycle. Never thought that he would make it this far. Water checks out fine.

[AshtonMitchell]

Youll never catch him bwhahahaha.

[vorlx]

I have a humbug damsel (which I think is what your talking about) and he was near impossible to catch in my 12g. Mind you this was with near nothing in the tank. I couldn't even imagine trying to catch him in my 75g with hiding places. However, he is a awnery little bugger and will dart at my hand, net, algae scraper, etc. He might be able to be tricked whe he attacks the net. hahaha

Anyway, good luck with your adventure.

[ncompany]

Is there any idea what could be wrong with his eye so if I ever catch him, I have an idea of what to treat? It is starting to look a lttle better.

[Reefscape]

Sounds like a little pop-eye ish to me...id there any change you can get a picture to confirm this...We have to be aware that we need to know what it is before we can offer what anti-biotics to recomend..

This link may help you to diagnose yourself....

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/eyes.html

Hope it helps...

Niko

[ncompany]

well one of the things on the site sounded like what I have going on. The med is around 50 bucks. The fish only 7 dollars. I did manage to catch him fairly easy. The eye seems to be almost sticking completely out of his head.

[vorlx]

Well, it's up to you. If you have a QT/Hospital tank to put the damsel in and it means anything to you maybe you can find some cheaper meds or foot the bill for the meds in hope that you might be able to use it later on if one of your more expensive fish have a similiar problem. I'm not sure what I would do. You might just put him in a hospital tank and see if he can make it through it.

[ncompany]

Well I have been reading a ton on this subject now that I have put a finger on what it is. I know that my nitrates have been running a little high, so I'm off to the LFS tomorrow. Some people have had success with macro algea. I'm not sure yet what the best type is but I'm hoping that they have some of whatever I need. Hope that this works for me. If there is any suggestions feel free to let me know. Thanks for all of the help.

[vorlx]

Have you done a PWC recently? What size is your tank and what are your current water conditions?

[ncompany]

Yes have been doing PWC but using tap water wanting a ro/di unit. 55g ammonia is at 0, nitrites 0, ph 8.2, nitrates 20+, can't get them down. calcium 400.

[vorlx]

Hmmm, have you done a test on your tap water and confirmed that is what is causing your nitrates problem? What else is stocked in the 55g? Is it a FOWLR tank? Is anything else looking stressed, generally of all your fish the damsel should handle the higher nitrates. Are you using any water conditioner with your tap water?

[ncompany]

yes out of the tap I have been reading 0 nitrates, I have a Singapore angel, Coral beauty, orange tail damsel, around 10 crabs, 5 snails, sand siffting star. I do use a water conditioner. He is the only fish that looks stressed at all everythign else looks fine. I think that I will take some water with me to the LFS and have them test it to see if my kit is reading right.

[ncompany]

Could flow be some of the problem? Maybe a powerhead. Right now I have no powerhead only a fluval 305 and a protein skimmer. Would more flow help with the nitrates?

[vorlx]

Maybe its just an isolated case with this fish. It doesn't sound like anything is really out of wack. Did he act stressed prior to the 'eye' problem? Do any of the other fish pick on him?

[ncompany]

did seem a little stressed before the eye pop. Any good ways besides of pwc for reducing nitrates?