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I just added a Bolivian Ram to my 29g tank this past Saturday (4/1). Yesterday I noticed it has a small cloudy spot on one of its eyes. The spot is small but noticeable. It is white cloudy...not colored.

I can't get a good picture because the spot is small. It doesn't look like it has gotten any bigger today.

Is it fungus? How do you treat that?

I looked on that disease site that people usually post...but I didn't see anything about fungus on eyes.

*Kristin*

Kristin,

One of the best disease sites that I have found is Pandora's Aquarium (http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html.)

It sounds like you are describing incipient "cloudy eye". This information is from that website:

Pathogen/Cause - Various organisms (nonspecific), Severe Stress, Malnutrition, Cataracts, Old Age, Hyperproduction of slime due to poisoning, bad water quality, or irritation.

Physical Signs - A cloudy white or grey "haze" over the eyes that may cause blindness.

Behavioral Signs - Associated with loss of vision, also just general signs of lethargy.

Potential Treatment - Investigate if water quality is high first (water changes), then if nutritional needs of that species are being met. Wait at least a week or two before trying any antibiotics, it will often clear on its own if water quality is high.

Other Notes - Frequent water changes a must to improve quality. Test for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates. Cloudy eye is a sign of a number of things, rather than a disease in its own right.

It is a great site. I probably like it because it seems to suggest a water change or two as the base treatment. It also cautions against "shotgunning" medications against a problem. Two positions that I firmly stand behind...



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Thanks Bob! I will check my water parameters this evening and will do a water change.

As I said, I just purchased the fish this past weekend, so I'm thinking it may have had it at the store. I tried to check out all the rams in the tank, and had my eye on one...but by the time a worker came over I lost track of the one I wanted...so I just had to pick one.

I'll see if the spot goes away before I treat for anything.

Thanks again.

*Kristin*

I checked my water and got:

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-~30ppm (may be a little higher than that)
pH-6.6
Phosphate-1.5ppm
KH-4
GH-9

My nitrates are a little higher than they should be. I did a 50% water change after checking so we'll see if that helps.
The cloudy spot hasn't gone away, but it doesn't look any worse, so I'll do another water change in a few days.

*Kristin*

There is more and more anecdotal evidence that elevated nitrates over time can degrade fish health. A 50% water change should reduce your nitrates by half, I might consider another 50% water change 2 days after the first. Do retest for nitrates after each water change to see what impact the water change has on your readings. Nitrate tests results have a wide range of values and your value may be more, as you stated, than the indicated value.

You should see improvement in 5 to 7 days.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright