Infectious Fish Eye Diseases

Fish are highly susceptible to developing infections in their eyes, which can be confusing and frustrating for their owners. Eye infections in fish are caused as a result of fungus or bacteria, and can be easily treated and prevented.

  1. Types

    • Fish eye infections can either be fungal or bacterial. Both can cause extreme discomfort, blindness and even death in fish.

    Fungal Infection Causes

    • Fungal eye infections are usually caused as a result of poor water quality. Water that is full of decomposing matter, including other dead or injured fish, can cause your fish to develop a fungal eye infection. To prevent fungal infections from developing, keep your aquarium clean at all times, remove dead fish immediately and separate injured fish into another tank.

    Bacterial Infection Causes

    • Bacterial infections are developed as a result of bacterial growth in the aquarium. To prevent bacterial infections from developing in your fish, keep your aquarium as clean as possible, and invest in a tank-cleaning fish, such as a Chinese algae eater.

    Potential Spread

    • If bacterial and fungal infections are not treated right away, they can not only lead to the blindness or death of the afflicted fish but can spread to the other fish in your aquarium.

    Treatment

    • Both bacterial and fungal infections are treated by adding medicated drops to your tank water. Bacterial infections are commonly treated with penicillin, amoxicillin or erythromycin. Fungal infections are usually treated with 1 percent phenoxethol.