Orfe with a swollen eye

[The Moo]

One of our 3 golden orfe has developed a swollen left eye. The socket seems enlarged and extended and has been so for a few months. The surface of the eye appears normal apart from the diameter. It does not seem to be getting worse nor improving.The fish otherwise seems perfectly healthy and displays all the usual behaviours of the breed. It is very active and feeds normally. No other fish seem to have anything similar.

The pond which is part raised underwent a major refurbishment at the end of last year and now comprises of an upper pond of 968 litres, and a lower pond of 4293 litres. Water is pump fed from lower pond through a 55 watt UV into a Nexus 210 and back to upper pond and returns to lower pond via 2 water blades. There is an additional water cascade in the centre of the pond so I believe the water is well oxygenated.

The adult fish are in the lower pond and include the 3 Orfe, 5 Shubs and approx 15 assorted comets/goldfish. We also have approximately 1 dozen assorted fry new this year that have found there way into the upper pond and are doing well. There are lillies and water hawthorn in the lower pond and the upper pond is stocked with a variety of mainly native water plants.

I perform regular weekly water changes using a spray head on the hose and dose with sodium thiosulphate. I last tested the water on 1 August using NT Labs liquid kit and the results were

PH 7.5
NH3 0 (light straw colour rather than the deeper yellow on colour chart)
NO2 0.1
NO3 5
KH 7
GH 9

I am currently treating the pond for blanket weed with pink crystals, viresco aqua and viresco digester.

I have tried photographing the fish without removing it from the pond. Whilst the results are not brilliant they give some indication of the issue. Your thoughts on what the problem might be and suggestions for treatment, if any, would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[MrBushy]

One of our 3 golden orfe has developed a swollen left eye. The socket seems enlarged and extended and has been so for a few months. The surface of the eye appears normal apart from the diameter. It does not seem to be getting worse nor improving.The fish otherwise seems perfectly healthy and displays all the usual behaviours of the breed. It is very active and feeds normally. No other fish seem to have anything similar.

The pond which is part raised underwent a major refurbishment at the end of last year and now comprises of an upper pond of 968 litres, and a lower pond of 4293 litres. Water is pump fed from lower pond through a 55 watt UV into a Nexus 210 and back to upper pond and returns to lower pond via 2 water blades. There is an additional water cascade in the centre of the pond so I believe the water is well oxygenated.

The adult fish are in the lower pond and include the 3 Orfe, 5 Shubs and approx 15 assorted comets/goldfish. We also have approximately 1 dozen assorted fry new this year that have found there way into the upper pond and are doing well. There are lillies and water hawthorn in the lower pond and the upper pond is stocked with a variety of mainly native water plants.

I perform regular weekly water changes using a spray head on the hose and dose with sodium thiosulphate. I last tested the water on 1 August using NT Labs liquid kit and the results were

PH 7.5
NH3 0 (light straw colour rather than the deeper yellow on colour chart)
NO2 0.1
NO3 5
KH 7
GH 9

I am currently treating the pond for blanket weed with pink crystals, viresco aqua and viresco digester.

I have tried photographing the fish without removing it from the pond. Whilst the results are not brilliant they give some indication of the issue. Your thoughts on what the problem might be and suggestions for treatment, if any, would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Maybe this will be some help: http://www.fishhelpline.co.uk/health/popeye.html Whereabouts are you?

[The Moo]

Thanks for the link. If that is correct doesn't sound too good. I am based in Warwickshire.

[MrBushy]

Thanks for the link. If that is correct doesn't sound too good. I am based in Warwickshire.

There's a fish vet in Solihull: http://www.608vetpractice.co.uk/

[The Moo]

Thanks for the link. If that is correct doesn't sound too good. I am based in Warwickshire.

There's a fish vet in Solihull: http://www.608vetpractice.co.uk/

Thanks for that, useful to know for future reference.

I had a fairly long chat yesterday with Dr Paula Reynolds at Lincolnshire Fish Health http://www.lincsfishhealth.co.uk/ after searching the forum and finding a reference to her in a response by Huso Huso back in 2008. After giving her a description of the fish, its demeanour and symptoms her view seemed to be that whilst the fish is behaving normally and that there are no obvious signs of infection it would be better to leave things alone. If the situation deteriorates then a course of injections may be appropriate.

I will continue to monitor it closely.

[MrBushy]

Glad you've got some help with this to put your mind at rest. Also that's a great contact in Lincolnshire-I keep a database of countrywide fish vets & specialists so I'll add that one to it thanks.

[The Moo]

Thought I would give an update. The fish still has swollen eye and its body seems a little "hollow" compared to the other two Orfe. However, he/she is still with us and displaying normal Orfe behaviour ie very active and first in line for the food. Hopefully it will continue to make good progress.

[MrBushy]

Good to hear the condition appears to be benign, funnily enough I was speaking with a friend yesterday evening who has an elderly & much loved Goldfish with a similar eye that has been swollen long-term & is otherwise perfectly healthy.