Blind weather loach - please help!

[Claire1303]

I have a weather loach approximately 4 years old. A few months ago he lost his right eye, this has now healed to a smooth surface. I've now noticed that his remaining left eye has gone cloudy. I think he must have knocked it on a rough bit of stone, he's always been very active especially at night.

Will he be able to manage without eyesight? He seems to be okay, he's not really bumping into anything more than he always has! I have 2 other weather loaches with him and they all still rest together under some bogwood.

I really don't want to euthanase unless I have to, he's one of my fave fish! Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you

Claire

[Emma Turner]

Hi Claire,
If the fish is still getting about just fine and is feeding well etc, then you really shouldn't euthanase him. Fish have the lateral line that helps them to navigate and loaches have a great sense of smell and locate food quickly with the sensory barbels too. I have a good sized clown loach that is completely blind in one eye (she was like this when we adopted her) and there is no way this fish misses out on anything!
Do carry out a few quick water tests as sometimes cloudy eyes can be bought on by slightly less than ideal conditions. If you suspect some kind of injury, make sure you remove all sharp decor from the tank so that none of the others injures themselves.
Best wishes,
Emma

[starsplitter7]

Will he eat from your fingers? I imagine it doesn't matter he's blind, as long as you make sure he gets food. I think they have a good sense of smell, but like Emma said the lateral line is super helpful.

Did you see Marcos' post about his blind Jack Dempsey? He catches him, holds him and feeds him. I thought that was amazing. I doubt you would need to do that. I have a semi blind Danio and he does just fine.
Here's the link:
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... sc&start=0

I think Emma's advice about water quality is key.

[KLKelly]

I have a blind weather loach and she is doing amazing. She learned to manouver all around the tank and even sleeps in the same spot every night. She is thriving! Please don't euthanize him.

Edit: I was overfeeding the tank to made sure she got her share but it sucked for water quality and the other fish ate most of it. She could smell the food but spent most of her time swimming all over and not getting much.

Now she is hand fed a couple times a day. It takes a bit because she smells the food and gets so excited and sometimes gets a bit spooked by the movement of my hand. I feed the other fish first so they are all occupied and this normally prevents her from getting spooked because she knows its feeding time.

Then I take a frozen piece of bloods worms or mysis shrimp, squished up and chopped peas and mazurigel or gel food pieces cut up small for her. She doesn't like shrimp pellets and freeze dried food is too difficult.

She travels all up my arm and down (sometimes a few times) until she finally realizes the food is in my fingers right at the bottom of the tank. She eats a mouthful and sometimes moves but once she is at the bottom its easier for me to bring the food to her mouth without him once again starting to swim all excited looking for food. I sometimes have to follow her all around the tank but its worth it.

The frozen bloodworms/mysis shrimp/peas/gelfood works because it stays frozen and solid long enough for her to settle down and then she is able to eat them. The stray ones get eaten by the others.

If it helps I could try and take a video and PM you a link.

[Claire1303]

Thank you to all of you for your advice. He's starting to eat from my hand, and is still as active as ever so I'm hoping for the best. I'll keep a close eye on him (no pun intended!) but for now things look good.

Thank you

[KLKelly]

Claire that's great news . I've been hoping you would post an update.

Good for you and I'm glad he took to handfeeding I expected he would - food is a good motivator : )