Cloudy eyes is a common issue for freshwater aquarium fish. But it’s not a disease, rather a symptom. There is a low chance that your fish will die from it.
Unless you take the required precautions in time (hopefully, after this article, that won’t happen).
Description Of This Disease
Having aquarium fish as pets is a great pastime. However, it comes with its limitations as well. Even after due care, these creatures seem to develop chronic diseases, such as cloudy eyes. My pet fish was an active participant in the aquarium but slowly lost its spirit after some days. I noticed that its eyes became cloudy, almost white, and blurry (like a veil).
This greyish opaque covering kept my pet fish in semi-dark conditions.
Causes Of Cloudy Eyes In Fish
After discovering the problem of cloudy eyes, I spent days researching it. Ultimately, I did find the answer!
At first, I understood the causes of the disease and thereafter worked on them to ensure a healthy environment in the fish tank.
I have listed the causes below (in every scenario I have witnessed)
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites, such as protozoa or flukes, are the most common cause of cloudy eyes.
Parasitized eyes may appear enlarged and cloudy. In addition, you can witness tiny worms in the eye! (not a good sight for fish lovers).
Trauma Or Injury
Another reason for the cloudy eye disease is constant collisions with other tank mates.
These abrasions happen because of certain limitations in the aquatic creatures: They do not have eyelids to protect their corneas.
Unlike cats and dogs, fish are not able to protect themselves from the slightest of injuries, which results in a localized inflamed infection and cloudy corneas (The immune system acts as a rescue team).
Is this permanent? Well, that depends on the level of damage, but to make you feel better, in most cases I have witnessed, it doesn’t last long.
Poor Water Quality
Another common cause of cloudy eyes in fish is poor water quality. Clean water is key to fish health and disease prevention.
High ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels indicate bad water quality, which could cause the fish eye(s) to become cloudy.
Moreover, the amount of chlorine and chloramine in the water, ammonia levels that are not 0, pH shock, medications, sudden water temperature fluctuations, and high TDS levels can deteriorate the water condition of your tank. Emphasis is placed on the high pH levels.
Even in my own experience, I cross-checked the water quality, and to my surprise, the acidic levels were not optimal (Low pH was the main culprit). The cloudy eye condition was prominent and clear. Moreover, the fish was lethargic and lackluster.
Here, you may ask why? Well, the answer lies in the high bioload due to fish waste. One of the by-products of bioload in a tank is the production of acids. These acids cause the pH to drop over time.
Malnutrition
Yes, inadequate dietary requirements and malnutrition can also be one of the causes of cloudy eyes in your fish. If you give your fish enough nutrition, try to figure out what exactly is causing these picky eaters to not complete their meals.
Cancer
Yes, you read that right! Cloudy eyes can create possible eye cancer!
However, this scenario is found in fish living outside in a pond rather than indoors. Because they live outside, they are more susceptible to increased UV exposure, potential heavy metal contamination, and bacterial infections, which results in eye cancer.
(When my koi caught the disease, I could see it in excruciating pain)
Cataract
Generally, the eye lens is made up of water and protein, which allow light to pass through it and allow it to remain clear.
Certain conditions can cause these proteins to stick together and cloud a small part of the lens in fish. This condition is known as Cataract. It can grow larger and larger, and at one point, the fish may even go blind because of it.
Associated Symptoms
Apart from cloudiness, here are some other symptoms you will witness:
- Swollen eye
- Loss of color and sheen
- Inactive or lethargic
- Loss of appetite
- Isolation
Treatment For Cloudy Eye
Once you have identified the underlying reasoning, you will need to treat the cloudy eye accordingly.
Here are some possible treatments that worked for me and my fellow aquarists:
- Let the nitrogen cycle function in your fish tank. Ensure the level of ammonia is optimal.
- Make frequent or regular water changes in your tank, and make sure that you do them properly. Otherwise, call a professional veterinarian.
- Use a proper water conditioner to eliminate chlorine and chloramine in the tap water.
- Do not overdose your fish with medicines because it can cause the cloudy eye disease to sprout. Organic compounds like formalin can cause cloudy eyes in your pet fish.
- Check the tank water quality regularly. Ensure that fish waste isn’t increasing the ammonia levels in the tank.
- Check the pH of your aquarium. If it’s below 6.8, decrease the bioload by adding healthy bacteria. This improves the biofiltration process and cleans the tank water.
- Use a maintenance register to keep the conditions in check. This will allow the tank mates to remain active and safe from the cloudy eye disease.
Is This a Contagious Disease?
As mentioned above, cloudy eyes in aquarium fish is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying disorder or condition. It is not contagious or noxious.
