William H Wildgoose MRCVS
Pet fish vet
Gas bubbles in marine fish eyes
This lyre fish or anthias developed a large pocket of gas around its eye within weeks of importation. It was anaesthetised and removed from the water to have the gas carefully drained with a syringe. More gas reformed within 2 days so the procedure was repeated. Acetazolamide, a drug used to treat glaucoma, was added to the water and prevented further gas reforming. This is thought to be due to a disorder of the blood vessels inside the eyes and a lack of haemoglobin sub-types in specific types of marine fish.
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A lyre fish with a large pocket of gas around the eye causing severe protrusion of the eye
The large pocket of gas around the eye caused severe protrusion of the eye
Most of the gas was successfully removed with a syringe and medical treatment prevented further recurrence
A lyre fish with a large pocket of gas around the eye causing severe protrusion of the eye