Eyes are still cloudy after almost 5 weeks. Better photo now.

[Karayna]

So I got this 20 cm adult female almost 5 weeks ago. Her eyes were cloudy, and gills were a bit scraggly, but otherwise she seemed to be in good spirits. No other sign of fungus or anything. I keep her in a 27 gallon together with another female axie of similar size (I know I should have quarantined, but...). The other female is healthy as can be. Clear eyes, beautiful gills et.c.

Water parameters are 0/0/15. 16-18°C (60.8-64.4 F). They get a 20-30% water change once a week. Planted with several plants. I added a catappa leaf two weeks ago (maybe I should add more). No sign of improvement! Should I do tea baths? Or keep her in tea water for like a week?

* She likes natural light and will sit and chill in indirect sunlight.

* She is eating earthworms like a healthy lotl.

* NO other signs of illness. Very silly and social girl.

* Both eyes are affected. She is not blind.

 

[Karayna]

回复: Eyes are still cloudy after almost 5 weeks. Better photo now.

Here's a pic of both eyes:

 

[Purpletotodile]

How often are the lights on in the tank? Axolotls don't have eyelids, so they are very sensitive to light and if the lights are on too often they can have vision problems. Other than that I can't think of anything. My father works in optometry and I can ask him to check the photo.

 

[Karayna]

回复: Re: Eyes are still cloudy after almost 5 weeks. Better photo now.

Hi! Thank you, that's so nice of you! The lights are only on if I decide to take some photos, or when I show them to someone. Max 10 minutes/day, and even then they don't seem bothered by it (unlike my leucistic). Here is a photo of the tankmate - as you can see her eyes are completely clear:

 

[Purpletotodile]

So it could possibly be cataracts. I don't think there's a way to fix it. You could try to test the vision of your lotl by seeing how fast the reaction times are for both him and his tankmate.
Axolotls generally don't have good vision even if healthy, so it might not be much of a change in his care.

 

[Purpletotodile]

So it could possibly be cataracts. I don't think there's a way to fix it. You could try to test the vision of your lotl by seeing how fast the reaction times are for both him and his tankmate.
Axolotls generally don't have good vision even if healthy, so it might not be much of a change in his care.

 

[Karayna]

回复: Eyes are still cloudy after almost 5 weeks. Better photo now.

Thank you! I think the vision is worse on the left eye, but she seems to find food well through smell. Probably nothing to do then!