Help! Vacuumed Goldfish's Eye!

[fishboyt]

I was vacuuming out my tank and my black moor goldfish got in the way. The vacuum sucked his eyeball out and he is bleeding. What should I do?

[fishboyt]

Is he going to be ok?

[Rico]

sorry to hear that.

[fishboyt]

Anything I can do?

[fishlady]

dang Treston, what kind of vaccum are you using ????
i don't think there's much you can do at this point and maybe it will stop bleeding on it's own.

[fishboyt]

I had the part vacuum itself off and was using the hose. I had just put it in the tank and he went under it and it sucked it off. He stopped bleeding and is not acting much different. I hope he lives. I've had him for over 4 years.

[Mzungu]

If it has stopped bleeding, he should heal fine. I would put him in a tank by himself, if he's not already, and treat with a little melafix. Or, if no melafix, just be sure to keep the water clean to help him heal faster - but use the vacuum attachment next time!!

Hope he gets through it. Poor little guy. A black moor was my first fish. Long time ago.

[fishlady]

+1 on the melafix in a sick tank.....
glad to hear it stopped bleeding....just keep watching him for any signs of infection in the eye socket....
sorry about that for you....

[fishboyt]

I can't put him in his own tank and do water changes every few days. Can I leave him in the tank he is in now? There are only 3 abn's and another goldfish in the tank.

[aggrofishkeeper]

He should be fine, but he will be missing an eye. I would put him in a qt tank until it heals or the others will picking at his eye socket.

[fishboyt]

How should I catch him to put him in the QT tank?

[aggrofishkeeper]

I find the easiest way to catch fish in a tank is dividing the tank. It's a lot easier than chasing it from one end to another. I use a rubbermaid tub lid and a big net. Other people use 2 nets to catch fish out of tanks.

[fishboyt]

He's not that fast. Should I put a small container in the tank and guide him into it with the net?

[Mzungu]

Yes, the container idea is great. You don't want to further harm or irritate that eye with a net or anything else rubbing against it.

[Mzungu]

Oh, wait, I misread your post. If you can catch him without using a net, and just by using the container, that would be best. :) Got any well-rinsed tupperware around?