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Why Does Betta Fish Becoming Blind Due to Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common disease of aging and can strike any species of the fish family.
Usually, when cataracts develop in fish, they are caused by too much protein in their diet or by the presence of too many carbohydrates in their body’s blood stream.
In Betta fish, however, too much protein or even too many carbohydrates may cause the development of cataracts, so it is important to keep carbohydrate intake in moderation and to get the right vitamins and minerals.
The presence of too many toxins in the water can also hasten the development of cataracts, so it is important to remove these toxins as quickly as possible from the water.
It is important to note that cataracts are different from mere loss of sight in that cataracts can cause the patient to lose complete vision.
This can happen if the cataract goes untreated, which is not uncommon in Betta fish.
However, because cataracts are a form of disease, you should take extra care when treating your Betta fish for cataracts, just as you would treat a patient with diabetes.
Does Your Betta Have Some Pigment Growth Over His Right Eye?
In my Dragonscale Betta, both the left and right eyes are completely clear. This doesn’t necessarily mean that he is not having any health problems or that he is perfectly healthy. What I am saying is that some pigment growth over the right eye may result in blindness if not treated. If you notice any of these symptoms in your Betta, you should have it checked by a veterinarian right away.
Normally the Dragonscale Betta has pigment growth on their right eye which might cause vision problems when he gets older.
It might cause blindness if it spreads too much on the right eye.
Dragonscale Bettas are more prone into getting blind compared to other Betta types.
Problem is that their scales are very thick and it may also cause some problems in the future with dropsy.
Just be sure if you keep Dragonscale Betta that all the decors inside your tank are soft so in case he gets blind then it will not cause any problem when moving around.
At times when he is completely blind then you can feed him in a smaller container during feeding time and transfer him back to the appropriate 5 gallons recommended minimum tank.
Under normal circumstances, Dragonscale Bettas do not completely go blind and there may still be partial vision. The scales will tend to grow and partially cover his eyes.
How Does Betta Fish Becoming Blind Due to Trauma to the Eye?
When a Betta fish gets hit by something solid, such as another fish, it may suffer some sort of injury to the eye.
It’s not really a common injury for most Betta fish, but when they do have an accident it can be very painful for the fish.
Damage to the cornea is the most common cause of this type of injury, but any object that strikes the eye can create problems as well.
Betta fish are particularly susceptible to objects that come in the way of their vision, since most of them have a very poor sense of depth.
Sometimes a Betta fish can become blind because of internal eye problems, but these are uncommon.
The best treatment for this type of eye problem is to ensure that whatever caused the injury has been treated.
Can Betta Fish Become Blind Due to Parasitic Infections?
If you have a Betta fish at home, it is quite possible that he can get infected with parasites.
Parasites are very small creatures and live on the tiny blood vessels of the various living things that Betta fish eat.
Parasites will infest the Betta fish, causing the animal to lose its sight.
There are many different types of parasites that can infest a Betta fish, the most common ones are gill flukes, worms, gill parasites, and bacteria.
It is very important that you keep these parasites away from your Betta fish, or else he could end up blind.
Tapeworms are probably the most annoying parasite for your Betta fish.
The tapeworm moves about underneath your Betta fish’s skin, and if he is unfortunate enough to land on a worm which then gets into his mouth, then he could be in serious trouble.
Once they reach the nerve endings, they could send out the “tic daa” signals to activate the swim bladder.
At this point the fish stops moving and falls over onto its back. From this position, it becomes unable to breathe and starts suffocating inside its own guts.
Why Betta Fish Can Become Blind Due to Bacterial Infections?
Betta fish can become blind due to bacterial infections if proper treatment is not provided.
The main reason for this is because of the presence of nitrogenous wastes and ammonia in the tank.
Once these wastes accumulate in the water, the bacteria grow at an alarming rate which causes the blindness.
The best way to prevent such situation is by providing them with a proper filtration device which is capable of removing the ammonia from the water.
However, if you are having a tank at home and you do not know how to remove the ammonia from the water, then it would be better to purchase a nitrogen filtration system.
However, if you have already purchased such a system for your home, then there is nothing to worry about as you do not have to worry about Betta fish becoming blind due to bacterial infections anymore.
However, this does not mean that you should abandon filtration altogether. Proper maintenance of such filtration systems is still very important.
As mentioned earlier, you should check the filter once in a week and change it if it is dirty or damaged.
Cleaning the filter regularly will also help you in preventing the formation of such bacterial growths in the future.
How Can Betta Fish Become Blind Due to Fungal Infections?
The problem with Betta fish is that some breeds are prone to becoming blind because of fungal infections.
This happens when your aquarium becomes too moist and warm, especially during a time where you are often changing and cleaning the water.
There is nothing more frustrating than being in an aquarium full of bacteria and other harmful waste materials, but being unable to see the bottom of the tank due to algae buildup.
Here are some tips on how to keep your Betta fish from developing problems from fungal overgrowth.
Keep your tank dry.
You should try to avoid keeping live plants in your aquarium as much as possible.
This will help to keep the moisture level low in your tank, which can cause your Betta fish to be more susceptible to fungal infections.
If you do have live plants, you should clean them regularly using water from a spray bottle and avoid adding new plants directly to your tank.
Also, make sure that they are not getting any excess nutrients that can encourage the growth of bacteria.
Make sure that you do not over feed your Betta fish.
Overfeeding can encourage the growth of bacteria, which can potentially cause your Betta fish to become blind.
Also, do not place too many live foods in your aquarium. Only put in enough food so that the Betta fish can eat it.
Overfeeding can also encourage the growth of algae. As far as food goes, always make sure that you only add high quality foods to your Betta fish, such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and brine shrimp pellets, to name a few.
Caring For A Blind Fish Is Different From Caring For A Fish With Good Vision
In terms of maintenance, you will first need to choose the right temperature and water conditions for your fish tank. You should also make sure that the space available in the fish tank is large enough for the fish to swim freely.
You should also have a sufficient filtration system so that the water flowing into the tank does not become stagnant, for the fish to feel safe and comfortable.
The food and filtration system you use must be efficient enough to maintain the correct water chemistry, otherwise the fish might start to adapt to the environment and leave the food bowl untouched.
Another important point to consider is lighting. In case you are caring for a blind fish with good vision, you should provide your fish with an artificial pond light.
This way, the fish can adjust the amount of light it receives and spends the day in a well-lit environment.
On the other hand, if the fish is partially blind as most cases are especially the Dragonscale type of bettas, you can use fluorescent lighting, but make sure that it is of a sufficient intensity to ensure that the fish are able to breathe properly. Remember that there are specific requirements for fish tanks with these requirements being in effect for the safety and health of the fish.
Caring for a blind fish is different from caring for a fish with good vision, in many ways.
However, if done correctly, caring for fish with vision problems will be made much easier.
Firstly, they will not be stressed by the conditions in their tank, which will slow down the process of their demise.
Secondly, your focus will not be diverted from their well-being, and they will not be forgotten.
Finally, remember that caring for fish with poor vision is a rewarding experience as you will have fulfilled your responsibility as a caring parent, and will find them to be a lively, entertaining addition to your family.
