Eye Parasite?

Question
QUESTION: I have a Buttikoferi in a 30 gallon tank.  I have had him for about 3 years now and he has been doing great up until today when I noticed his right eye is swollen and cloudy. It has a yellowish tint and a white growth coming out of it. It almost looks like a small version of the parasites found on the eyes of Greenland Sharks.
I'm wondering if this new development has anything to do with the red algae that has just started growing on the sides of his tank.  I have always had green algae bloom up, but never red.  Here is a link to a video of Mitch and his eye ... <embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i69.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid69.photobucket.com/albums/i>
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And some Pics...
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Any help in providing a diagnosis / treatment would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Hi Mike,
  This doesn't look like parasites to me -- it looks like mechanical damage.  Are there any other fish in the tank, perhaps one that might have bitten him in the eye?

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Nope, he is all by himself in the tank.  Since writing my question I have added aquarium salt and "Fungus Cure" from API just in case it is Eye Cloud.  The piece protruding from his eye is almost gone, but the eye is still swollen and cloudy.

Answer
Hi Mike,
 "Eye cloud" is just a description of the symptom, it isn't a disease or cause.  It sounds to me that he banged his eye on something in the tank.  When a fish hurts his eye, it clouds over while it is healing.  If he stops injuring it, the eye usually heals in a few weeks.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>