WHITE ON MY CLOWN KNIFES EYE

Question
HI!  I HAVE A 12 IN CLOWN KNIFE WITH TANK MATES: BLUE GOURAMI, YELLOW AFRICAN CICHLID, CATFISH (DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND) CAT FISH AND A PLECO.  I WAS ON VACATION FOR 4 DAYS AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS TAKING CARE OF MY FISH. I CAME HOME TO DISCOVER A LARGE WHITE GROWN ON MY BELOVED FISH'S EYE. IT IS WHITE (MUCOUS LIKE) AND BULDGING.I AM AFRAID MY BABY IS GOING TO DIE. I HAVE RAISED HIM SINCE HE WAS A LITTLE OVER 1 IN LONG. I PUT ICK CLEAR IN THE WATER TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE CORRECT THING TO DO. ALSO, IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT MY OTHER FISH AND IF IT DOES...WHAT CAN I DO?  tHANKS FOR YOUR TIME. ANGELA

Answer
Hi Angela.  It sounds to me like you might be dealing with a case of columnaris (from the description you have provided).  Check this website out which has pictures and tells you about it and how to treat it:  http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Columnaris.html

Remember, it can appear anywhere on the body.  IF it does not look like this, please let me know.  The only other thing I can think of from your description is popeye, but it doesn't sound exactly right.  Without seeing it, it's hard to tell.  If you can get a picture and post it for me to see, that would help greatly.

In any event, if you purchase Maracyn2, it will treat both Columnaria and Popeye, which would cover both illnesses.  I would then do a full tank cleaning as these problems are usually always brought on from bad water quality.  It is important that you perform weekly tank maintenance on your fish tanks.  Here is an article that can help you with doing this correctly:  http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_cleaning.html

Please let me know how your fish is doing after you treat him.  Also, if you have a tank to quarantine only the sick fish, that would be good.  If not, you'll have to treat the whole tank.

Good luck!!   ;o)