[First Post] Ranchu missing eye??

[Ranchew]

Hi everyone, as you can see from the title this is my first post on the forum. I have spent a lot of time over about the past year and a half looking through here and found many helpful posts. Unfortunately I have hit a roadblock in my research and decided it was time I went straight to the source to get some much needed feedback.

So here is my current situation: After finishing off a 70% WC(large changes have never been a problem as my fish are healthy and adjust well) I came to find my ranchu missing an eye and with part of his wen hanging off near the gill. I know this could not have happened from the siphon as I was present the whole time and never saw him get near it. Regardless, he survived the night and through today, he is having a hard time figuring out where he is going but has had a normal appetite for him and is showing no signs of stress (ie clamping, flashing, not eating, floating). My question is what do I do now? I would really like him to live through this if there is any way possible.

Just some facts about my tank:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
Temperature: 73.1°
pH:7.4
Last and only disease in there was an ich outbreak when I brought him home almost a year ago.
Only one other fish in there ~5 inch fantail but no aggression issues, they usually swim together and take turns eating.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Fresh2o]

Sad to hear. Very odd thing to happen.
I've had a tetra that developed an eye infection and loss use of it. In time I navigated and fed normally. It just could not see on that side. I could approach the tank if it was blind side to the glass (these fish were normally skittish).
Hopefully no further complications (e.g. - infection) occur.

 

[thegoldfishgirl]

Are there any fake plants or decorations in your tank? Or do you have a hang-on-back-filter with a hard plastic in-take tube that looks "stabby"?

This had to happen somehow...I would take anything fake out of your tank. I would also rubber band some filter floss around your intake tube (a meshed but soft kind). We don't want anything crazy like this happening again!

 

[Ranchew]

The only decorations in the tank are a couple smooth river rocks. My suspicion is he got surprised by the filter intake when I turned it back on and I just didn't see it happen. I have since put a sponge filter on the canister intake and am not too worried about this happening again. He seems to be doing well these past few days and has had a voracious appetite. Is there anything I can do to help prevent infection while he heals or just monitor him and then take action should a problem arise?

 

[thegoldfishgirl]

Do large water changes for the next few days (80% - 100%). Clean water is key to an infection free future.

Adding one tablespoon of aquarium salt per gallon will raise the salinity level in the tank to approximately 0.3%. This will help his normal bodily functions and thus allow his immune system to focus on the healing.

I would do this until you start to see the skin heal over.

Perhaps in a week or so drop the salinity level down to approximately 0.1% at one teaspoon per gallon (or half the tablespoons used previously).