Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Bug-eyed Bluegill

Anyone. My pond has been coming back to life this spring quite well. The fish are really starting to hit the feed. While at the pond last evening I noticed a bluegill on it's side close to shore, and still kicking. I netted the fish which appeared healthy with the exception of both eyes buldging from it's head! Just a little history. The evening before, my wife and I did a little fishing at the pond, I did catch a couple Bluegill and released them. One of these fish had the barb in the roof of it's mouth, he seemed okay upon hook removal and release. Could it be that this fish was hooked deep, say, in the brain? Causing swelling that led to the bugged-eyes. Or, is something far more serious happening in my pond? Any thoughts?

That one BG should represent such a small percentage of your population, I wouldn't think twice. I've seen perfectly health fish (what appeared to be) belly up and die. I currently have one in my 90 gallon aquarium that resembles what you describe. This particular fish does not eat (ever), but constantly uses it's gills to filter micro-organisms. While it continues to gain weight, the head and eyes appear darker than counterparts, and the eyes do buldge.

RBC,

Could be a condition in fish known as "exophthalmos"(bulging eyes).It's sometimes accompanied by an enlarged abdomen and raised scales. It's a symptom that can be caused by various bacteria and viruses. However, like Eastland says just because one fish had problems does not mean the rest of them do.

There are always some fish in a population that are more prone to disease or become prone when they get old.

Rapidly rising or flucuating water temps can cause fish to be more vunerable to pathogens always persent in the water.

Only other thing that I know of that would cause bulging eyes is "Gas Bubble trama" caused by supersaturation of mainly nitrogen, but that is unlikely in your case unless you are pumping in large quantities of well water. In rare cases it can happen just after ice out if a pond freezes back up and thaws repeatidly.

Thank you for the information, it is all very helpful. I will just keep an eye (no pun intended) on the pond and see what develops, if anything.

exolphthalmos, bulging of the eyes, also in humans who do not get their hyperthyroidism treated in due time.