Bob am I missing something? Is this not an ocular nematode? Great pics as always.
We see a few in about every fifth pond we shock. Popeye disease is coommon term. Matt usualy impresses the client with his quick otolith extraction while I do the eye exam and pullout a little worm that before their eyes becoems 6 inches.
The occurance is higher in ponds that are older with mucky bottoms and more common in bluegll that I would classify as under nourished. I have seen in some case 20-30% of bluegill have them. Many times up to 3 neamtodes per eye major bulging there. NEVER have we seen them in any sepecies outside the bluegill. If something else please enlighten me.
