This gave the fish, known as a copper rockfish, a new lease on life after continual harassment from other fish, Dr. Martin Haulena, head veterinarian for the Vancouver Aquarium, told Global News.
“Before the prosthetic, he was being hurt and quite uncomfortable because he was picked on,” Haulena said.
“What’s been observed with fish that are missing an eye is other take advantage of that … they kind of go to that blind side, steal food and pick on [them],” he said. “It’s a well-known thing that there is natural aggression as different species kind of vie for the best space and habitat they’re in, so that kind of aggression is very very normal.”
This was the first surgery of its kind at the aquarium, CBC News reports.
Like people, rockfish have health issues as they grow older, and this particular rockfish was dealing with cataracts, the aquarium noted, per CBC News.
The aging rockfish is doing well, Dr. Lesanna Lahner of the Seattle Aquarium told MetroNews.
“Since it’s had the prosthetic eye, it’s been out and about and acting more like a normal rock fish.”
“Ever since we put in the prosthetic the fish is right back in the mid-water column, interacting with other fish,” Haulena said, per Global News. He noted that this procedure has been going on in other aquariums for nearly 20 years. “He’s more robust. Everybody, including the fish, seem a lot happier now.”
Lahner has become an expert on this procedure and lent her expertise to vets at the the aquarium last month, performing the operation and giving an artificial eye to a one-eyed copper rockfish that had developed cataracts. An aging yellowtail rockfish on display at the Vancouver International Airport also received a prosthetic eye.
Under anesthesia, the vets popped the prosthetic into the eye socket, securing it to bone by using fishing line and titanium clips, Metro News reports.
Captive rockfish are subject to cataracts in captivity, and the reasons for this aren’t fully understood.
Scientists are trying to find out how to prevent the fish from developing the disease, but until that happens, prosthetic eyes prevent them from being attacked by other fish, Lahner said.
Rockfish can live for a century or more, and this means quality of life is important for them, she added.
As for the bullies? The fish might be half-blind, but the others don’t know that. So, no more bullying.
“Years and years ago, people would say just get another fish, but I don’t think that’s the attitude anymore,” Haulena said.
“It really is kind of a nice thing to do the best for every animal, no matter what kind.”
