Tag Archives: Eyes Care

Red Eye Tetra Fact Sheet

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The Red Eye Tetra, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae, has a number of other common names, these include: Yellowhead Characin, Lamp Eye, Yellow back Moenkhausia, Yellowhead Tetra, and Yellow-banded moenkhausia. The Red Eye Tetra comes from eastern Bolivia, western Brazil, eastern Peru and Paraguay in South America. The maximum length of the Red Eye Tetra is about 3 inches (8cm) although most are much less than this. The likely life span is about 5 years.

Water Conditions

The preferred temperature range of this species is 23 – 28 degrees C (73 – 82 degrees F) although they will survive a little outside this. I would note that their natural range actually goes outside the tropics, so there might be some populations that are more cold resistant, but I have never tried the Red Eye Tetra in an unheated tank, and I do not recommend this.

In the wild they mainly come from soft, slightly acid water, but they can adapt even to hard alkaline water, so they are happy in a normal community aquarium of mixed fish with a temperature of 24 degrees C (75 degrees F), neutral acidity and some hardness.

Food

The Red Eye Tetra is an omnivore and readily eats all normal aquarium foods. They will benefit from a variety, including live food like mosquito larvae and Daphnia as well as frozen food like Blood worms.

Companions

Most sources list the Red Eye Tetra as being peaceful. This is not quite my experience and I regard it as often being a problem to some fish. I would not put Red Eye Tetras with Siamese Fighting Fish, Guppies, Endlers Guppies, Neon Tetras or Cardinal Tetras.

More suitable companions include Silvertip Tetras, Gold Barbs, Cherry Barbs, Pristella Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Scissortail Rasboras, Lemon Tetras, Emperor Tetras, Head and Tail Light Tetras, Glass Bloodfin Tetras, Swordtails, Platies, Mollies, Zebra Danios, Glowlight Tetras, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Black Widow Tetras, Rosy Barbs, Tiger Barbs, Paraguay Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras and Colombian Tetras; as well as the Corydoras catfish like the Peppered Catfish.

However, even with these fish, I would be cautious in matching the sizes of the fish in the aquarium. Remember that the Red Eye Tetra grows bigger than some of these other fish.

The Red Eye Tetra is a schooling fish, and I would always try to keep at least 6, and preferably more together. This should reduce their fin nipping tendencies.

Sexing

There is not a big difference in appearance between the sexes of the Red EyeTetra. When the females have eggs, they will appear fatter with a more rounded, and, perhaps, lighter belly.

Breeding

To breed the Red Eye Tetra it is necessary to have very soft, slightly acidic water with floating plants. They will lay their eggs among the roots of the floating plants, although many of the eggs may still end up on the bottom of the tank. The parents will eat their eggs and babies, so they are normally removed after spawning.

The eggs should hatch in about one or two days, and the fry should be free swimming a few days later. The baby Red Eye Tetras are slightly bigger than the babies of most tetras and they are vigorous and not as hard to raise as some egg laying fish babies are.

They will eat fine live food and commercial fry foods as soon as they are free swimming. Although protozoa (infusoria) are certainly eaten at first, the babies are big enough to not be totally dependent on these.

Pest Fish

The Red Eye Tetra has the potential to damage fragile aquatic ecosystems and care should be taken to prevent their release.

Eye Care Specialist Differences – Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

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Ophthalmologists provide patients with comprehensive eye and vision care. From general vision exams to surgical procedures, ophthalmologists are physicians and eye surgeons that attended medical school (4 years), completed an internship (1 year), residency (3-4 years), and sometimes a fellowship (1-2 years). These eye care specialists have earned either an M.D. or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree in order to become an ophthalmologist. A specialist in the vision care industry, ophthalmologists must have an active medical practitioner license in any state they are currently practicing in, ensuring their legitimacy and certification as a medical professional. The majority of eye care specialists who are ophthalmologists are board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Able to offer the public primary, secondary and tertiary care, these eye care specialists also diagnose general body diseases and conditions. Should a patient experience an ocular manifestation of a systemic disease, ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat these issues as well.

To name a few examples, individuals can visit a reputable ophthalmologist for:

  • Annual eye examinations (recommended)
  • Glasses and/or contacts prescriptions
  • Diagnosis and medical care for vision conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and chemical burns
  • Vision correction surgery such as LASIK eye surgery or cataract surgery
  • Medical treatment for eye issues surrounding other diseases, especially common issues like arthritis and diabetes
  • Surgical care for ocular issues, including drooping eyelids, eye trauma, crossed eyes and cataracts
  • Some cosmetic plastic surgery involving the ocular area (the smoothing of “Crow’s Feet,” for instance)

There is a population of ophthalmologists, like every other medical specialty, that regularly conduct research in hopes of accelerating treatments and cures for vision disorders and diseases.

Optometrists are certified medical professionals who hold an O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) that is typically obtained in a 4-year program after obtaining an undergraduate degree. These eye care specialists can be equally apt at diagnosing vision conditions and ocular abnormalities, with some state laws allowing optometrists to treat certain vision conditions via prescriptions. While optometrists provide primary and sometimes secondary vision care, tertiary vision care (surgical treatment) is not included in an optometry board certification.

A large portion of this eye care specialist’s job consists of completing eye exams and vision testing, detecting vision disorders, removing foreign objects that have become lodged in the eye, and offering eyewear fitting and dispensing.

Both ophthalmologists and optometrists provide critical ocular health care. As a consumer, it is important to assess your vision care needs to determine if an ophthalmologist or an optometrist is a more appropriate choice. Online research, talking with your primary care physician and discussing your eye health with friends and family can better help you make the appropriate decision. Afterward, researching the specific qualifications, experience and reviews/reputation of the eye care provider will ensure you receive the standard of medical care you want and need.

Eye Care Specialist Differences – Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

Posted on by

Ophthalmologists provide patients with comprehensive eye and vision care. From general vision exams to surgical procedures, ophthalmologists are physicians and eye surgeons that attended medical school (4 years), completed an internship (1 year), residency (3-4 years), and sometimes a fellowship (1-2 years). These eye care specialists have earned either an M.D. or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree in order to become an ophthalmologist. A specialist in the vision care industry, ophthalmologists must have an active medical practitioner license in any state they are currently practicing in, ensuring their legitimacy and certification as a medical professional. The majority of eye care specialists who are ophthalmologists are board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Able to offer the public primary, secondary and tertiary care, these eye care specialists also diagnose general body diseases and conditions. Should a patient experience an ocular manifestation of a systemic disease, ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat these issues as well.

To name a few examples, individuals can visit a reputable ophthalmologist for:

  • Annual eye examinations (recommended)
  • Glasses and/or contacts prescriptions
  • Diagnosis and medical care for vision conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and chemical burns
  • Vision correction surgery such as LASIK eye surgery or cataract surgery
  • Medical treatment for eye issues surrounding other diseases, especially common issues like arthritis and diabetes
  • Surgical care for ocular issues, including drooping eyelids, eye trauma, crossed eyes and cataracts
  • Some cosmetic plastic surgery involving the ocular area (the smoothing of “Crow’s Feet,” for instance)

There is a population of ophthalmologists, like every other medical specialty, that regularly conduct research in hopes of accelerating treatments and cures for vision disorders and diseases.

Optometrists are certified medical professionals who hold an O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) that is typically obtained in a 4-year program after obtaining an undergraduate degree. These eye care specialists can be equally apt at diagnosing vision conditions and ocular abnormalities, with some state laws allowing optometrists to treat certain vision conditions via prescriptions. While optometrists provide primary and sometimes secondary vision care, tertiary vision care (surgical treatment) is not included in an optometry board certification.

A large portion of this eye care specialist’s job consists of completing eye exams and vision testing, detecting vision disorders, removing foreign objects that have become lodged in the eye, and offering eyewear fitting and dispensing.

Both ophthalmologists and optometrists provide critical ocular health care. As a consumer, it is important to assess your vision care needs to determine if an ophthalmologist or an optometrist is a more appropriate choice. Online research, talking with your primary care physician and discussing your eye health with friends and family can better help you make the appropriate decision. Afterward, researching the specific qualifications, experience and reviews/reputation of the eye care provider will ensure you receive the standard of medical care you want and need.