Chalk Bass keeps getting popeye

[MellowReefer]

Hope someone can tell me if there's anything I can do or is this fish doomed. He was in perfect health since I got him almost two years ago but starting about 3 months ago he's been getting popeye for a few days at a time, I think now it's the 5th time. He hides and won't eat for a day or two but then it clears up and he's back to normal. I read it can be due to poor water quality but nothing's changed in my tank except I've been trying to lower phosphate. I rinse the gfo until the water is clear. I've also been using a small amount of carbon that I rinse very well. Only other thing I can think of is that I've been sifting algae out of the sand every week which stirs up crud from the sandbed, but it usually clears up quickly. Thanks in advance.

 

[HumbleFish]

Are any of your other fish getting popeye or is it just this one fish?

 

[MellowReefer]

This is my only fish I have ever seen popeye.

 

[HumbleFish]

Sounds like an infection that his body just can't shake. Akin to humans needing antibiotic treatment sometimes. I would do the same for the bass, but in a QT. Erythromycin will probably do the trick. Also, this is one of the few times a UV sterilizer would come in handy if you have one. To lower the overall number of harmful bacterium in the water column which seems to be affecting him.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I have had many chalk basses in the past. I have four in my tank at the moment.

These fishes seem to be prone to pope eye condition. They often get pope eye while my other fish seem unaffected. On some occasions they recover but most of the time sadly they die.

 

[MellowReefer]

I have had many chalk basses in the past. I have four in my tank at the moment.

These fishes seem to be prone to pope eye condition. They often get pope eye while my other fish seem unaffected. On some occasions they recover but most of the time sadly they die.

Have you every tried to treat one with antibiotics?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Have you every tried to treat one with antibiotics?

No I have not. Unfortunately, I do not have a hospital tank for separate treatment. In addition,it would be nigh impossible to catch fishes in my reef tank unless I remove every single rock.