Clownfish has a bubble in one eye?

[Natterjak]

One of my clownfish was recently attacked by another fish, and he looks like he has a bubble in one eye - it doesn't seem to be cloudy, it literally looks like there's a bubble in there. Has anyone ever seen this? I'm not sure what to do about it.

 

[ACBlinky]

I've seen it, but don't know how to fix it. The LFS where I work weekends has a valuable fish with this condition. I was very curious about what caused it and what they would do; I'm sure they're taking measures to fix it but the SW manager wasn't in last weekend so I didn't get a chance to ask. If I get an answer from them I'll pass it on, meanwhile I hope someone can give you an answer.

 

[Natterjak]

That would be great, thanks! I'm sure it was probably brought on by physical trauma, but no clue if I should be treating it somehow or if it might clear up on its own.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

i think it might be popeye. my black tang got it once, i didn't do anything about it and it went away naturally within 3 weeks.

 

[Natterjak]

Hmm, you may be right - I always thought popeye was a bulging, cloudy eye, but I just read that it could look like a clear bubble in the eye. I guess I'll keep him in isolation and observe him, and hope it clears up on its own.

 

[Wolverine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6816968#post6816968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AI3
i think it might be popeye. my black tang got it once, i didn't do anything about it and it went away naturally within 3 weeks.

While it can physically look like popeye, that's not what it truly is, since that's a fungal infection. It's basically an abrasion of the cornea, which causes the cornea to swell up (and in some cases because cloudy). As the cornea heals over a few days, it resolves. Our hawaiin trigger gets this all the time, because he's sort of clumsy and hits the rocks often.

Real popeye just keeps getting worse and will often spread to the other eye.

Dave

 

[aquagrl]

Epsom salts are supposed to help.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

didn't know that... thanks for the info dave...

so there is no way to physically tell the difference between popeye and just an abrasion?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6819574#post6819574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wolverine
While it can physically look like popeye, that's not what it truly is, since that's a fungal infection. It's basically an abrasion of the cornea, which causes the cornea to swell up (and in some cases because cloudy). As the cornea heals over a few days, it resolves. Our hawaiin trigger gets this all the time, because he's sort of clumsy and hits the rocks often.

Real popeye just keeps getting worse and will often spread to the other eye.

Dave

 

[Wolverine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6830465#post6830465 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AI3
didn't know that... thanks for the info dave...

so there is no way to physically tell the difference between popeye and just an abrasion?

It's not impossible, but it's difficult. A severe abrasion and a mild/early infection can look identical. IME, with the abrasion, the fish will look fine, then suddenly looks terrible, and then starts improving over the next few days. With the infection, it starts not bad, and then gets worse over several days (and often spreads to the other eye).

Often the abrasion give the eye sort of a frosted glass appearance, where light is getting through, it's just fogged. An infection will have more of a solid white-cream color to it.
It's easier to tell which to suspect after you've seen a lot of each of them.

Dave

 

[Philwd]

Just a FYI. Epsom salts are more of a FW cure since most saltwater already has more than enough magnesium. Best thing for an injured eye is very good water quality and if you suspect an infection put the fish in a hospital tank and treat with maracyn2 at double strength. Make sure the Maracyn is the SW version.