Flame angel showing signs of popeye

[bryanvin]

just recently aquired a flame angelfish about 3 days, has been in qt since hes been home. Today when checking on him noticed that only his right eye seems to be bulging a little bit.

His left eye (the normal one) is pretty flat with just a little curve to the eye lens. But his Right eye looks as if the clear lens is bulged out noticeably more so than on the left, and appears to be a little cloudy, not 100% sure on that, he moves a lot.

So... being that its only one did he just perhaps injure it, or is this a sign of popeye developing. Beyond the one eye, his behavior/feeding/stress/etc.. all seem fine.

If this is the start of popeye, should I begin treating the qt, or should i be patient and wait to see if his eye gets any worse.

 

[Pescado Racing]

I would treat with a sulfa based med. since he is in qt right now it would be best to tend to his eye, rather then wait.

 

[rcypert]

Better water quality will usually take care of popeye without treatment.
How bad is the water in your QT?

 

[bryanvin]

not bad at all...

ph 8.3
temp 80 degrees
salinity 1.009 (currently have him in hypo)

have ammonia badge in qt and also test twice a day with API kit and change water whenever ammonia is detected, usually 25-50% water change daily... i use 1/3 dt water, 1/3 new salt water, 1/3 ro water for doing my changes.

 

[bryanvin]

Ok, after observing him while feeding tonight, his right eye is definitely worse than it was yesterday. Its a little more distended and appearing a little cloudy. I understand that popeye usually indicates poor water quality, however I am trying to keep the qt as stable as possible during hyposalinity.

regardless, id like to treat with some medications... any suggestions, maracyn, maracyn 2, sulfa? Am currently feeding food which i soak in selco and garlic extract to help boost his immune system

 

[Percula9]

Popeye is not always poor water quality. If the eye received an injury then bacteria gets in and starts an infection. Why is he in hypo? Is there ich? Treat with antibiotics before it's to late. Popeye can progress to the loss of the eye.

 

[bryanvin]

just purchased him from my lfs and have heard sotries of ich from the store, so i figured during his time in QT, Id set it up hyposalinity, just as a preventative measure in case he is carrying ich.

Considering its only his right eye which is looking poorly Id imagine it is just an injury thats infected. So... as for antibiotics, Ive been hearing Maracyn, Furan-2, Sulfa, whats the best route to go.

Oh, also have been using Instant Ocean's Lifegaurd, 5 day dissolve tablet treatment, its active ingredient is 1-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone, if that means anything to you guys. the box just says its a broad spectrum non-antibiotic agent, so dont know if its doing anything really

 

[Percula9]

I have always had good luck with Furan2. Obviously lifeguard is not working. I personally would not hypo a fish unless there is signs of infection. Hypo is not a guarantee it will kill the ich. I prefer to keep in QT at normal salinity and observe for at least 6 weeks. If necessary then copper or formalin will kill the parasite for sure at the proper dosage. A salinity of 1.009 is really pushing the edge of osmoregulation.