Help with popeye

[sweedish15]

So my nice vlamingi tang has developed popeye in one eye. What am i able to treat him with to help cure/heal the eye before it gets too big.

Nothings off with parametes, tank houses a few other smaller fish, yellow tang, chromis, goby, clown and a wrasse. All others are healthy, no one is fighting. He is still plump and eating like a hog.

I really dont want to lose this fish or him to lose his eye, is there anything i can do for it.

Please offer meds help and experience

thanks

 

[sandwi54]

Generally, when popeye happens to only one eye, it's a result of injury. Most of the time it will just heal on its own. If it doesn't seem to improve after a few days, you can remove the fish into a QT and treat with epsom salt, which will reduce the swelling.

If popeye happens to both eyes, it's a systemic infection and antibiotics can be used to treat it, in a QT of course.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Generally, when popeye happens to only one eye, it's a result of injury. Most of the time it will just heal on its own. If it doesn't seem to improve after a few days, you can remove the fish into a QT and treat with epsom salt, which will reduce the swelling.

If popeye happens to both eyes, it's a systemic infection and antibiotics can be used to treat it, in a QT of course.

+1 to the epsom salt, 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. You can treat right in the DT, as it is safe for corals/inverts/fish, making it a great first step to try. Look here for more info:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/epsomfaqs.htm

 

[sweedish15]

OK eye is popped out even more today with a blister/bubble almost entirely around one eye. Second eye is beginning to cloud so i decided to be more aggressive with this. The fish was only $40, but he's one of my oldest and i dont want to see him die if theres something i can do about it.

So i set up the quarantine tank with water from the display and a little new water as I dont have time to let it cycle. Its 10 gallons total with a pump for circulation, a heater for temp and some live rock from my display tank for comfort/hiding. I was able to catch the fish quickly and get him in the quarantine. I also added two table spoons of epsom salt before putting the fish in. Going to get some maracyn tonight and treat that also based on what i've read. Wish me luck.

 

[Chavito]

Hope all is good with your fish. Epsom salt and fish food soaked in supplements worked for me in the past for a clown which had popeye.

 

[sweedish15]

just to update, gave the second dose of maracyn tonight. Both eyes are now popped and look bad, but fish is still alive.

Side question: The quarantine tank is actually my water change brute trash can. Because the can and rock i put in have been exposed to the medication, should i no longer use the can for wc's nor put the rock back in my sump when done?

 

[b0bab0ey]

just to update, gave the second dose of maracyn tonight. Both eyes are now popped and look bad, but fish is still alive.

Side question: The quarantine tank is actually my water change brute trash can. Because the can and rock i put in have been exposed to the medication, should i no longer use the can for wc's nor put the rock back in my sump when done?

Technically if you clean both the brute and LR well enough you should be able to reuse but you'll probably decide it's not worth the effort. I'd sterilize both the brute and LR with a 10:1 water to bleach mix. Scrub the bottom & walls of the brute thoroughly, rinse thoroughly and then let it air dry until all the water evaporates. When you're done you shouldn't be able to smell any bleach. For the LR I'd take it even a step further: After the bleach bath you'll want to soak it in muriatic acid for 10 mins to remove the outer layer of the rock where any of the meds might have leached into. Obviously, rinse thoroughly when done.

Told ya it wasn't worth doing. :headwally: But IME it's the only way to be 100%... or should I say 99.9999999999999999% :spin2:

 

[coastie81]

I have had a clown and tang that developed pop eye, what I did was take mysis shrimp and soak in zoe, selecon or vitamin c and fed once an day and after a few days it cleared right up. my preference once i notice a fish is developing some kind of sickness I first start feeding them food enriched in vitamins and that usually helps.