Popeye Anthias :(

ser_renely

ser_renely

Active member
I have been reading up on popeye. My male Anthias got it on Thursday night(4 days ago).

Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to QT him for a few reasons....mainly it would take weeks to get any treatment medication for him. He is in my Reef tank. He is eating and acts relatively normal, although it is clear he knows something is wrong. Poor eye is huge.

No idea how he got it, guessing he ran into an urchin? I have very good water quality and never had any fish issues....at least since I learned my trade 6 years ago or so.

I plan to keep him stuffed with food.

Best water I can give him, although when it rains it pours as my tank broke last night as well(center brace).

Anything else I can do? How long will this last. I am guessing he will be blind in the eye...seems so now.

Thanks :(
 
I had this on an anthias, and it healed over 10 days or so and the eye returned to normal.

In my case the weakest fish in the harem was constantly harassed by the aggressive dominant fish and I suspect this was an injury due to this. One eye was affected, not two...if it were two it's more likely to be disease or a water quality problem.

Is he a new fish?

HTH and GL!
:wave:
 
Agree on the Epsom salts (though the non-scented kind :)). Popeye is usually recoverable without intervention though.
 
Thank you all.

I added a 1/4 cup of magnesium chloride from BRS, yesterday after a 25 gal water change. 70g total or so. When should I add again?

It is in one eye....its massive :( . He is the Male so he is the dominant one in my tank. He does not get picked on and is relatively comfortable. He has new behaviors.... i.e hanging out on the right side of the tank so he can see out his good eye to the left. I have a very low aggressive tank consisting of two clowns that don't have a care in the world.... probably wouldn't care if there was no water in the tank. A blue Chromis and my anthias : the male with the popeye and a little one.

not new fish.

I don't want to stress him out...since they pretty much die if you say boo to them.

Anything can be added that is reef safe? doubt it?
 
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If it in one eye that means it probably from a injury and not bacterial. You should add the Epsom salt everyday until it gets better
 
Stick a hypodermic needle in the stretched membrane around the eye and pull back on the plunger. Do not stick it in the eye. The eye will instantly go back where it was supposed to be. I know you won't do this, but that is how you cure it in 4 seconds.
 
Dmorty217 said:
That's some serious Popeye, keep treating the appropriate amount of Epsom salt everyday
Click to expand...

Will do. Yes, today seems to be the largest.

Paul B said:
Stick a hypodermic needle in the stretched membrane around the eye and pull back on the plunger. Do not stick it in the eye. The eye will instantly go back where it was supposed to be. I know you won't do this, but that is how you cure it in 4 seconds.
Click to expand...

If I could catch him I would! He seems to be bumping into the rocks with it on some cornering.

Will it pop or just go away? Should I do anything to my tank if it pops?

He is still eating like a champ and I have increased feeding to help him fight it off....if that does anything.
 
ser_renely said:
Will do. Yes, today seems to be the largest.



If I could catch him I would! He seems to be bumping into the rocks with it on some cornering.

Will it pop or just go away? Should I do anything to my tank if it pops?

He is still eating like a champ and I have increased feeding to help him fight it off....if that does anything.
Click to expand...

Paul always has the old school remedies for things like this but what he mentioned can be daunting if you have never done it before. If he is still eating that is good, if he is bumping into rock and such with the bad eye that isn't good. Any of the swelling that will go down will keep coming back. If it comes down to it you may have to try and catch him from the bad eye side or set a fish trap and do what Paul suggested to save him. Secondary infection could set in and eventually kill the Anthias
 
I have done it probably a dozen times and never lost a patient. That stretched membrane is very thin and the only thing holding the eye in. In that condition, the optic nerve is stretched and if it stretches enough blood supply to the eye is cut off and the eye dies leaving a disgusting scar. The fish don't seem to mind but I do, so if you can catch him. Fix him. If you had one of your eyes hanging out like that and someone said they could fix it in 4 seconds, would you say something like "Oh God No, I like my eye like this because now I am a Chick Magnet and can see whats on top of my head" Or would you say, Just fix it already?
 
Paul B said:
I have done it probably a dozen times and never lost a patient. That stretched membrane is very thin and the only thing holding the eye in. In that condition, the optic nerve is stretched and if it stretches enough blood supply to the eye is cut off and the eye dies leaving a disgusting scar. The fish don't seem to mind but I do, so if you can catch him. Fix him. If you had one of your eyes hanging out like that and someone said they could fix it in 4 seconds, would you say something like "Oh God No, I like my eye like this because now I am a Chick Magnet and can see whats on top of my head" Or would you say, Just fix it already?
Click to expand...

Well put as always
 
Good news to report. His swelling is dramatically down! He also seems to be able to see out of it somewhat...I think.

Will update.
 
So he can definitely see out of his eye!

Hope the swelling continues to improve. I would say 2/3 smaller this morning.
 
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