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Anonymous
Guest
My Clarkii clown suddenly came down with a nasty case of popeye. What is the usual treatment? I did a 15% water change to rule out anything environmental.
Glenn
Glenn
Popeye is a tough condition to diagnose and remedy, since there are so many causitive agents that can cause it. In most cases, Popeye developes due to trauma, either to the fish or directly to the eye. Changes in physical (salinty, temperature) and chemical (NH3, NO2, NO3, etc.) parameters can induce Popeye, as well as injury to the eye (e.g. accidental scraping or attack by another organism). In these cases, the best thing to do is to keep the fish in its aquarium and adjust its surroundings accordingly. If the condition is due to poor water parameters, fix it with a series of 20-30% water changes (a single 15% water change may not effectively correct problems). If the condition is due to stress, remove the stressor (e.g. bullying fish). If the fish is infliciting self damage, then you should remove the fish into an environment devoid of abrasive material like rocks and sand. Popeye usually heals in a few weeks. If the condition worsens without your intervention .....
Popeye may also be caused by pathogenic origin such as bacteria or fungus. The eye itself may be infected, or the condition may actually be symptomatic of another disease present in the fish. For example, Strepptococcus (aka TB) in fish may manifest itself as Popeye. It's very difficult to diagnose. If you suspect that the condition originated from a said pathogen, it's best to remove the fish into a QT tank and administer topical medication accordingly. In marine environments, gram negative bacteria is predominant (gram+ and fungal diseases are far rarer). I would try is erythromycin (Maracyn II for SW), kanamycin sulfate (Spectrogram), or Neomycin.
Again, it's a tough condition to properly diagnose. Good luck!
Popeye may also be caused by pathogenic origin such as bacteria or fungus. The eye itself may be infected, or the condition may actually be symptomatic of another disease present in the fish. For example, Strepptococcus (aka TB) in fish may manifest itself as Popeye. It's very difficult to diagnose. If you suspect that the condition originated from a said pathogen, it's best to remove the fish into a QT tank and administer topical medication accordingly. In marine environments, gram negative bacteria is predominant (gram+ and fungal diseases are far rarer). I would try is erythromycin (Maracyn II for SW), kanamycin sulfate (Spectrogram), or Neomycin.
Again, it's a tough condition to properly diagnose. Good luck!
In the Vet school, we always attempt to treat popeye by increasing salinity in our treatment tanks slowly and slightly over normal levels. Its not uncommon for fish held in hyposaline environments to develop the conditions as Len pointed out... we did this for 2 huge black drum not long ago and after ~20 days they had both recovered. Ideal reef salinities are around the 35ppt mark or 1.026 sg.
Hi:
Len pointed out most of the problems and some solutions to this problem. The way i look at it is simple, popeye is caused by environment, trauma, or disease. So try to rule out each.
A series of water exchanges to get your paramters back in line, followed by a few days to see if that does anything. If not, them remove the fish and treat popeye w/ an antibiotic. I find SW maracynII or nitrofuran are most effective.
Try to get a good look at the eye, is it clear but popped out, or cloudy, scratched, or red, and popped out?
frank
Len pointed out most of the problems and some solutions to this problem. The way i look at it is simple, popeye is caused by environment, trauma, or disease. So try to rule out each.
A series of water exchanges to get your paramters back in line, followed by a few days to see if that does anything. If not, them remove the fish and treat popeye w/ an antibiotic. I find SW maracynII or nitrofuran are most effective.
Try to get a good look at the eye, is it clear but popped out, or cloudy, scratched, or red, and popped out?
frank
This has happened to me once with a Pigmy angel. I couldn't get him out of the main tank to treat him, so I just watched and hoped. It went away on it's own over the course of several days. Keep in mind that there did not seem to be any secondary fungus or infection, just a nice clean bubble behind the eyeball.
It's pretty gruesome looking.
It's pretty gruesome looking.
If it's clear, I suspect it's either from physical damage or environmental stress. It should go away on its own. You may want to follow wade's advice and slowly elevate you salnity (if it's not already at 1.025).
Now as for epson salt, I remember reading about it for freshwater fish, but never heard of its use in SW aquariums. To be honest, I'm not sure why epson salt is recommended. Perhaps it's because it's been known to reduce swelling, or perhaps it's based on old folklore the epson salts can essentially cure anything. Perhaps it has something to do with it's buffering ability (iesp. for alkanine freshwater fish like cichlids). In any case, I'm not sure, but I've never tried it nor have I heard of anyone trying it on SW fish. Magnesium is the active ingredient in epson salt, so maybe a biochemist may be able to attribute Mg to something(?).
I would leave the fish unmedicated for a few more days.
Now as for epson salt, I remember reading about it for freshwater fish, but never heard of its use in SW aquariums. To be honest, I'm not sure why epson salt is recommended. Perhaps it's because it's been known to reduce swelling, or perhaps it's based on old folklore the epson salts can essentially cure anything. Perhaps it has something to do with it's buffering ability (iesp. for alkanine freshwater fish like cichlids). In any case, I'm not sure, but I've never tried it nor have I heard of anyone trying it on SW fish. Magnesium is the active ingredient in epson salt, so maybe a biochemist may be able to attribute Mg to something(?).
I would leave the fish unmedicated for a few more days.
The treatment of Popeye depends on who you are.
If you're Olive Oyl, you'll probably be making picnic lunches for him and giving him a peck on the cheek every now and then.
If you're Bluto, you'll want to pound the living s**t out of him for moving in on that skinny tart you both seem to be attracted to.
Sorry. Couldn't resist. :wink:
Steve
8{I
If you're Olive Oyl, you'll probably be making picnic lunches for him and giving him a peck on the cheek every now and then.
If you're Bluto, you'll want to pound the living s**t out of him for moving in on that skinny tart you both seem to be attracted to.
Sorry. Couldn't resist. :wink:
Steve
8{I
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