Popeye

[FishieNut]

I've got a saddleback clown with one popeye. He seems healthy, swimming around, eating, doing fine by all appearances. However, he has this large poped out eye. I spent some time setting up my QT tank (doing a water chang at the same time) BUT there is no way I can catch this guy! I tried with the lights on, with the lights off, during the night, with two nets. I've got too many rocks and hiding places.

I believe he's stressed. He used to be the BOSSMAN of the tank, but I got three Lyretail Anthias about a month ago and the male has taken control -- Tuti De Capo Tuti!

Is there anything I can do? I really don't want to medicate the whole tank unless it's Absolutely a must.

Thanks for the help.

[leebca]

You're probably right about the stress changing things. Marine fishes have a good ability to prevent and manage bacterial infections. In the captive tank they may be subject to excess number of bacteria, which they can still manage. But add more stressors on top of this scenario and 'anything goes.'

Popeye can be a bacterial condition. I wrote out most about this condition in my previous reply to your post.

A tank treatment with live rock, living substrate, and an active biofilter is really not a good idea, as you yourself don't wish to perform. If you're not going to catch the fish and put it in a QT where it will not be stressed by the other fish and can be treated, then about the only other option would be to use a treatment that can be used for the tank IN ADDITION to feeding antibiotics in the fish food.

A tank treatment can be Melafix. See this post: Melafix and Pimafix - How They Work and Don't Work for some pros and cons to that treatment regime.

Foods laced with antibiotics is about the best you can do. However, this is a more uncertain kind of treatment. Jungle makes some foods combined with antibiotics or you can 'make your own' by crushing up a Maracyn 2 for Marine Fish tablet and adding a tiny bit to each food being fed.

Increase your vigilance on nutrition and be sure to include vitamin and fat supplements with the food. Also add beta glucan to the food.

Obviously, if the fish stops eating or won't eat, this whole bit of advice goes into the toilet. If the fish stops eating I'm afraid you either catch it and treat it in a QT or stand by and see how long it takes to die or recover on its own. They can sometimes recover on their own, but usually only if all those stressors are removed.

[FishieNut]

Thank, Lee.

[FishieNut]

I've tried catching him, but now he's wise to my two nets in the water. I think I'm stressing him out more than leaving him alone. He's still eating and looks healthy -- save his eye, which seems to be just about to pop.
I just got Maracyn 2, so I'll try that. I've been using a couple of drops of Vita Chem in the food. I'll try the Maracyn.

[Frag Hag]

FishieNut,

Posting in pop-eyed amphiprion solidarity!

I'm also dealing with a nasty case of pop-eye on my clarkii. I originally thought it might be bacterial, and treated with Maracyn 2 - with no results.

I then surfed over to Wet Web Media, and read that if the condition in only in one eye, it might be indicative of mechanical injury. They suggested adding 1 tbls of Epsom salt per 10 gallons to reduce swelling. O-kaaaay. Two days later... No results.

I've now taken to calling the clarkii Quasimodo, and I've had to stop my better half from Nemo-ing her twice this morning (for those not well versed in Disney, this refers to "freeing" fish in toilet).

Quasimodo is eating with gusto, although hiding under the rocks more these days (I'm blaming my husband), hopefully, we'll find something that works, or I may need to look into a mini-eyepatch.

Hang in there!

Shay

[leebca]

The "Epsom Salts treatment" is about the worst advice that's come down the pike lately. I don't know who started the rumor.

Epsom Salts contains as its main ingredient magnesium sulfate. The other ingredients are a variety of minor impurities. Sea water contains 'Epsom salts' already since it contains magnesium and sulfate. Epsom Salts is one of the possible choices used to adjust the magnesium level in reef tanks (provided only a little is needed).

Epsom Salts was and still is used in freshwater tanks. There is very little magnesium in freshwater tanks.