Eye trauma / Purple tang

[Artisan]

Yesterday I was admiring my juvenile purple tang. She's a solid little fish that has always been healthy and a good eater with beautiful colors... Right up to the point where I watched her get sucked into my MP40. Ugh... Because I was right there, I was able to get her out very quickly, but the damage was done. Now she looks as if she has popeye. My water conditions are pristine and I have a quarantine tank on standby, but I'm not sure how to handle this because it's a physical injury and not a disease. Can anyone recommend a treatment? Has anyone ever seen a fish recover from this kind of physical injury?

 

[melypr1985]

I would suggest a methyline blue dip and to have antibiotics on hand just in case of infection. Adding vitamins to the food is a good choice now as well. vitachem or selcon are good examples of vitamins to use.

Methylene Blue: Treats ammonia burn, cuts, injuries. Will possibly detoxify a fish that has been exposed to cyanide poisoning.

How To Treat - Comes in both liquid and powder form, sometimes mixed in with another medication. So, follow the directions on the label. Generally used as a 30 minute bath/dip at double dose, but you can also dose it directly into a quarantine tank. Aerate heavily. You can combine M Blue with nitrofurazone (active ingredient found in Furan-2) if needing to treat for a bacterial infection. In fact, Nitrofuracin Green Powder contains both medications and is great for treating open wounds or sores.

Malachite Green is sometimes used in lieu of M Blue, but it is considered “harsher” on fish than Methylene Blue.

Pros - Highly effective.

Cons/Side Effects - Depletes oxygen from the water.