Fish with Popeye

Bob Escher · Oct 4, 2019

I have a Pajama cardinal fish that has a bad popeye. I tried to catch him when I first noticed it but I gave it up. It’s probably been a month now if not more. It doesn’t seem to bother him. He swims fine. although he used to stay in the rocks until it came time for feeding now he tends to stay half in and out of the rocks.
should I leave him or try to treat him. Or euthanized him.
I have had him close to six years.
if I can treat him with what
Thanks

Gareth elliott · Oct 5, 2019

Most eye infections do not spread further than the eye. He could lose the eye if the infection spreads to the optical nerve, but most infections are incapable of getting past the blood brain barrier.

If you can not catch him you could try feeding a tetracycline(doxycycline, clindamyacin) with focus. As tetracyclines can break this barrier and treat vibrio which is a common bacterium to cause eye infections in fish. Api fin and body is a readily available doxycycline.
Can also raise your magnesium to 1500 to help reduce swelling.

If can catch the fish treat with erythromycin. Api e.m.

LAReefer4Life · Oct 5, 2019

Good sign that he is eating. I'd feed kanplex + focus for 2 weeks first before attempting to move and see if it heals. Add garlic guard to entice the fish eat the meds.

Good luck!

Bob Escher · Oct 7, 2019

It was recommended to dose Erythromycin but after I added it I also saw ( after it came in ) that Maracyn two was specific for popeye
is it OK to use these two together or do I need to empty my ten gallon QT and start over

vetteguy53081 · Oct 7, 2019

Start with an Epsom salt bath which many times will start cure alone.

Bob Escher · Oct 7, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Start with an Epsom salt bath which many times will start cure alone.

I already have the Erythromycin in the tank, I’m trying to run a ten gallon hob filter with carbon to filter it out, but in the meantime I do t want to run out and get Epsom salts too. While I have the Maracyn
so can I add the Maracyn

Gareth elliott · Oct 7, 2019

Humblefish always had mire success with the Erythromycin than other antibiotics for eye infections. The this fas been a month or more is why i am suggesting the antibiotics first. Normally one eye means an injury. 2 eyes infection. Dont mix Erythromycin with another antibiotic if no improvement in 48 hours do a 100% wc and switch to the other antibiotic/

Bob Escher · Oct 7, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
Humblefish always had mire success with the Erythromycin than other antibiotics for eye infections. The this fas been a month or more is why i am suggesting the antibiotics first. Normally one eye means an injury. 2 eyes infection. Dont mix Erythromycin with another antibiotic if no improvement in 48 hours do a 100% wc and switch to the other antibiotic/

One eye only and he’s had it for a while. He’s in QT now. Seems to be doing ok. I hope it works. He’s one of my oldest fish in my collection
he’s staying at the top of the tank in one corner though. Which he had been doing the last week in the DT

Gareth elliott · Oct 7, 2019

Also add 1 tablespoon of epsom salt per 5 gallons. Might help with the swelling.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 7, 2019

I suggested Epson much earlier as it is one eye only and likely not an infection

Bob Escher · Oct 7, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
Also add 1 tablespoon of epsom salt per 5 gallons. Might help with the swelling.

Thanks I’ll buy some in the morning

Bob Escher · Oct 8, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Start with an Epsom salt bath which many times will start cure alone.

how often should I add the Epsom salts, he’s feeding so I need to do a water change as well

vetteguy53081 · Oct 8, 2019

Bob Escher said:
how often should I add the Epsom salts, he’s feeding so I need to do a water change as well

daily on baths and great that its eating. Since he's eating, alternate daily. . . Vitamins and garlic extract to its' food

Gareth elliott · Oct 8, 2019

In the qt you can dose it twice, than dose the water change water applicably. Ie dose 3 tablespoon for 15 gallons. Than the next day repeat. Each 1 gallon water change dose the water change water ~1 teaspoon.

Bob Escher · Oct 8, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
daily on baths and great that its eating. Since he's eating, alternate daily. . . Vitamins and garlic extract to its' food

Suggestion on vitamins

vetteguy53081 · Oct 8, 2019

Bob Escher said:
Suggestion on vitamins

Selcon or Vitachem

Bob Escher · Oct 8, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Selcon or Vitachem

THAT WAS A DUH

Gareth elliott · Oct 11, 2019

How is the fish doing?

Bob Escher · Oct 11, 2019

Gareth elliott said:
How is the fish doing?

He passed last night, I screwed up. He would eat flake food, but he was eating frozen food with garlic.
but yesterday afternoon at two, I turned off air stone and hob filter ( had nothing in it just to circulate water) and fed him frozen and it looked like he was eating
and I spaced turning back on.
we came back home at 9:30 and he was dead.
so I think it was a combination of him being weak and that.
he had been doing good in the ten gallon tank.

thanks

Gareth elliott · Oct 11, 2019

Bob Escher said:
He passed last night, I screwed up. He would eat flake food, but he was eating frozen food with garlic.
but yesterday afternoon at two, I turned off air stone and hob filter ( had nothing in it just to circulate water) and fed him frozen and it looked like he was eating
and I spaced turning back on.
we came back home at 9:30 and he was dead.
so I think it was a combination of him being weak and that.
he had been doing good in the ten gallon tank.

thanks

Sorry to hear about the loss