LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
One of my anthias is hiding in the rock today with this weird ring around its eye. It was fine last night. Does this look like popeye?
Popeye?
- Thread starter LovesDogs_CatsRokay
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4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
I cannot tell if it is pop eye -- I am not too knowledgeable with anthias in general, so I cannot speak to that being normal marking. If you can get a photo that shows if it is sticking out or not that would help me with the disease component which I am helpful with 
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
I cannot tell if it is pop eye -- I am not too knowledgeable with anthias in general, so I cannot speak to that being normal marking. If you can get a photo that shows if it is sticking out or not that would help me with the disease component which I am helpful with
That was the best pic my husband could get unfortunately. I haven’t been home yet to see it in person, but he said it didn’t seem to be enlarged.
Big G
captain dunsel
That discoloration around the eye is not normal. Probably scrubbed the eye on a rock as it darts around the tank and now there is the scrub mark. Watch that area carefully as bacterial infections on anthias can go sideways very quickly. Redness, white, or white-ish grey areas should be viewed with great concern as they can be symptoms of bacterial infection. If you could easily catch it, LOL, I'd give it a 90 minute bath in an acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities. But I'd also be prepared to place it in a QT and dose with Sulfaplex (aka TripleSulfa) which works really well on infections/injuries of the head area.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
I just got home and while her eye is not a huge ball, the area is definitely swollen. Here is a zoomed in pic. Not sure if it helps. I have reef rally on hand but I’m not sure how to get her out.
Big G
captain dunsel
The swelling can be treated with an old school method of dosing the tank with plain USP epsom salts. One tablespoon per 5 gallon of tank water. You can redose in a couple of days one more time. This is reef safe so can be used in your DT. It will raise the magnesium level a bit.
Sometimes a fish trap works pretty good. Or if you wait until a couple of hours after the tank and room goes dark, and the fish is in an area where you can net it, use a small flashlight and shine it into the fish's face. The light will mesmerize the fish usually making it easy to net. Short of those ideas, the only way it to dig it out by removing some of the rock.
Watch the eye itself. If the eye begins to protrude or become hazy an infection has set in and can be treated with erythromycin.
Sometimes a fish trap works pretty good. Or if you wait until a couple of hours after the tank and room goes dark, and the fish is in an area where you can net it, use a small flashlight and shine it into the fish's face. The light will mesmerize the fish usually making it easy to net. Short of those ideas, the only way it to dig it out by removing some of the rock.
Watch the eye itself. If the eye begins to protrude or become hazy an infection has set in and can be treated with erythromycin.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
Okay. I will give the epsom salts a try first. She doesn’t seem to be stressed other than hiding. She’s not breathing heavy or laying on her side or anything, and the spot where she is hiding is where she normally sleeps. There’s about 70 gallons of water, so 14 tablespoons? That seems like kind of a lot. Should I dissolve it in water first? Or just put it right in the sump? I tested my magnesium last night and it was low, so that will actually help.The swelling can be treated with an old school method of dosing the tank with plain USP epsom salts. One tablespoon per 5 gallon of tank water. You can redose in a couple of days one more time. This is reef safe so can be used in your DT. It will raise the magnesium level a bit.
Sometimes a fish trap works pretty good. Or if you wait until a couple of hours after the tank and room goes dark, and the fish is in an area where you can net it, use a small flashlight and shine it into the fish's face. The light will mesmerize the fish usually making it easy to net. Short of those ideas, the only way it to dig it out by removing some of the rock.
Watch the eye itself. If the eye begins to protrude or become hazy an infection has set in and can be treated with erythromycin.
Big G
captain dunsel
Usually just use some of the tank water to mix up the epsom.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Also watch the other eye. If it also starts to pop, that increases the odds that it's an infection.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
The swelling can be treated with an old school method of dosing the tank with plain USP epsom salts. One tablespoon per 5 gallon of tank water. You can redose in a couple of days one more time. This is reef safe so can be used in your DT. It will raise the magnesium level a bit.
Sometimes a fish trap works pretty good. Or if you wait until a couple of hours after the tank and room goes dark, and the fish is in an area where you can net it, use a small flashlight and shine it into the fish's face. The light will mesmerize the fish usually making it easy to net. Short of those ideas, the only way it to dig it out by removing some of the rock.
Watch the eye itself. If the eye begins to protrude or become hazy an infection has set in and can be treated with erythromycin.
Her eye is cloudy today and is bulging quite a bit. Should I give more time for the epsom salt to work or try to pull her out and treat her? Should I use reef rally, erythromycin, or sulfaplex?
Big G
captain dunsel
Erythromycin for eye infections dosed into a QT. Erythromycin can be harsh on the biofilter, so use plenty of bioSpira or similar product and an foam air bubble filter with the foam soaked in Biospira. Lots of O2.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
We managed to catch her and put her in a hospital tank with the first dose of API EM. Only had to rescape half the DT to do it
I couldnt get a hold of any biospira or similar. Do you know if it goes bad? I have a bottle that was opened about 2 months ago. It still has its same smell just much stronger now.
Big G
captain dunsel
BioSpira does decrease in capability once opened and with age. Unknown if it is viable after 2 months. This is one of the reasons why I usually use Seachem Stability more often these days. It does not act as fast as Biospira, which "fast" is what most demand," but it creates a more diverse long term bio stability. I hesitate to recommend it because it is so slow to develop and people complain at my recommendation as lots of folks what it "now." But it is what I keep on hand. It does not require refrigeration to keep fresh. But I'm babbling.We managed to catch her and put her in a hospital tank with the first dose of API EM. Only had to rescape half the DT to do it
Bottom line is I'd dose it as it's what you have on hand. Lot's of O2 for erythromycin. And do water changes as necessary. The last thing you want is an O2 depleting med and high ammonia. I'd mix up a batch or two of fresh saltwater and have it ready to go as needed. Low stress is good for both you and the fish you are trying to help.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
I have a hob filter with foam pads and an airstone. It’s a 10 gallon tank. Think that’s enough O2? I could add a small powerhead but wasn’t sure if the current would be good for?
Big G
captain dunsel
That's great. Soak the foam pads in Biospira. The air stone helps. But a small powerhead aimed up to the surface where it is actively rippling the water surface is way better for O2 production.
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LovesDogs_CatsRokay
Valuable Member
Good news! Her eye is almost completly back to normal! Thank you so much for your help!
