Possible Popeye?

[JTremonte]

Clownfish with 1 swollen eyelid all the way around.

Hes currently in my QT tank which he only 4 more days of copper left untill I transfer to med tank for prazi dose.

The female shows no signs of anything however.

I've added Metroplex to the tank to help assuming it may help a bit.

Eating fine, acting normal. All water parameters are in check.

Coppersafe at 1.9 ppm

Any other suggestions / med advice?

 

[JTremonte]

 

[JTremonte]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

When a fish develops popeye in just one eye, it is almost always due to mechanical damage. Very often, these issues heal on their own, but in this case, it also looks a bit cloudy. There could be a secondary bacterial infection going on. Erythromycin (Maracyn 1) is typically a good treatment for that. If you want to read up on fish eye disease issues, here is a link to an article I wrote about them:

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay

 

[JTremonte]

Will update
Picture clearly does not portray very clearly. I've inspected him for nearly an hour. Swelling keeps growing but I don't see cloudiness. I've placed him in another emergency tank with meds yesterday. I will keep this updated.

Thank god for 5 cycled QT tanks that I maintain.

 

[JTremonte]

Update.

On 2nd treatment with Maracyn.

Looks worse now imo.

Also been trying to add metroplex, kanaplex in food which he has been eating.

Daily water change.

Frozen omnivore food mix.

Yes it looks like a lot of food but I waterchange after.

 

[JTremonte]

Video won't upload.

Here are pictures

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes - that does look worse. Is it still feeding? If so, that is a promising sign. I've had fish lose their entire eye but still survive. Just checking you got Maracyn 1, not 2, right?

Jay

 

[JTremonte]

Correct. Maracyn 1. He still eats fine. He hasn't been breathing overly heavy. I know he's blind in that eye however. I don't see no other issues. Fins look fine, rest of body looks fine. Next week I may try a fungal cure to see possibly? However I doubt it, but can't hurt. The female I have when I bought the pair has been doing amazing. I have been treating her with the same just on the safe side. He will stay in the med tank until it's healed. Even if it's for 6 months.

 

[JTremonte]

Meds on hand for this situation at the moment

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Correct. Maracyn 1. He still eats fine. He hasn't been breathing overly heavy. I know he's blind in that eye however. I don't see no other issues. Fins look fine, rest of body looks fine. Next week I may try a fungal cure to see possibly? However I doubt it, but can't hurt. The female I have when I bought the pair has been doing amazing. I have been treating her with the same just on the safe side. He will stay in the med tank until it's healed. Even if it's for 6 months.

Definitely run the full course of the Maracyn. It isn't a fungal infection, those are extremely rare in marine fish - I've only confirmed one true external marine fungal infection in the past ten years.

Jay

 

[JTremonte]

Will do. I think with his behavior he will make it. Might be a 1 eyed pirate eventually but he shows signs of making it imo. Only time will see. I'll give an update in 2 more weeks.

 

[JTremonte]

His eye popped out and he didn't make it unfortunately. Felt I did the books right. His eye socket or the lump seemed very hard like a mass. Was more expecting mushy or deflated but it was not.