Serious popeye problem-- suggestions needed

[bettaman]

One of my white cloud minnows has developed pop-eye which surprises me because I keep the water quality very high. The eye is so far removed from the socket it appears to be separating from the rest of the body, one good hit or slice would take it right off. What should I do at this point? The fish is swimming actively but refuses to eat. He is in an isolation tank right now. I've heard that fish can adapt quite well with one eye. Should I remove it myself, if so how? I'll try to take a picture since words do not do his condition justice.

[bettaman]

Come on guys this is serious, the eye is half way off now!!

[jemmabubbles]

have you tried interpet anti internal bacteria, from your pet shop, it's about four quid, follow the instructions on the bottle, and see if that helps, it works for my fish, good luck hun. :)

[Faramir]

I don't think they have Interpet over in the USA.

Does sound like an internal bacterial problem. I doubt the fish will survive though.

[Cichlid Woman]

Recommended treatment for popeye is a "broad spectrum antibiotic," according to the site I visited. Here's the link:

http://www.2cah.com/pandora/Disease.html#External

HTH.

-- Pat

[bettaman]

UPDATE: I had the white cloud in a quaritine tank with my rainbow shark, the last time I had checked the eye was about halfway off of the fish. I went out for a while and came back this morning to find that the eye completely fell off!! I looked for eye in the tank which is bare bottom and I could not find it all, so I'm assuming the rainbow shark ate it!! What a nasty fish. Anyway the fish seems to be doing well with just one eye. I'll post some pics if he stays still for a minute. Lets hope he survives.

[appaloosatb]

Good luck with it! I hope your fish survives. I had the same thing happen to a gourami I bought from Walmart, but she also developed a parasitic infection (I could see them on her mouth and gills) and had to be put down. I'd treat with Melafix and possibly a small amount of aquarium salt and keep your eyes peeled for a secondary infection. I had a cory cat live with only one eye for close to 6 months and he never even seemed to realize his handicap!