Pop Eye - help !!

[Jerms]

One of my Australian blue rainbowfish is remaining pretty still in the water, fins held tight, gasping a bit. The only unusual or should I say noticeable signs ( apart from above ) is that both eyes are bulging. Any guesses. A new problem to me may be an old problem to someone else. Thanks. :(

[Doublette90]

I can't really offer much advice except to give you a link to a good article I found a couple of weeks ago on Pop-Eye.

http://www.aquamaniacs.net/popeye.html
Hope it helps.

[wetmanNY]

That depiction of imaginary "Gas Bubble Disease" is a vivid and classic depiction of this breathless fantasy. It's based on the appearance of bubbles of all the atmospheric gases, when very cold tapwater under pressure in the water mains is suddenly released into an aquarium. Bubbles form on the tank walls, plants, etc and even temporarily on the fish. But when you get to "When there is this difference between gas pressures, the gas gets pulled too quickly out of the bloodstream, leaving gas bubbles behind" you're in the Land of Oz.

A lot of the rest of the information in that article is more realistic. Viruses and bacteria can cause the buildup of fluid in the eye socket. But recommended medications for bacterial infections are optimistic, at best. And bacteriostatic dyes etc. diluted in the aquarium water are a will-o'-the-wisp.

[OrionGirl]

Does it come with a pair of ruby slippers?

Check your water conditions. it sounds as though the fish is in distress, which could be the result of several things. If this is a new fish, it may have an infection of some sort. If this is a fish you have had for a while, then you need to determine what has changed in the tank. Any new decorations? Change in diet? Maintenance changes? Any new tankmates?

Either way, if it were me, I'd pull that fish from the tank into a q-tank, and do a water change on the main tank JIC. Then the ailing fish can be observed and treated as needed easily.

[Doublette90]

guess I was no help then huh?:confused: I guess it goes to show I can't trust everything I read on the net. I have much more learning to do.

[wetmanNY]

Don't just believe my skeptical reaction-- use what you know. How could atmospheric gases coming out of solution in the water create a bubble behind the eyeball? If you stop to analyze it, "Gas Bubble Disease" doesn't make any sense.

But do a www.google.com search "gas+bubble+disease" and you'll read lots about this phantom, especially at koi sites.