Kribensis with popeye

L

lucky777ca

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Jan 25, 2006
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Well, last monday, I started treatment for popeye with Maracyn II and the enlargement of his eye was diminishing a bit. So, when I changed the water, I added some new activated carbon to remove the other medications with the Maracyn II (some fungus remover to remove the fungus forming... seems like it was everywhere)... When I did add the new activated carbon, the kribensis was out of the cave... Thinking that the Maracyn II wasn't working, I started treatment with Melafix. Now the kribensis is hiding in the cave again... (seems like the eye is enlarging again, I'm not really sure if it is getting larger, since I could only see the enlarged eye from inside the cave).

I was thinking of getting the 24 Caplet package of Maracyn II and I wouldn't like to spend money if it isn't necessary, so therefore, the question is: Could it be that in order to cure the popeye, I just need extremely clean water? I stopped using Maracyn II on Sunday (WC on same day) and started Melafix on Tuesday (when I got a hold of that medication). Somewhere between the final days of treatment of Maracin II and the starting of the Melafix medication, he was getting better by staying somewhat outside of its cave. So I'm not really sure what the best medication would be.

And would activeness be sign of getting better for a fish with popeye?
 
I hear a lot of conflicting information regarding popeye.

many treat it with anti biotics treatment should be atleast 7-10 days for antibiotics.

I also know of folks who have successfully treated popeye with very clean water(pristine). part of the success could be realted directly to the severity of the infliction.
 
My favorite fish recently came down with popeye. I used Melafix as directed for 7 days, but it didn't really do anything. His eye got so big it popped, then came off. He's alive and healthy now, just missing an eye. It's possible the Melafix kept him from dying from this, but I don't really know. I would go back to the Maracyn II if it was working before. I wish you all the luck.

Laura
 
In treating my betta with popeye, I began by adding epsom salts to the water, and did daily large water changes. This helped about 50%. So I medicated him in a QT with Maracyn 2 for I believe a week (whatever the recommended medication period was on the package) and the condition gradually diminished. Took about 2 more weeks of daily water changes after the medicatin period to disappear completely.
 
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Popeye or exophthalmia is a symptom, not a disease in itself and it can have a large number of potential causes. some of these causes are incurable while others can potentially be cured on a sporadic basis.

the bulging or protruding eye(s), as the name 'popeye' implies, is symptomatic of this condition. potential causes include --- infrequent water changes which results in a buildup of dissolved waste products in the water, Ichthyosporidium -- a parasitic fungus, Ichthyophonus, 'worm cataract disease'-- a function of the invasion of parasitic trematodes or flukes, bacterial infection, parasite infestation -- eye flukes and internal metabolic disorders.

since the causes of popeye are so varied, the treatment is difficult. some success has been noted in treatment of Ichthyosporidium using one percent phenoxyethanol at about 50gm per gallon of water.

treatment for bacterial disease would best be accomplished using Tetracycline or Teramycin added to aquarium water every other day or mixing food at the rate of 100 mg of antibiotic to 4 oz. of food. Feeding should continue 10 days.

Fish tuberculosis can also be responsible for pop-eye. Since fish tuberculosis is a bacterial disease caused by a Mycobacterium, the same antibiotics can be used in the same manner for treatment if this is the suspected cause. other effective treatments for bacterial exophthalia may include Chlortetracycline, Furazolidone, Nifurpirinol, Oxolinic acid, Oxytetracycline or potentiated sulphonamide. unfortunately these treatments are most effective when injected into the eye socket and less so when used as a bath.

if the fish has eye flukes, malachite green with formalin, metriphonate or copper are good, as are most of the commercial preps for flukes and external parasites.

this disease is rarely fatal and not particularly infectious. it often disappears on it's own in 2-3 weeks leaving no residual trace or may disappear leaving a cloudy eye and worst case, a missing eye.

i've rarely found that aquarists have 'cured' a case of 'popeye'. rather, some have gone from medication to medication and never found one that works. this is likely due to the fact that the cause was never differentiated.

i think i'd give it at least two more weeks and see what happens. stop the other medications and keep the water quality pristine. it may resolve itself.

bear in mind that many of these treatments will negatively impact your biological filter so treatment in an isolation tank is best.
 
Someone has informed me that it is caused by an injury, not the symptom of popeye... I should have included this when stating the problem... The Krib has one eye protruding caused by an injury due to an female krib.

popeye affects both eyes (I was so scared that it was popeye and I made a misdiagnosis)

Recommendation: Melafix with some Daily Water Changes to start treatment

Thank you very much for the information. I'll be keeping that in mind when I do encounter the symptoms of popeye (where both eyes are protruding)

Sorry about the trouble and the misdiagnosis :(
 
popeye affects both eyes
Click to expand...
this is definitely untrue. it's not at all uncommon for popeye to affect only one eye. while an injury can cause an occular problem, it's unfortunately more likely that your fish does in fact, have popeye.
 
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