Popeye clownfish

[Jesshika]

I had a clarkii clownfish that has has popeye for months and it did not go away. I cleaned the tank well and he did not improve, I moved him to my QT and medicated him for three weeks and the eyes did go down a little but then started to bulge out even more so than before. Anyone know how to make popeye go away or where it even comes from??

 

[schigara]

I'm sorry but with exhaustive reading of all ailments for SW fish, there is really no answer to your question. It will go away or it won't. There is no treatment per se.

 

[mandy21]

As schigara said, I haven't read any treatment. The only suggestions I've read is to remove from main tank as soon as you notice it to avoid other fish from potentially picking at it or to keep the fish from scraping it on something to avoid further irritation. It's not a pretty sight, but just try to keep it from getting further irritation.

 

[strangerdejavu]

I believe Melafix advertises that it'll treat popeye... but I'm not sure if I trust anything that just smells like concentrated tea!

 

[Catpicklesdog]

Don't know if this'll help but it's from "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner (one of my "bibles")

"Popeye: This is a sympton, not an actual disease. The scientific name, exophthalmia, refers to swelling behind or in the eye. The swelling may be brought on by many factors but is most commonly caused by bacteria or, rarely, by parasites. If unilateral (only one eye involved), the cause may be mechanical injury, such as the fish bumping into something or getting thwacked by a net. Popeye is difficult to treat, but the most effective procedure seems to be the passing of time in a good environment, and receiving medicated food. Prepared mixes are avaiable or you may make your own. Popeye may signal the need for a massive water change and better attention to water quality."

HTH

 

[Grins]

Good fine CPD, I grabbed another book out of the library of my club and found this, perhaps it will help.:

"Popeye is a generic term for Exophthalmos, and refers to a condition that causes the eye of the fish to abnormally bulge from its socket. Popeye can be caused from bacterial disease, abscesses and tumors, eye injuries, as well as over-aerated water. if left untreated, the eye may buge so far from its socket that it pops out, resulting in the loss of the eye. If the fish has other signs of disease, use the Fish Problems Flow Charts (sorry I can't type the charts in here =) ) to determine the cause and treat accordingly.

Symptoms:
One or both eyes protrude from the socket(s). Some fish also exhibit a lack of appetite.

Treatment:
First, eliminate the possibility of over-aeration. If you have been using high-powered powerheads that shoot streams of air into the fish tank water, your fish may be a victim of nitrogen supersaturation. The tiny air bubbles enter the fish's bloodstream and can accumulate behind the eye, causing it to protrude.

The treatment for nitrogen supersaturation, is to turn the powerhead water stream adjustment to its lowest setting. Temporarily shut the air off to the powerheads and allow the air pump to be the only source of air. Observe the popeye for a few days. If nitrogen supersaturation was the problem, the eye should begin to recede. If no improvement is noticed, or if it worsens, assume the prolbme is bacterial in nature."

The book is called The Complete Aquarium Problem Solver: A Total Trouble-Shooting Guide for Freshwater and Marine Aquariums. By Kevin W. Boyd. Published in 1993 (so it isn't the latest out there obviously)