Catfish Has A Single Popeye

[Jbram]

Hey everyone,
 
I need help in making sure I take care of my upside down catfish.  I got home tonight and I see he has a single eye that is bulging and has the milky white layer of skin covering it.  His other eye is just fine and he is swimming around the tank and eating like normal.
 
My water conditions are all in check.  I have thoroughly searched the  tank to ensure there are no dead fish.  This is a community tank 120 gallons.   I do have 2 more upside down cats and I did notice when this one swam into the cubby the cats seem to inhabit the largest of the three cased him away but none of the other fish in the tank bother him.  The largest of the three cats is a bully towards both of the others but the third one does not have any injuries.
 
Of course the Fish shop I trust is already closed and not answering their phone.  Everything I can find online including these forums points to an injury being that it is only the one eye and he is acting normal.  I have read the posts about cats having no tolerance for salt, and though Epsom salt is not a true salt is this the right cure for this type of a situation?
 
I do have a small tank I can fill with water from my main to put him in but I am not sure with this being an injury if I should or what are the proper steps to see him to full recovery.

 

[fluttermoth]

What are the actual numbers from your tests, OP?
 
It does sound more like injury than infection and the best remedy for that is time and tip top water conditions.
 
If the fish develops more symptoms or secondary infections then you might have to look at treatment with meds, but in the meantime I'd do a few extra large water changes and see how it gets on.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I had a similar thing happen to a neon tetra.  I put him into QT.  It stressed it out greatly to be alone, and after two weeks of pristine water and no improvement, I put him back to the main tank.  His eye is nearly back to normal now, not sure how long ago it happened though... well over 6 months.  It took time, but he's doing just fine.

 

[Jbram]

Last night while doing a water change and cleaning my filter he was out just treading water so I moved him to a hospital tank (about a gallon) and added 1/4 tsp  of Epsom salt.  His eye is still cloudy but not as swollen.  He is swimming around and did eat.  I will see how things go over the next couple of days.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Keep up the water changes on the QT... The water needs to be pristine.

 

[Jbram]

Water changed and he is still lively.  I added another 1/4 tsp of Epsom salt after I changed the water.  The little guy still seems in good spirits.  I have a small air stone in the tank and he likes to lay up next to that.  Hopefully everything keeps moving in the right direction.

 

[Jbram]

Realized I never gave my exact water conditions and since that is important regardless of the question I thought I would get in the habit now.
 
Ammonia 0.0
PH   7.5-8.0 was in between the color range for these
Nitrite  0.0
Nitrate 5mg/L
 
Shutting out the lights for bed but he is still doing great from what I can tell, swimming around and eating.  He comes to the glass when I check on him as if to say hello.