Swolen Eye

[Sime]

Hi, im sorry i havent searched to see if anyones asked before as im panicing - so sorry about that....

One of my best rams has swolen eyes - like balls sticking out of his head. everything else is fine. i lost a platy with this problem about 6 months ago - please can anyone suggest what it is?

Many thanks for your help,
Simon.

 

[tttnjfttt]

First of all, can you please post the tank size, tankmates, and also the ammonia, nitrite, nitrAte, and pH?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Not the author of this


Exophthalmia (a.k.a. Pop-Eye)

Symptoms:

Fish with exophthalmia will have eyes that are abnormally enlarged and protrude from their sockets. In severe cases the eyes may actually burst from the socket, leaving the fish eyeless. Eye swelling is caused by a build up of fluids in or behind the eye.


Cause:

There can be any number of causes for this condition. Possible causes include poor water quality, bacterial infections, viral infections, eye flukes or other parasitic infestations, or piscine tuberculosis. Even though the fish may recover, the protruding eye may remain that way. This should not adversely affect that fish.


Treatment:

Since there are so many possible causes a broad-spectrum antibiotic is recommended, such as Tetracycline, but this treatment cannot obviously guarantee success. Be sure to keep water quality in good condition.

 

[Sime]

thanks tttnjfttt - so theres no treatment then? i'll go investigate on the net.... tank specs:

12 gallon:
ammonia = not sure off hand but is ok,
nitrite = 0,
nitrAte = 15,
pH = 7.4 / 7.6

tank mates - corys, male betta, neons.

 

[tttnjfttt]

There are treatments, I just intentionally didn't post that becuse of the possible cuases. My question is how do you know the ammonia is ok? The reason why people are asked to check their ammonia and nitrite (and nitrate) is to ensure their tanks aren't a) still cycling, or B) have gone into a mini-cycle from something.

I'll go back and edit the article I pasted in above to include their recomendations for pop-eye

 

[WILDER]

Popeye treatment in uk is interpet anti internal bacteria med.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.petfish.net/popeye.htm

 

[black angel]

pop eye is a bacterial infection brought about by bacteria being able to multiply in the tank. You need to do more in the way of water changes to keep on top of it, its not down to whether your ammonia is out or not.
There really isnt much you can do for your fish im afraid and the meds will only kill off the bacteria in the water and not do anything for the fish as its related to dropsy. sorry.