Is This Popeye

[ReefTanker91]

Hello reefers, I acquired this white tail bristle tooth last Wednesday. When I introduced him to the community tank he was fine swimming around. Two days later he wouldn’t leave a cave he found for himself for at least two to three days.

I tried feeding a variety of foods but nothing would entice him to eat. Today he finally came out of hiding but I noticed both his eyes had some white around them and popping out.

I made a hospital tank and currently applied a first dose of kanaplex. The job filter just has some filter floss on it. Put in a rock for cover if he regains his eyesight but from what I’ve seen in the main display is that he can’t see and runs into things. Yes the hob filter propeller seems to be misaligned. I ordered a better one off amazon that will be here tomorrow morning and will switch it out.

Links to video below.

 

[ReefTanker91]

Here is a third video close up of the eyes.

 

[KrisReef]

If the fish doesn't react well to Kanamycin, Erythromycin is often the key for eye problems. Both eyes swelling suggests and infection, not just an eye injury with an infection.

 

[ReefTanker91]

I’ve read that kanamycin also treats Popeye. Is that what the fish has? Pure Erythromycin would take a while to get to me. I will order Fritz Maracyn will get it tomorrow.

Edit grammar

 

[KrisReef]

I’ve read that kanamycin also treats Popeye. Is that what the fish has? Pure Erythromycin would take a while to get to me. I will order Fritz Maracyn will get it tomorrow.

Edit grammar

It can. Kanamycin is broad spectrum. E mycin more often provides positive results for the majority of eye infections in marine fish. I would finish the recommended course with Kana, and if you don't get results then the E. should be the next tool.

I trust the tank is dark, or only dimly lit, no skimmer, carbon or poly filter pad filtration? - Just trying to recall the common preparations & recommendations so the medicine and fish have a good chance of working this out. GL

 

[ReefTanker91]

Sounds good, I’ll see if it is any better tomorrow. There was a thread on humble fish where both were used switching between the two everyday.

I will probably refrain from doing that.

Yes the tank is in my garage, I will be wrapping it with a black garbage bag in the morning. No lights other than the ambient light.

The hob just has polyfill 100% polyester. Should that be removed as well and just use the hob as water oxygenation/movement?

Thank you

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is a third video close up of the eyes.

This is likely a mechanical injury and best treatment in a separate tank is with use of Maracyn as pictured below for at least 5 days

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Sounds good, I’ll see if it is any better tomorrow. There was a thread on humble fish where both were used switching between the two everyday.

I will probably refrain from doing that.

Yes the tank is in my garage, I will be wrapping it with a black garbage bag in the morning. No lights other than the ambient light.

The hob just has polyfill 100% polyester. Should that be removed as well and just use the hob as water oxygenation/movement?

Thank you

I have a different take on this - I don't see simple popeye, and the eyes are glassy looking and not protruding too much. the fish is also open mouthed, rapid breathing. This looks to me like flukes. It could also look like velvet, Amyloodinium, but the number of days it has been like that would likely have been fatal if it was velvet.

Have you contacted your dealer for what they think it might be? Did the store have trouble catching the fish up for you (that can cause eye damage).

I think you should think about treating for flukes (you could still treat with antibiotics if you wanted to).

 

[ReefTanker91]

The fish arrived well and on time it seemed to me. I acclimated per instructions like I always do. First few days he would just swim around the perimeter of the tank. The next few he just hid under a rock. No food I would put in would entice him to come out.

Then he was out and minding his own business at the bottom of the tank and yesterday I noticed both his eyes had white droopy things towards the bottom. Closer inspection showed hazy ness and I noticed he started bumping into things.

 

[ReefTanker91]

I have a different take on this - I don't see simple popeye, and the eyes are glassy looking and not protruding too much. the fish is also open mouthed, rapid breathing. This looks to me like flukes. It could also look like velvet, Amyloodinium, but the number of days it has been like that would likely have been fatal if it was velvet.

Have you contacted your dealer for what they think it might be? Did the store have trouble catching the fish up for you (that can cause eye damage).

I think you should think about treating for flukes (you could still treat with antibiotics if you wanted to).

Hey Jay,

The fish has been open mouthed like that since I got him. I thought that was normal for white tail bristle mouths.

 

[Tamberav]

I was going to add that I would treat with prazipro, it is generally well tolerated but provide lots of aeration. I would probably do antibiotics as well tbh just to cover my bases.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hey Jay,

The fish has been open mouthed like that since I got him. I thought that was normal for white tail bristle mouths.

Somewhat, and when feeding a bit more, but when coupled with rapid breathing, that indicates a problem.

 

[ReefTanker91]

Okay sounds good, on the instructions for kanaplex it says to dose every 48 hours after a water change. I tested the tank for ammonia and it is 1.0ppm currently. Should I still do daily water changes?

 

[MnFish1]

Okay sounds good, on the instructions for kanaplex it says to dose every 48 hours after a water change. I tested the tank for ammonia and it is 1.0ppm currently. Should I still do daily water changes?

If I were to hazard a guess - it's likely flukes. However - there would be no harm at this point - putting the fish in a hospital tank and treating with an antibiotic and prazipro together