Lyretail anthias has a bulging eye

[mmorrison55]

I just noticed one of my lyretails has a bulging “Popeye”.

I’ve read that if it’s just one eye, it’s likely from an accident or aggression and will heal on its own. Is this still the consensus or should I try and pick up some erythromycin and start treating? I’ll try to post a photo, but this little guy looks healthy otherwise and eats like a pig since I picked him up a few weeks ago.

 

[VintageReefer]

Do you have other anthia? Likely from one of them. My female lyretail became extremely dominant and aggressive toward the male, harassed him non stop and caused his death. This didn’t start until a few months after I owned them

 

[mmorrison55]

@VintageReefer

I had 3. I lost one yesterday. I never saw any signs of aggression. One of the three (I assumed the one who passed) was kind of standoffish except when it came to feeding time, then all 3 ate like sharks in chum.

 

[JGT]

Get him a patch. Should heal on its own.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just noticed one of my lyretails has a bulging “Popeye”.

I’ve read that if it’s just one eye, it’s likely from an accident or aggression and will heal on its own. Is this still the consensus or should I try and pick up some erythromycin and start treating? I’ll try to post a photo, but this little guy looks healthy otherwise and eats like a pig since I picked him up a few weeks ago.

This is likely from an injury and has ability to release air but I often recommend treatment using Maracyn as pictured below for at least 5 days. Can also be gas air embolism.

 

[mmorrison55]

This is likely from an injury and has ability to release air but I often recommend treatment using Maracyn as pictured below for at least 5 days. Can also be gas air embolism.

Is this safe to treat the entire display or better to move to a smaller quarantine tank? It may be difficult to catch this guy in the big display, and I don’t want to risk more damage trying to catch him.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this safe to treat the entire display or better to move to a smaller quarantine tank? It may be difficult to catch this guy in the big display, and I don’t want to risk more damage trying to catch him.

Separate tank is best

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@VintageReefer

I had 3. I lost one yesterday. I never saw any signs of aggression. One of the three (I assumed the one who passed) was kind of standoffish except when it came to feeding time, then all 3 ate like sharks in chum.

While a single popeye in a fish in a group is often just a sign of some injury, losing another fish in the same group at the same time is troubling.

Can you post a clear video under white lights of the remaining fish? What is the history of this group? How long have you had them, etc.?

 

[mmorrison55]

Ive had them just about 3 weeks. They were in a nano tank for 1st two weeks while I watched them eat and interact.they seemed fine. One of the two always was more shy than the other two. When I was moving them to my main display, one of them jumped and landed on the floor. I picked him up and put him in the display and he seemed ok. I got the other two in the display as well and once they were all together they schooled off an on, but one still kind of hid in the rock work more than the other two. Two days passed and all three were eating well. I saw no signs of aggression between them or any of the other tank mates.

After two nights, I awoke on the 3rd day of bing in the main display to find one of them had died. I noticed no signs of sickness or fin damage like he had been killed. Then the next day (yesterday), I noticed this one had the 1 popeye.

 

[mmorrison55]

At about 38 seconds of that video you can see the “healthy” Lyretail kind of lunge at the other, but that’s about the extent of any aggression i have noticed.

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

this happens it will heal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Ive had them just about 3 weeks. They were in a nano tank for 1st two weeks while I watched them eat and interact.they seemed fine. One of the two always was more shy than the other two. When I was moving them to my main display, one of them jumped and landed on the floor. I picked him up and put him in the display and he seemed ok. I got the other two in the display as well and once they were all together they schooled off an on, but one still kind of hid in the rock work more than the other two. Two days passed and all three were eating well. I saw no signs of aggression between them or any of the other tank mates.

After two nights, I awoke on the 3rd day of bing in the main display to find one of them had died. I noticed no signs of sickness or fin damage like he had been killed. Then the next day (yesterday), I noticed this one had the 1 popeye.

Thanks for the video. I don’t see anything super alarming. Be sure to feed the tank multiple times per day, the yellow tang is a bit skinny.

I’ve had popeye show up a lot in fish that jumped onto the floor, or even flopped around hard in a net. It should resolve in a month or so, but sometimes there are complications and the eye is lost.

 

[mmorrison55]

Thanks for the video. I don’t see anything super alarming. Be sure to feed the tank multiple times per day, the yellow tang is a bit skinny.

I’ve had popeye show up a lot in fish that jumped onto the floor, or even flopped around hard in a net. It should resolve in a month or so, but sometimes there are complications and the eye is lost.

The yellow tang was a biota version and it was very small and practically white when I got it ~2 months ago. Its color is coming in pretty good and he’s about doubled in size. But with the addition of the anthias, I def need to increase my feedings.

Always appreciate the comments and advice!