Need help with popeye.

[Riv D]

My RTGG's eye is larger than the other which appears to be a developing popeye.
So b4 it got any worse I did a water change and treated him with Melafix and Pimafix for a week.
After a week there was no change so I repeated the treatment for 7 more days.
So, my problem is that there is no change in his eye and I'm not sure what to do next?
Do I need to use something stronger like Maracyn?
I just get scared using so much medication for such a long period of time.
I don't want to loose my fish to over medicating.

 

[Lupin]

What are the water parameters currently?
What do you feed?
Temperature?
Filtration?
Tank size?
Tank mates?

Stop using Melafix and Pimafix. They will do absolutely nothing to the situation.

The popeye is a result of fluid retention behind the eyes and there are many causes for that. You need to rule out the possibilities to pin down the exact cause and rectify that.

1. Poor water quality.
2. Bacterial infection.
3. Nitrogen supersaturation.
4. Injuries.
5. Dropsy.
6. Trauma.

The first step is test your water parameters again. See if there is something wrong with your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

Secondly, you must vacuum the gravel thoroughly assuming your tank has substrate. Determine if you see dead pockets around. The nitrogen gas produced by dead pockets can intoxicate and kill the fish. It is also responsible for fluid retention behind the eyes if it happens.

And depending on the foods you give, limiting to a few will easily inhibit the fish from absorbing all the much needed vitamins which could result in malnutrition. It's possible for that to cause pop eye as the organs cannot function well to ensure osmotic balance. You can consider adding multivitamins in its food. Make sure it has no iron though.

Has it been injured before?
What color is the poop?
How about the gills?
Any other symptoms observed so far?

 

[Riv D]

Ammonia : 0
Nitrate : 20
Nitrite : don't have a kit
PH : 7.4
Temp : 80
Food : Hikari Frozen Kryll,Algae Waffers,Massivore,romaine lettuce,fruit.
Filtration: FX5,Wet-Dry,Turbotwist UV,Ocean Clear canister (for Carbon).
Tank Size: 210 (Bare Bottom)
Tank Mates:Female RTGG,Dat,FRT
Poop is Brown or green or Massivore color.
Gills look fine and fish are acting normal.
The FRT dose chase them around when he's hungry (which is most of the time).

 

[Lupin]

We can't rule out nitrite yet. Best do a water change at this point and then start adding a teaspoon per gallon of sodium chloride to help with the osmotic balance.

May as well cross out foods as the cause.

 

[Mavrick813]

I'm wondering what the water conditions were like before you started the Pima and Mela treatments. Also, want to know if you had the carbon in the Ocean clear when you treated with the Pima and Mela.

Reason being, a 210, w/ an FX5, a Wet/Dry, and an Ocean Clear Canister. 0 Ammonia, I'm going to fathom a guess your Nitirites are going to be close to or 0 as well. But with the Pima and Mela you should be doing water changes. And to still have 20 Nitrates is a cause for concern.

If it were My Tank. I'd clean the filters, Make sure their was no carbon in the Ocean Clear, and do a 25-35% water change.

 

[Riv D]

Took out the carbon b4 treatment and tested.
They were the same.
I should try and get those nitrates down tho.
I do close to a 50% water change every week.
I think it's 20 because I prob feed just a touch more than I should.
I also add salt on a regular basis because of the FRT.

 

[Riv D]

Update: Stopped Meds, did 50% water change, and added carbon and the usual salt last week.
No change in eye.
Not getting worse, not getting better.
Will be adding a 2nd FX5 soon. Not sure if that will help with his eye but it should help keep the nitrates down.

 

[celaeno]

i'd just keep the water clean and if the condition worsens, isolate and treat in hospital tank. popeye is bacterial, so maracyn combo or kanamycin.

 

[Riv D]

i'd just keep the water clean and if the condition worsens, isolate and treat in hospital tank. popeye is bacterial, so maracyn combo or kanamycin.

He's over 2' long.
No hospital tank for him.

 

[Mavrick813]

The FX5 Addition will do nothing for your nitrates. It will hoever cause a mini-cycle and likely stress the fish as levels fluctuate.

I would do 25% - 30% water changes every 3 days for the next 9 days. I'd also go over my substrate with each water change. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny with the gravel vac. Lastly medicate with Maracyn II.

Also, Can we get pics of the fish and the tank?

Mike