TSN with Unilateral Popeye from Injury

[ShanerBock888]

Noticed tonight that my 5-inch tsn has popeye in one eye. I know exactly when it's from, he kinda freaked out yesterday morning and ran into the glass a couple times. He looks fine otherwise, is acting normally and eating normally, just has one eye bulging. I'm sure it's not from water conditions, Ammo = 0, Nitrites = 0, Nitrates = 5 or less.

I've never dealt with this before and I keep reading about epsom salts and antibacterial medications. What I can't find is whether the treatment is different when you're 100% sure it's injury and not bacterial infection. I've added epsom salts and a bit of melafix, but should I start with a new antibacterial tomorrow? If so, what medication is most effective?

Also, I can't find much on the difference in outlook between injury-caused and water condition-caused. What can I expect the end result to be?

 

[Wailua Boy]

I would skip the Melafix and just increase your water schedule until the eye heals. If any sign of infection develops, perhaps an antibiotic. If you could post a pic, that would be helpful. Good luck with a speedy recovery

 

[Wailua Boy]

[QUOTE="ShanerBock888,

Also, I can't find much on the difference in outlook between injury-caused and water condition-caused. What can I expect the end result to be?[/QUOTE]

Popeye brought on by water quality is a much more serious condition

 

[ShanerBock888]

Here's a pic, obviously it's his right eye.

But it already looks a lot better from the epsom salts. I'd say it's about half the size. Can't get a pic though, he's head first in his cave.

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[CarpCharacin]

The picture is broken.

 

[ShanerBock888]

here it is again

 

[ShanerBock888]

Update: It turns out that my previous post saying that it looked better wasn't right, it must have been the angle I was looking at him from - the eye looks the same. Today I put the fourth and final dose of API tetracycline in, and have continued with the epsom salts after wc's, but still no change.

Anyone have any idea what I should do? Do I do another round of the tetracycline? The directions say to do it again if necessary but I'm not sure. Should I keep up with the epsom salts or just continue with daily water changes?

He's still acting totally normal; eating, active at night, etc, I just don't know if there's anything I should be doing to increase the chances of saving the eye...

 

[CarpCharacin]

DO NOT use tetracycline! Popeye is usually caused by 1 of two things. It can be caused by a fungal infection, usually brought on by poor water quality. That is treated by improving your water quality and using anti fungal meds to treat that. The second thing that can cause a protruding eye is an injury. Your fish has an injury. The only thing that tetracycline will do is cause your fish to develop a resistance to it unless your fish is infected with a bacterial infection. It does not look like your fish has that. You can add salt, but you really have to just let it heal.

 

[ShanerBock888]

damn... well I read in several places that tetracycline works to stave off opportunistic bacteria that cause infection in the fluid behind the eye... including the box it came in. So much bad information even on good websites, hard to know what to listen to when you're dealing with something for the first time...

 

[CarpCharacin]

damn... well I read in several places that tetracycline works to stave off opportunistic bacteria that cause infection in the fluid behind the eye... including the box it came in. So much bad information even on good websites, hard to know what to listen to when you're dealing with something for the first time...

I am telling you, tetracycline develops antibiotic resistant bacteria when not used properly. Use it if your fish has an infection. Don't use it otherwise. If you want to prevent an infection, teh best thing you can do is add salt and let it heal.