Not only do you have to treat the underlying cause, but you also have to address potential bacterial infections.īelow are the steps we recommend for treating popeye disease: 1. You’ll need to take swift action to ensure that the other fish don’t succumb to the disease as well. While you might only see one fish with popeye, others are at risk when conditions aren’t great. Superstitious gases in unhygienic conditions are though to put fish at risk, too. It’s believed that regular exposure to high ammonia and nitrate levels are to blame. Popeye disease regularly causes trouble in overcrowded tanks or those that aren’t being maintained as they should. Continual long-term exposure to poor water quality is what you have to worry about. This is often the case with bilateral popeye.Īuthor Note: Interestingly enough, it’s not sudden drastic changes in water conditions that are going to put your fish at risk. One of the most common causes of popeye is poor water conditions. For example, kidney failure, Dropsy, or serious metabolic issues can cause fluid buildup. Fish that are suffering from other ailments often experience popeye. Oftentimes, you can see a scratch or physical sign of injury.Īnother common cause is an internal infection. Take a closer look at the eye to be sure. This response is what causes the swelling. Whatever the case may be, the injury likely triggered a response from the immune system. Alternatively, you could have accidentally injured your fish with a net. Your fish could have also gotten into a skirmish with another fish in the tank. Since they lack eyelids, fish are unable to provide last-second protection to their eye in these instances. Fish could accidentally bump into a rock and scrape their eye. Skittish and highly active species are at a higher risk. If your fish is suffering from unilateral popeye disease, a likely culprit is a physical injury.įish are injury-prone creatures. There are a couple of potential causes you’ll need to consider. Needless to say, popeye disease is a serious problem that you shouldn’t ignore! Common Causes Your fish may also succumb to parasitic infections and a host of other potentially dangerous problems. It can cause organ failure throughout the body. In most fatal cases of popeye, septicemia is to blame. This occurs when the infection moves into the bloodstream. Meanwhile, peaceful fish will be more vulnerable to attacks from others in the tank.īeyond the issue of eyesight, you also have to worry about the effects of other infections. Carnivorous or predatory fish will need time to adapt to the drastic change. You will have to make changes to help keep your fish healthy. The potential care problems are only exacerbated if they lose both eyes. But, their quality of life will be seriously affected. In cases of unilateral popeye disease, fish can still recover after losing a single eye. Infected eyes can decay and fall out without treatment. For example, your fish could lose their eyesight in one or both eyes. However, there are so many additional issues that could affect your fish. In most cases, the disease itself is not fatal. The sooner you’re able to provide treatment, the better the prognosis will be. Popeye disease is a serious condition that requires immediate care. They might even show disinterest in food. The fish may spend more time staying hidden. In terms of behavioral changes, you might notice less activity. But in a matter of days, the swelling can balloon significantly and even affect the skin surrounding the eye. Typically, the eye will only protrude a bit in the early stages. Symptoms of popeye disease in fish are subtle at first, so it can be difficult to catch the disease before it causes damage. When both eyes are bulging, the condition is a case of bilateral popeye. It also affects both freshwater and saltwater fish.Īuthor Note: Sometimes, fish will only have popeye disease in one eye. Popeye can affect all fish regardless of species or environment. Opportunistic bacteria can take hold, resulting in severe infections. To make matters worse, popeye is typically accompanied by other health issues. If not addressed, the swelling can get so bad that the eye will rupture and fall out. However, more serious instances of the disease can damage the cornea, creating a cloudy appearance. In more mild cases, the eye may stay clear and only have a moderate amount of swelling. The severity of popeye can vary quite a bit. The fluid can accumulate behind the eye or within the eye itself (this all depends on the cause of the disease). The bulging appearance of the eye is a result of fluid buildup. Scientifically, the disease is known as exophthalmia. Popeye disease is a condition that causes the eye of a fish to bulge, swell up, or protrude from the socket.
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