Air bubble in clown's eye?

[chamic1]

Today I noticed that my sebea clown has what looks like an air bubble lodged in her eye. She has popeye in the one eye from weeks ago. The eye has gone down but this bubble is now creating more problems. She attacked my digital thermometer (pointed tip) and now has popeye. What can I do about the bubble? Is she going to die?

 

[beth]

Can you post a picture?

 

[chamic1]

I will try to post a pic for you; however, the bubble has decreased in size. My light are currently off so when they come on I will try to take a picture.

 

[beth]

Lets hope it keeps decreasing. How is the water quality in your tank?
Try feeding the fish zoecon soaked meaty food.

 

[chamic1]

Here they are. The bubble has decreased to approx. 2mm in diameter. Some of the pictures are fuzzy but they will work. Some look like it is the glow off the cornea of the eye; however, it is not, its the bubble.

 

[beth]

That's basically a popeye. Now, why does he have this condition?
How long have you had this fish?
Has he been netted recently?
If you don't mind, I'd like to use your picture for the Diseased Fish Thread?

 

[chamic1]

Hey Beth, I know it is popeye, she has had it since July 2, 2005. I had a digital thermometer in the water and she attacked it, the next day her eye was poping out (worse than in the pictures). I don't know if you can see the air bubble, but it definitely is an air bubble, not just the popeye. The bubble can be seen in the last few pictures the best. It is located at the top and to the left of the cornea. It looks like a glare but it is not.
Tank background:
29 gallon tank
eclipse lighting 2x 18watt fluorescent tubes 420nm and 10k /filter with activated carbon and biowheel
Jebo 180 protein skimmer with pre-filter on pump
powerhead with pre-filter
45lb LR
2-2.5inch sugar-size sand bed
1 sandsifting star
1 false percula
1 firefish goby
1 sebea clown
medium colony of green star polyps
8 turbo snails
6 various hermit crabs
Water chemistry:
Aug 29, 2005
Nitrite- trace
NITRATE- 40ppm (actually on the lower end, recently) Why????????? :help:
pH- 8.2
sp. gravity- 1.025
Calcium- 420ppm
Ammonia- trace
Phosphate- .25ppm
Temp- 79.0 degrees F
I use bottled water that has undergone reverse osmosis and ozonated demineralization. It measure less than .03ppm for TDS. In other word... this water is as pure as any water can get! My tank has gone through a lot... and has been set-up for just over a year.
If you need any more info, let me know
Regard,
Chad

 

[chamic1]

I forgot,
she has not been netted recently, I have had her since April 8, 2005. She, like all my new fish, spent 2.5 weeks in a QT. I have no problem if you use these pictures, actually, the picture of the scooter blenny suffering from malnutrition in you thread was mine too. I was new to the hobby and basically bought him like that.

 

[beth]

There is not much you can do to address this in tank except maintain good environment and lots of quality food. A good supplement to add a couple times a week would be zoecon.
Otherwise, the fish would need to be removed for treatment with antibiotics. At this point, I don't know if I'd recommend that unless the fish seems otherwise sick. The problem has been going on for awhile now, and just may not improve. However, if you want to try to cure it, then you can move her to a QT and treat with Maracyn Two for SW fish. Since you have cycled QT, it should work find.
BTW: The standard time for QT for new fish is a month. I would at least go 3 wks.

 

[chamic1]

Just out of curiosity, what does fresh garlic do when mixed with the food? Thanks for all your help Beth! I will QT her in the next few days. What is zoecon?

 

[beth]

Well, in relationship to ich, it is a parasite repellent. Same theory why some dog owners feed their dog garlic tablets--repells flees.
It also has a mild natural antibacterial quality.