Popeye Since October - What do I do?

[huma2011]

I bought a juvenile blue angelfish back in September, 2014. In October, just a few weeks later, we noticed the blue angelfish had popeye. We treated the entire tank (75 gallon) with an antibiotic from the fish store. The fish did not get better. We then took him out and put him in a hospital tank (29 gallon) and treated him with a different antibiotic. No change. We talked with the fish store owner, who only suggested a third antibiotic. We tried that product. The fish seemed to get a little better but not healed. At no time has the fish ever had any other symptoms except for the inflated eye. We spoke to the fish store owner, who is now as puzzled as we are, and he gave us medicated flakes to feed the fish for awhile. We did that for some time, but the fish has never changed. We went back to the store, because we don't know what to do, and they told us to try the first antibiotic once again, since we had treated the entire large tank the first time, and not just the hospital tank. We've done that, and our fish still has popeye. So we are so confused and frustrated -- it has now been 3 1/2 months that our blue anglefish has had popeye and numerous different antibiotics. Please help. Does anyone have any idea what we should do at this point?

 

[beth]

What were the antibiotics tried?

Do you have a stable quarantine tank set up?

What are the water conditions (readings) in your display where the angel is located?

What is the fish eating and how often?

Can you get a side view pic of that eye and post it?

 

[huma2011]

What were the antibiotics tried?

Do you have a stable quarantine tank set up?

What are the water conditions (readings) in your display where the angel is located?

What is the fish eating and how often?

Can you get a side view pic of that eye and post it?

I will have to get back to you on the type of antibiotics used. I can't recall from memory. The picture was taken when the fish was in our display tank but it has been in the quarantine tank for about three months, and the water conditions have been perfect. Except for the time when we were feeding it the medicated flakes (which I have no idea what type of food that was), we have been feeding it frozen food - angel variety food, shrimp, and squid, and also green flakes - not all at once, of course. We generally feed him twice a day. I have one side view pic but it's not a very good one. I can get a better pic when I get home tonight and post tomorrow.

 

[beth]

I would forgo all flaked foods, especially with any that supposedly has meds in them. Either go with fresh meaty foods that you can make yourself from getting fresh uncooked seafoods from the grocery along with salt water algae sheets that you get at your local fish shop or the many shops online. A chunk of algae sheet should be offered daily wedged in the rocks of using a lettuce clip used in the hobby. If you don't want to go through the trouble of making your own fish food, then high quality frozen foods, particularly those made for angels. Blue angelfish need a lot of sponge food so you need to supple that everyday.

Start soaking the meaty food in zoecon or selcon for 5 mins in the fridge before offering (these supplements are very good at supplementing nutritional needs of ailing fish).

What is the size of the quarantine tank as well as the display tank? This fish require rather large aquaria.

As for the pic, its impossible to see details in those pics. Is the eye itself popped, or does it just have a bubble? Is the eye cloudy? Popeye can be easy to deal with when the problem first starts and harder as it persists without resolution. Once I know the antibiotics you used and the duration of treatment, I can let you know what I think about re-treatment.

 

[huma2011]

I would forgo all flaked foods, especially with any that supposedly has meds in them. Either go with fresh meaty foods that you can make yourself from getting fresh uncooked seafoods from the grocery along with salt water algae sheets that you get at your local fish shop or the many shops online. A chunk of algae sheet should be offered daily wedged in the rocks of using a lettuce clip used in the hobby. If you don't want to go through the trouble of making your own fish food, then high quality frozen foods, particularly those made for angels. Blue angelfish need a lot of sponge food so you need to supple that everyday.

Start soaking the meaty food in zoecon or selcon for 5 mins in the fridge before offering (these supplements are very good at supplementing nutritional needs of ailing fish).

What is the size of the quarantine tank as well as the display tank? This fish require rather large aquaria.

As for the pic, its impossible to see details in those pics. Is the eye itself popped, or does it just have a bubble? Is the eye cloudy? Popeye can be easy to deal with when the problem first starts and harder as it persists without resolution. Once I know the antibiotics you used and the duration of treatment, I can let you know what I think about re-treatment.

The QT is a 30 gallon tank, which he has been in for about three months now. He will go back into our 75 gallon if he ever gets better. However, in August, we are making the move to a 210 gallon tank, and he will move into that tank, as I know he will get to be large and need the room.

It is really difficult to get a good picture of his eye - I tried last night and again this morning. I'm posting the best ones I could get. His eye is actually popped out and a bit cloudy. We did start treating him at the very beginning when we first saw the popeye - and everyone told us it would be easy to clear it up. That is what is so frustrating about this - that didn't happen.

We have tried the following medications: Cephalexin, Erythromycin, yellow medicated flakes from store owner, Cephalexin again, and lastly, Maracyn Two.

 

[huma2011]

I read that I shld put 2 tbsp of epsom salt for every 5 gal into the tank and then do it again in three days, with a small water change in between. Anyone heard of this?

 

[beth]

What was the duration of the Maracyn Two treatment and was it the SW variety? Did you recall the dose you used?

 

[huma2011]

The box read 24 count, and I know we used the entire box over a five-day period. Again, it is a 30-gal tank.

 

[huma2011]

We are so frustrated with this situation and have spent so much money. Would love to keep this fish, but the shop owner has agreed to refund our money and take the fish back. He is going to see what he can do, and if he can heal it, we are welcome to take him back. He thinks that it may have had the popeye infection, but that has to be cleared up by now, and this has to be something else. He is going to see what he can do.