Popeye

sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
Hey I have a clownfish that has popeye, bad. I noticed that she had it about 6 days ago. She first had it in one eye but I read in a book Clownfishes by Joyce Wilkerson that it will heal by it's self in about 2 weeks. So then about 2 days later I see that my fish has it in both eyes now.And again It said in the book that it will heal itself in about 2 weeks. That the cause could be either that It had raw seafood in the past 2-3 months, or by poor water. Well I did a 1 gallon water change yesterday. I didn't do a big one because I did a 3 gallon water change a week ago. I also just noticed that in it's right eye on the very top of the eyeball there is a clear bubble, If that means anything. The eyes are cloudy too. The tank is a 29 gallon, I'm not sure what the params are because I don't have a test kit yet but I went to my LFS a week ago and they tested it for me and said it was perfect. The temp is 75-79
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
Originally Posted by Sweetheart
http:///forum/post/2846204
Hey I have a clownfish that has popeye, bad. I noticed that she had it about 6 days ago. She first had it in one eye but I read in a book Clownfishes by Joyce Wilkerson that it will heal by it's self in about 2 weeks. So then about 2 days later I see that my fish has it in both eyes now.And again It said in the book that it will heal itself in about 2 weeks. That the cause could be either that It had raw seafood in the past 2-3 months, or by poor water. Well I did a 1 gallon water change yesterday. I didn't do a big one because I did a 3 gallon water change a week ago. I also just noticed that in it's right eye on the very top of the eyeball there is a clear bubble, If that means anything. The eyes are cloudy too. The tank is a 29 gallon, I'm not sure what the params are because I don't have a test kit yet but I went to my LFS a week ago and they tested it for me and said it was perfect. The temp is 75-79
Well, the first thing I'd say is that you really need to know the exact parameters. It's possible that there is ammonia or the nitrates are too high or something, so you need to know for sure. If the LFS doesn't give you the test results, get yourself test kits asap for pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and alk.
Also, I'd personally recommend changing much more water a lot more frequently too. It's highly likely that your nitrates are really high because of how infrequent you do change your water in such a small tank. Of course you need to test, but I'd say usually change about 15% weekly.
That's a place to start, and it'll likely help your fish a good deal. Also, don't really trust your LFS 100%, they don't always have the most skilled staff giving out advice.
 
sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
Okay thanks m0nk, I'll try to get the test kit ASAP. My only problem with doing alot of water changes is the Salinity. For some reason I have the hardest time keeping in the right salinity.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Sweetheart
http:///forum/post/2846282
Okay thanks m0nk, I'll try to get the test kit ASAP. My only problem with doing alot of water changes is the Salinity. For some reason I have the hardest time keeping in the right salinity.
Are you pre mixing the saltwater with a power head for at least 24 hours prior to the water change? What are you using to measure the salinity? If the salinity of the change water is the same as the salinity in the tank then there will be no fluctuations. Definitely buy your own test kits.
The information in your book is correct if the fish scraped his eye or it was mildy infected. With prestine water parameters and a healthy diet, the fish can certainly heal himself. This did not just happen though. It sounds like he got an infection that has now spread to his other eye. He may need medication. Do you have a cycled QT?
 
sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
I'm not sure. I bought some already mixed saltwater from my LFS and I just dump the water in the tank. I'm using ( Aquarium Systems SeaTesT full range Specific Gravity Meter). No I don't have a Hospital tank or anything like that.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
That is a swing arm hydrometer, right? They are not very reliable. Have you ever tested the SG in your tank and then tested the water in the bottles? How far apart are they? They should be the same. You may need to add a little water to the bottled saltwater or raise the SG in your tank. Test them both then let us know what the two readings are. The water that is pre mixed has very little oxygen in it. It would be better to add the water to a bucket, that has never had any chemicals in it, and aerate it thoroughly. You are adding oxygen poor water directly into your tank. That will throw off your oxygen level as well as your PH. Fish cannot take big swings in their water parameters.
 
sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
Okay i'll do that about putting the water in a bucket. The tank salinity is 1.019 and the jugged premixed water is OMG!!!!!!!! I just tested the jugged water and there is NO salinity in it!!!!!!!!!!! My LFS ripped me off!!!!
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
Originally Posted by Sweetheart
http:///forum/post/2846417
Okay i'll do that about putting the water in a bucket. The tank salinity is 1.019 and the jugged premixed water is OMG!!!!!!!! I just tested the jugged water and there is NO salinity in it!!!!!!!!!!! My LFS ripped me off!!!!
That would definitely be a source of stress for the fish causing something like this to happen. I'd suggest buying RO water fresh (you can get it at most Wal-marts, or other grocery stores using water purifying machines), or buy your own RO/DI filter, and then buying salt, a small powerhead, and a heater, and mixing your own salt water. The next thing I'd suggest is getting a refractometer to use to test the salinity of your salt water. Your LFS, like most, have ill-trained employees, so even if it wasn't on purpose, you shouldn't place 100% of your trust in them. Doing things yourself is always a better way.
 
sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
Well the guy that talked to me about it is the boss of the store and said that the store bought freshwater was very bad for the tank for some reason. Yeah after finding out that there wasn't any salt in the "Premixed" saltwater, I'm totally going to just buy the freshwater at my local grocery store and then mix with the salt. Oh, I thought the salinity check thing was called an hydrometer,oops. So yeah I'm just going to buy a refractometer for the salinity check. Well that LFS that I went to, to buy the water was my second time to be there. Im totally now going to just go to my other LFS for supplies.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
You can buy a refractometer online for around $40. They are very accurate and reliable. That is a shame about the LFS advice. I am really curious to know what your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH readings actually are. Get a test ASAP, anything could be going on in there.
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
As far as testing goes, if you really can't get the kits now, it's not as important as getting good water and doing a few water changes over the next week... your fish might not survive if the nitrates are too high, or if there's ammonia/nitrite building up.
 
sleazalino

sleazalino

Member
just noticed to day that my clarkii has it to just did change yesterday.i got 125 i do a change once a month ro water also about 20 gallons i have problems because i got inverts in the tank i would like to treat him any suggestion.my qt tank just went away it isn't coming back unless have to someone told me to puth im in a bucket with a powehead and heat treat him that way is this true?
 
sweetheart

sweetheart

Member
Hey I aslo noticed that the clownfish is like rubbing it's side on the sand. And it also looks like it's trying to scratch it's eye
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
IMO it is very important to know your water readings. You don't know if the ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate is outrageously high or not at all. You don't know how big of a water change to do if you don't know what is going on in the tank. An API master test kit is $20.
The rubbing can be anything from ammonia poisoning, it could be his gills that he is trying to rub, to parasites.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Well you don't really know what is going on in the tank. If you are not testing the PH then I wouldn't go with a huge water change either. You really have to get a test kit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top