
10-09-2010, 11:04 PM
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Re: Popeye?
You'll find that very few Veterinary surgeons specialize in the field of aquatics. It is a still a relatively unknown science and is normally left to fishkeepers and researchers alike.
Popeye in itself is not a disease, but a symptom of an underyling condition. It is caused when fluid builds up either behind the eye socket or inside the eye itself.
Bacterial infections, poor water quality and physical damage are usually to blame. However, do not rule out Vitamin A deficiencies, tumors or gaseous embolisms.
Water that contains extremely high amounts of oxygen can lead to a condition known as 'gas bubble disease', which is also a known cause of popeye. This is due to the pressure of a gas dissolved in the water inside the aquarium being higher than the air pressure in the surrounding atmosphere. This difference in gas pressures results in oxygen being removed from the affected fish's bloodstream at an expedited rate, causing bubbles of oxygen to be left behind. If the filter is giving off jets off pressurized water laden with oxygen bubbles, this could well be a highly possible cause.
For treatment to be successful, the affected fish must be quarantined. Epsom salts (Magnesium sulfate) will help to draw excess fluid from the eyeball. Several large water changes should be carried out in the main tank if poor water quality is established to be the main culprit.
If a bacterial infection is suspected, Maracyn II or eSHA Labs 2000 can be used to good effect. The prognosis is usually quite acceptable given above-adequate conditions for treatment and if the condition is treated early. It would advise to keep an eye open for any secondary fungal infections around the affected area.
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