My platy has pop eye!

[Bellie816]

Ok my new male red platy has one eye that is bulging...appears to be pop eye. He was fine yesterday, now today I notice it. What should I do? He seems to be acting normally otherwise...except sometimes the larger female of the two will chase him when they are eating the algae wafers. Other than that seems fine. I have no medications on hand, just aquarium salt. Suggestions?

[mommy1]

here is a good read on pop eye in fish.

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good luck treating the little guy. hope he gets better.

[Northernguy]

Have you a quarantine tank?
Its hard to treat successfully.[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Bellie816]

here is a good read on pop eye in fish.

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good luck treating the little guy. hope he gets better.

Thanks for the article, although still not sure what to do. I had been adding aquarium salt before when I had the golfish at the rate recommended on the API salt container... but I haven't added any new salt since then (which was like 4-5 weeks ago) and have done water changes. Salt doesn't affect platys negatively, does it?

I don't have a quarantine tank, so I have nowhere to separate him. I'm wondering if he just injured it or something. Hopefully someone else has suggestions on here also. Thanks!

[Bellie816]

Have you a quarantine tank?
Its hard to treat successfully.[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Nope, no quarantine tank. I don't have a lot of money right now so getting one isn't really an option. I'm wondering if it is from injury...considering there is only one eye and no other fish is affected. The water quality should be great, considering my tank is fully cycled and I checked yesterday- 0 ammonia or nitrites. I will check nitrates today, but I did a 25% water change before adding fish and my nitrates were only 10 before the change.

Should I add some aquarium salt? Otherwise will have to wait it out and hopefully it heals. If not, I will feel bad. :scry:

[mommy1]

it is difficult to suggest a course of action without knowing what is causing the pop eye.

well the article says that pop eye is not a disease in itself but a symptom of a problem, and sites water quality as a probable cause. i dont know what your water maintenance is but regardless i would start with testing the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. and i would also do a 50% water change.

the article also states that if it is only in one eye it may be due to fighting, have you observed any aggression towards this fish from others in the tank. you may need to separate the fish and again do a 50% water change would still be needed, he will need extra clean water in order to heal quickly and properly.

the article also states a bacterial infection may be the cause.
here is another article on bacterial infection. has way more information than i could give you in this reply. '

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[HeatherB]

When my sisters platy was in her tank, she didn't do water changes often enoough and one got pop eye. make sure you are doing lots of water changes.
I was always told pop eye was a water quality issue.

I acclimated her platy to my tank, uped my WC and the pop eye disappeared.

[Bellie816]

Well my tank was fully cycled two days ago... ammonia was 0 and nitrites were 0. Well I added my 3 platys 2 days ago. Now I tested my water this morning and for some reason my nitrites are now reading .25. I'm confused!

If my tank was fully cycled why are my nitrites showing up? My ammonia is 0 and nitrates are 5.

This tank is really making me mad...

[tigger1]

If you just added fish it might be a mini cycle.

[luv2fish39]

Had the same problem with my female Platy..I treated her with Melafix and she was better. It was caused from not doing proper w/c and some stress now she is all better..So I advise getting some Melafix and treating her for the recommended time and doing the proper w/c..

[Bellie816]

Had the same problem with my female Platy..I treated her with Melafix and she was better. It was caused from not doing proper w/c and some stress now she is all better..So I advise getting some Melafix and treating her for the recommended time and doing the proper w/c..

Okay well I did a 25% water change... my nitrites were still reading between .25 and .50 prior to the water change. Ammonia was 0 and nitrates were between 5 and 10. I added some aquarium salt to the 2.5 gallons that I replaced so hopefully that will help the little guy. His fins are clamped though.. so I'm not sure how he is doing. He is still active and eating though. Just the one pop eye and clamped fins. He hides some more throughout the day as well.

Is Melafix something that can be added to the entire aquarium? I don't have a quarantine tank so that's not an option. Will that medication affect my biological filter? Hopefully the little guy pulls through.