Pop eye question

**mrramsey** · 11-21-2012, 01:46 PM

I have one Serpae Tetra with popeye in one eye. I have had him in the QT for about 2 weeks with regular WC's and aquarium salt. Since this is likely from an injury should I keep him in the QT or am I good to put him back in the display tank?

**imma24** · 11-21-2012, 03:21 PM

Keep him in QT - From my understanding of popeye, it tends to be caused by poor water conditions (though I understand that's not the only cause) - you moved him from your main tank after you noticed the popeye?

**mrramsey** · 11-21-2012, 03:37 PM

Yes that's correct, I moved him when I saw it. This is also one of my new fish. I think it is from an injury my self but there is no real way to tell.

**Goes to 11!** · 11-21-2012, 03:41 PM

+1 to andrea.

It's easier to maintain the pristine water conditions that will help him heal in the QT tank.

**Nephalem** · 11-21-2012, 08:59 PM

yeah keep him in the QT. Not for the safety of everyone else, but just because the best treatment for popeye is super, super clean water. That is just easier to maintain in a barebottom QT.

I would say you are most likely spot on in thinking its an injury since it is only one eye. As it sounds like you already know, popeye is a symptom and not so much a condition of its own. It can be caused by a wide variety of things, but the two most likely are: 1 eye, injury that became infected. 2 eye, infection due to bacteria causing a buildup of fluid behind the ocular cavity, usually caused by poor water quality.

Sounds like you are doing exactly what you should be to treat it. Good diagnosis on your part. If he isn't showing any improvement from the water changes and marine salt in the next week or so, and/or he gets any worse, I would look into treating with something a little stronger to help him fight the infection.

Does his eye look ok structurally aside from the swelling? As in does it look like he will suffer any vision issues after this? Or is his eye clear and complete but just puffed out? Also is there any ring of red or pale color of the tissue around the eye?