Bulging Eyes?

Question

It seems that some of my fish get one bulging eye before they die a few weeks later. What could this be from? The eye is still there but it looks like there is a white ring around it and it looks swollen. The rest of the fish look fine and there is no white on the rest of the sick fish except the eye. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Here's a link to some familiar info about some of the causes of pop eye: http://www.koicrisis.com/symptoms/eye.html

Fish TB is perhaps the most rare cause of pop eye and since it also causes a huge number of other symptoms, such as open sores on the fish and nasty blisters under the fishes skin, I would seriously doubt you have fish TB. The most common cause is actually a liver disease with no other noticeable symptoms.

With the liver disease, the fishes eyes bulge out, then about a week or 2 later it's dead. Maybe a little swelling in it's belly, but nothing much. No discoloration, no swelling other than the eye really, no sores, nothing. For the last few days the fish might act a little lethargic and stop eating.

I would suggest you treat the tank with a quality antibiotic and medicated food. For the food be sure to get the one that treats bacterial problems, not the parasite medicated food. For the antibiotic the first and best choice would be Furanace. Furan-2 or Maracyn TC would also work. Treat the fish as directed on the package for at least 2 weeks and feed the medicated food for at least 3 weeks. That should clear up the problem.

Best of luck and if I can help further please feel free to email me

MM

Answer 2

Pop eye.
Popeye, or exophthalmia is the condition of an eye wherein it protrudes from its normal position in a socket.

For years the causes of exophthalmia were few, mycobacterial infection, or Tuberculosis forming an abscess or granuloma behind the eye. In this case, that may very well be true, and you should be aware that there are few drugs effective against piscine tuberculosis, there are even fewer that can access the space behind the eye. Tuberculosis, particularly the one for fish, is transmissable to humans through open sores. I'm not saying it's always TB, but it could be, so avoid contact.

Other causes of pop eye include viral and other causes of inflammation to the Choroid or vessels leading to the eyeball itself, and trauma ranks high in this group. If the eye does not get picked OFF when it protrudes like this, it is entirely possible that it could actually pull back in as the swelling behind the eye reduces.

In some cases, the eye may heal and remain sighted, but the swelling may remain indefinitely. Certain conditions may cause bleeding inside the eye, occlusion of the drainage mechanisms of the eye and result in a permanent buphthalmos (large eye). Often, these eyes may move in the socket but are sightless because glaucomatous pressure on the retina quickly kills the rods and cones responsible for sight.

Let me say a word or two more about bacterial or TB (tuberculoid) pop eye. It spreads slowly, and gets its foothold through stress. Be sure water quality is optimal, and that the diet and temperature are perfect for the chosen species you maintain. You can try antibiotics with this, even injected ones if the fish warrants it, but I really suggest you not get your hopes up.

"Popeye" in one eye carries a much better prognosis than in both eyes. In one eye it remains more probable that the cause was traumatic and those are reversible.

Answer 3

Its callled Pop eye. Jus treat them with maracyn at the early signs, by 3 days they should be back to normal.

Answer 4

take to vet or pet shop they will give you answers and tell you of the meds you need or if it is hard water or not causing it.