Popeye From Injury Or Bacterial?

I know people post a lot on here about recognizing their fish's illness and that the causes are usually hard to pinpoint. But my fish has never been sick before and I want to provide the best care for him. I've had him about 8-9 months and he's been great. He's in a 5.5 gallon tank with a heater and a filter. I do 25% water changes once a week.

Tonight when I went to feed him he was acting lethargic and I saw his eye is bulging. When I googled I determined popeye (obviously) is the cause. I've moved him out of his tank into a smaller one with fresh water. He isn't moving a lot and he hasn't eaten today, but yesterday he was his normal self.

Only his one eye is bulging, with the white cloudiness around it. His fins don't appear clamped, but I've never dealt with a sick betta so I don't know what that looks like exactly. I read that bulging in one eye is more likely an injury and that you basically clean the water and add epsom salt. But if it is bacterial you should treat it quickly with an antibiotic. I really want to help him but I don't know whether I should treat it as injury or bacterial, so I wanted extra opinions. I don't know his water components (nitrites etc) unfortunately because I don't have my test for that, although the water is changed fairly frequently in small amounts. I will be doing a complete water change in his tank tomorrow and will add him back to it if advised, and I can go to the pet store tomorrow to get anything I might need. I read if it is caught quickly enough it is usually curable, but I don't know what time today it started bulging and since he was fine yesterday it seems to have come on fast :/ Any help is appreciated, and I'm sorry I can't be more help with water parameters. Thank you!

 

If you’re going down to your lsf, then i’d pick up a water testing kit, just to give you a better idea of the cause. It might also be worth getting some melafix, an antibiotic that will treat it. That’s what i’d be treating with now, if it was my fish.

I don’t know anyone else’s thoughts but i’d do a large water change but never a complete water change.

Fingers crossed for you x

P.s. if you took him out of his tank and put him straight into a bowl with fresh water (not cycled water) then that is the most likely cause for him not being himself if he was otherwise himself before....excluding the eye of course.

I’m sure more Betta owners will have fab advice

 

I would guess it to be caused by an injury, but it looks like there may be a secondary infection.

If it were me, I would try a 15-20 minute salt bath every day then put him back in his tank. Make sure you keep the tank water clean. I’d do a 50% water change every day until he is healed. But keep a close watch for any decline. If that happens, I’d treat with an antibiotic. Melefix is garbage and isn’t an antibiotic. It’s just herbal quackery. Look for something like Seachem Kanaplex or API General Cure.

Hope he feels better soon.

P.S. Check the decor in his tank for anything that may have caused the injury and remove it.

 

I had a Molly with popeye and did WC's everyday (50%) in a 20 long for a week and by the end of the 7th day her eye was back to normal. If your Betta is the only one in the tank I would put him back in there so he is more comfortable in his usual home and start with a 50-75% WC till others chime in with more opinions. Good luck!!

 

I would guess it to be caused by an injury, but it looks like there may be a secondary infection.

If it were me, I would try a 15-20 minute salt bath every day then put him back in his tank. Make sure you keep the tank water clean. I’d do a 50% water change every day until he is healed. But keep a close watch for any decline. If that happens, I’d treat with an antibiotic. Melefix is garbage and isn’t an antibiotic. It’s just herbal quackery. Look for something like Seachem Kanaplex or API General Cure.

Hope he feels better soon.

P.S. Check the decor in his tank for anything that may have caused the injury and remove it.

I will be sure to do a water change and remove any possible decor that caused injury! By Walt bath do you mean epsom salt or aquarium salt? I’m goinf to my pet store now. I may pick up an antibiotic that you suggested just to have on hand just in case. Thank you so much!

 

HI everyone, a quick update: he seemed to be more active when I first put him in the aquarium salt tank. It’s been about 15 minutes and his eye is bleeding it’s dripping out the bottom. I don’t know if this is good or bad or if that means I should definitely get an antibiotic. Thoughts would be appreciated. I’m goung to put him back into his regular tank that has been cleaned and all decor remover. Fingers crossed

 

I will be sure to do a water change and remove any possible decor that caused injury! By Walt bath do you mean epsom salt or aquarium salt? I’m goinf to my pet store now. I may pick up an antibiotic that you suggested just to have on hand just in case. Thank you so much!

Salt bath. Aquarium salt or non iodine table salt.

Epsom salt is better used for bloating or constipation.

 

HI everyone, a quick update: he seemed to be more active when I first put him in the aquarium salt tank. It’s been about 15 minutes and his eye is bleeding it’s dripping out the bottom. I don’t know if this is good or bad or if that means I should definitely get an antibiotic. Thoughts would be appreciated. I’m goung to put him back into his regular tank that has been cleaned and all decor remover. Fingers crossed

Eeek! I’ve never seen that. Hopefully, he will show some improvement back in his tank. If so, I would repeat the salt bath and water change again tomorrow. If no improvement, consider the antibiotics unless someone else has some ideas.

It is possible that it could be fungal too.

 

Eeek! I’ve never seen that. Hopefully, he will show some improvement back in his tank. If so, I would repeat the salt bath and water change again tomorrow. If no improvement, consider the antibiotics unless someone else has some ideas.

It is possible that it could be fungal too.

SO. It seems like swelling has gone down and he is swimming around some. He flares when facing me with his bad eye but I don't know if that means he can see me or not, lol. As you can see from the pictures his eye is still swollen and seems bloody. Still hasn't had any interest food and his mouth looks a little strange to me as well. He flutters his fins and swims back and forth some which seems promising! If I could get him interested in eating again that'd be great, but fingers still crossed! His good eye seems to have some white around it but I honestly couldn't tell you if it was his coloring or something is up with that one. Do you have any thoughts on bettafix? I saw it at my local store but not any of the ones you suggested, so I would probably order one from Amazon if it seems he can wait that long. I'm honestly just happy he's hanging on! Thank you so much again for all your advice!

 

SO. It seems like swelling has gone down and he is swimming around some. He flares when facing me with his bad eye but I don't know if that means he can see me or not, lol. As you can see from the pictures his eye is still swollen and seems bloody. Still hasn't had any interest food and his mouth looks a little strange to me as well. He flutters his fins and swims back and forth some which seems promising! If I could get him interested in eating again that'd be great, but fingers still crossed! His good eye seems to have some white around it but I honestly couldn't tell you if it was his coloring or something is up with that one. Do you have any thoughts on bettafix? I saw it at my local store but not any of the ones you suggested, so I would probably order one from Amazon if it seems he can wait that long. I'm honestly just happy he's hanging on! Thank you so much again for all your advice!View attachment 567879 View attachment 567880 View attachment 567881

He does look a little better. I would continue with the salt baths and large water changes daily for both. I’ve never used Bettafix, but I’ve heard any of the “fix” medicines are useless.

 

He does look a little better. I would continue with the salt baths and large water changes daily for both. I’ve never used Bettafix, but I’ve heard any of the “fix” medicines are useless.

That's what I figured. Seems too good to be true. And sounds good, I will continue that! Hopefully he continues to improve. Thank you!

 

That's what I figured. Seems too good to be true. And sounds good, I will continue that! Hopefully he continues to improve. Thank you!

PICTURE BELOW IS MILDLY GRAPHIC. This was what he looked like yesterday so I'm pretty amazed at today's look!

 

If you’re going down to your lsf, then i’d pick up a water testing kit, just to give you a better idea of the cause. It might also be worth getting some melafix, an antibiotic that will treat it. That’s what i’d be treating with now, if it was my fish.

I don’t know anyone else’s thoughts but i’d do a large water change but never a complete water change.

Fingers crossed for you x

P.s. if you took him out of his tank and put him straight into a bowl with fresh water (not cycled water) then that is the most likely cause for him not being himself if he was otherwise himself before....excluding the eye of course.

I’m sure more Betta owners will have fab advice

Thank you very much! And he was fairly lethargic before that but I agree that could've contributed. I did add back some of his previous water into his tank. He does seem to be improving, so hopefully he continues that way! Thanks again

 

I had a Molly with popeye and did WC's everyday (50%) in a 20 long for a week and by the end of the 7th day her eye was back to normal. If your Betta is the only one in the tank I would put him back in there so he is more comfortable in his usual home and start with a 50-75% WC till others chime in with more opinions. Good luck!!

From what I've read a lot of fish seem to come back from it so I hope that's the case with him! The swelling has definitely gone down, I just can't see it well enough to determine if he will lose the eye or lose some/all eyesight. But if that is the case I can work with it, as long as he is healthy! I will continue with water changes definitely and go from there. Thank you for your help!

 

PICTURE BELOW IS MILDLY GRAPHIC. This was what he looked like yesterday so I'm pretty amazed at today's look!
View attachment 567919

Oh my! That’s horrible. Hopefully he will continue to improve. Just keep up the water changes and salt baths. And keep an eye out for any kind of secondary infection.

Honestly, he may lose (or has lost) his eye. But I understand that fish survive fine after loosing 1 or both eyes, so let’s hope your boy is one of those.

 

Just looking at you photos again. I see what you mean about something going on with his mouth. Also, is this a wound?




I’m not certain what these are, but I think you are definitely dealing with maybe some kind of infection. I think you should look for some good antibiotics for him.

 

Just looking at you photos again. I see what you mean about something going on with his mouth. Also, is this a wound?

View attachment 567965

I’m not certain what these are, but I think you are definitely dealing with maybe some kind of infection. I think you should look for some good antibiotics for him.

I see what you mean! I looked at him just now and I don't see anything, so maybe it was a wound that has healed. The good news!! He is doing SO much better! His mouth swelling/whatever that was is gone, his eye swelling is about 95% gone, with his eye being back to normal for the most part (not even bloody!) and he is eating and acting more like himself! Still can't really determine if he can see or not. His tank is still empty as of now since I don't know what caused the wound, which I'm assuming did something with his mouth also. I'm about to leave the house so I will show pictures later, but I'm hoping we're on the mend!

 

I know the first picture he looks like he’s lethargic and lying on his side but he’s actually off the bottom and in the process of turning that picture shows the affected eye. It’s still kind of cloudy but not swollen and his mouth doesn’t look as strange to me. No idea if he can see but he reacts when I come near on that side, so maybe! He acted like his normal self when I came over today thank you all again!

P S let me know what you think about his side. I can’t really tell what’s going on there but I definitely see what you mean.

I see what you mean! I looked at him just now and I don't see anything, so maybe it was a wound that has healed. The good news!! He is doing SO much better! His mouth swelling/whatever that was is gone, his eye swelling is about 95% gone, with his eye being back to normal for the most part (not even bloody!) and he is eating and acting more like himself! Still can't really determine if he can see or not. His tank is still empty as of now since I don't know what caused the wound, which I'm assuming did something with his mouth also. I'm about to leave the house so I will show pictures later, but I'm hoping we're on the mend!

 

View attachment 568742 View attachment 568743
I know the first picture he looks like he’s lethargic and lying on his side but he’s actually off the bottom and in the process of turning that picture shows the affected eye. It’s still kind of cloudy but not swollen and his mouth doesn’t look as strange to me. No idea if he can see but he reacts when I come near on that side, so maybe! He acted like his normal self when I came over today thank you all again!

P S let me know what you think about his side. I can’t really tell what’s going on there but I definitely see what you mean.

That’s great news!

I would keep up with the daily salt baths and water changes still. His mouth to me still looks weird and his fins look torn. So the best thing, I believe is to keep the water as clean as possible!

 

That’s great news!

I would keep up with the daily salt baths and water changes still. His mouth to me still looks weird and his fins look torn. So the best thing, I believe is to keep the water as clean as possible!

Late response, but here is Lafayette (I got his name from the Hamilton musical) today! I don't think he has sight in that eye, but he is doing very well and eating and swimming like normal!

 

He looks so much better!