Untreatable popeye

Photos included

Tank

What is the water volume of the tank?

3 gallons

How long has the tank been running?

Couple months

Does it have a filter?

Yea

Does it have a heater?

Yes

What is the water temperature?

78

What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)

Betta

Shrimp

Maintenance

How often do you change the water?

Weekly

How much of the water do you change?

25/50%

What do you use to treat your water?

Prime

Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?

I vacuumed the substrate

*Parameters - Very Important

Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?

Yes

What do you use to test the water?

Api test kit and sera test strips

What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia:0 ppm

Nitrite:0 ppm

Nitrate: 25 ppm

pH:6.8



Feeding

How often do you feed your fish?

2-3 times a day

How much do you feed your fish?

Very little

What brand of food do you feed your fish?

Hikari, omega one

Do you feed frozen?

Yea

Do you feed freeze-dried foods?

No



Illness & Symptoms

How long have you had this fish?

Couple months

How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?

Month or so

In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?

Has had popeye that won’t go away

Have you started any treatment for the illness?

Epsom salt baths

Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase?

Injured upon purchase

How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?

No change in behavior has a hard time seeing



Explain your emergency situation in detail.

So for probably a month now possibly a little less my half moon male bear has developed popeye and I can seem to get the swelling down at all and I’ve tried several medication and I don’t want to put him through anymore bc of stress I was not sure if surgery was a possibility or I may even have to euthanize him bc he seems like he could be in pain

 

You may actually have to go for a anti-biotic treatment instead of just epsom salts dips. Also, if you feed that much in a 3 gallon, i would be changing the water twice a week...a small tank can get fouled up quickly.

 

You may actually have to go for a anti-biotic treatment instead of just epsom salts dips. Also, if you feed that much in a 3 gallon, i would be changing the water twice a week...a small tank can get fouled up quickly.

Thanks I have tried different types of antibiotics and they don’t seem to really improve anything and I feed very little to him meaning he gets a couple bloodworms or brine shrimp or even a couple pellets at during the day I’ll do 1 in the morning moon and evening

 

Hi!

If Bear was in pain or suffering, he would be showing it in other ways. He would be lethargic, losing his color, and he would eventually stop eating.

I personally would not euthanize him if he is acting normally.

I would recommend that you keep his water super clean, and do frequent small water changes.

I would also continue with the epsom salt baths, once a day, or once every other day, if it is too stressful for you or him.

You can also try adding some aquarium salt to his tank (just follow the instructions on the package - but don't use this more then 2 weeks).

He may be blind in that one eye, but he can live like that, and still have a good little life!

What antibiotics have you tried so far?

 

Don’t get discouraged! As others have said above me, he’s likely not in pain and fully capable of living a happy life even if he does loose the eye. Popeye is notorious for taking a long time to treat, so don’t give up just yet!