My fish has popeye and now its eye is bleeding. What should I do?

Hi there. Poor Tango! Sorry you are having this issue. With injuries such as this, myxazin is often added to the water as you already have. Water changes are usually recommended as well to keep opportunistic bacteria at bay-which you have also done. The only thing I will recommend to my clients that have done the former two is added aquarium salt at about 1 teaspoon per five gallons of water in your tank. Otherwise-you are doing everything you can in this scenario. I really hope Tango feels better soon.

'Popeye' syndrome can have different causes including infections and poor water quality. In your case the other eye may be become affected very quickly. Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that. Oxygen concentration (this could be one of the main causes as excess of O2 can cause it very commonly) and quality of the filters should be determined as well. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, your fish should get examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for reaching out about Minn and including photos, although the lesion can not be identified through the pictures. Is the eye protruding more than the other? Popeye can be caused by multiple problems including an infection, mass behind the eye, increased intra-ocular pressure and more. Many of these are difficult to treat but none of the over-the-counter remedies work. Test and correct water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Review diet as pellets/flakes should be purchased every 3 months as vitamins (especially vitamin C) degrade quickly. If continues to progress, a veterinary visit with an experiences aquatic veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Cher and including photos. It does appear as if the right eye is enlarged or protruding. Causes of this can be air entrapment behind the eye (usually a result of a faulty pump), retro-bulbar infection/mass or other systemic illnesses. Test and correct water parameters. A veterinary visit for antibiotics is probably the best advise now. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Betta. Rarely do the water additives do anything, as fresh water fish do not drink as water passively crosses through gills, into the body due to saline nature of the body. The antibiotic molecules are too large to pass. So water additives might be good for skin lesions (acting as a topical). Not much is known regarding orally administered meds also and how they are intestinally absorbed. Giving antibiotics through injections is the preferred method for success, but a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe. The cause of the pop-eye is the challenge, which could be corneal scratches with secondary infections, bacterial abscess behind the eye, gas bubble disease and more. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It could be "pop eye". This can be caused by infection or trauma (aggression or from tank furniture). Treatment will include medication and maintaining pristine water quality. Goldfish produce a larger than average bio load (wastes) which can quickly overwhelm a tank and filter. Ideally, one goldfish should have 20 gallons of water and 10 additional gallons should be added per extra fish. The filter should be rated for at least twice the volume of the tank. Check water chemistry using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65F and 72F. A broad spectrum antibiotic can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. These include erythromycin, tetracycline or kanamycin. Brands include Kanaplex, Maracyn , FishMox or FishCillin. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Infection, old age, poor water quality or poor nutrition are all possible causes. The "wound" may have been post mortem, caused by being eaten by tankmates. Monitor tankmates for signs of illness or infection (red spots, fuzzy spots, swelling, lack of appetite/activity, etc.). Submit a water sample for quality testing or use a home kit to test for chemical imbalances. You may need to perform water changes, treat with chemicals or treat with antibiotics or antifungals depending on symptoms. You can request a consultation to discuss the situation in more detail.