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Pop-Eye Pop-eye

Discussion in 'Fish Diseases & Cures' started by Front Man, May 26, 2009.

  1. Front Man

    Front Man Thread Starter New Member

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    All of a sudden, I have a fossorochromis rostratus female with pop-eye! After much research, I am attempting to save her. She is still eating and acting very normal so I tested the water. I've found the Nitrates at 5.0, Ammonia at .25, Nitrites 0, and ph 7....where did that come from? A 7??? So I did a 50% water change 2 days ago. Retested the following day and Nitrates still at 5.0, Amonia at 0, Nitrites 0, and ph 7.8. So I began to raise the ph by adding baking soda. Female is still eating and acting normal. Today, did a 25% water change and everything is the same except ph - it's back up to 8.2 The female actually looks a little better. Could this work? I am going to continue to do a 25% water change every other day and monitor her status. If she has any changes, I will pull her and isolate her from the others. From what I understand, pop-eye is not contagious. I want to hold off on meds until absolutely necessary. They never seem to work anyways - seems that it inevitably results in death. I'm hoping that it is the poor water that caused this. Any thoughts?
     
    Front Man, May 26, 2009
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Why are you attempting to keep your pH so high ? With a pH of 7 one day and a pH of 8.2 several days later that will cause the fish a lot of stress and health problems.

    To treat pop eye you will want to use Maracyn and Maracyn Two. If it is pop eye you must treat it if you want any hope of saving the fish. Simple water changes will not fix the problem.
     
    Anthony, May 26, 2009
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  3. Front Man

    Front Man Thread Starter New Member

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    Let me clarify - I'm speaking of high range ph. Africans prefer a high range ph of 8.2
     
    Front Man, May 27, 2009
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    You posted in the illness section regarding pop eye. pH swings can and will cause stress causing health problems. A STABLE pH is ALWAYS better than one that changes as much as you describe yours as doing.
     
    Anthony, May 27, 2009
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  5. YellowCichlid

    YellowCichlid New Member

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    Whether this is a pH or illness question I agree with Anthony 100%
     
    YellowCichlid, May 27, 2009
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  6. Front Man

    Front Man Thread Starter New Member

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    Uh, I do too, that's why I'm trying to get the ph back up to where it WAS! I am sure that this is from the ph not an illness so the advise to treat with antibotics was said in haste. It seems that is done with real doctors and humans as well - just give them a pill and maybe it will go away. Don't bother getting to the root of the problem...thanks.
     
    Front Man, May 27, 2009
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  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    At this point the fish has pop eye correct ?
     
    Anthony, May 27, 2009
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  8. YellowCichlid

    YellowCichlid New Member

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    Front Man I'm not sure why you seem to have an attitude but it's not going to help your fish any

    Anthony suggested meds because that's the only hope you have at saving the fish at this point

    Your pH problem is likely the cause of the stress that allowed the fish to get the infection in the first place

    Raising your pH from 7 to 8.2 so quickly was a very bad idea
     
    YellowCichlid, May 27, 2009
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  9. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    How often do you normally do water changes would be helpful with dealing with the pH issue, but again that's an underlying problem that needs a different post.
     
    Anthony, May 27, 2009
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  10. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Member

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    Erythromycin, not sure if I spelled it right, will also help with the popeye. Its a four day treatment if you've caught it in time.
     
    jrow8162, May 27, 2009
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