Pop-Eye?

[darkstar144]

Hey All,
I noticed a couple days ago that a couple of my Rainbow's eyes were bulging out.  I checked the water conditions and Ammonia and Nitrites were at 0.  Nitrates were high, around 120ppm.  I have been able to get the Nitrates back down to 5ppm through water changes and changing some of the filter media.  I have treated the tank with epsom salt.  Not sure what to treat the tank with now.  Erythromycin, metronidazole, or kanaplex?

The guy at the 30 *** mark of the video seems to be the worse.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Oh yeah... That's popeye... Typically you want to use Kanamycin or Minocycline which is Maracyn Two..

[darkstar144]

I gave the tank a dose of Maracyn 2. The fish seem to be acting more aggressive than normal. I am keeping the lights off to try to calm them down a bit. Anyone ever experience this type of behavior when medicating?

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Did you increase the temps at all?

[darkstar144]

I left the temp the same. Right around 78-79.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Might just be a coincidence then.

[gehandylan]

What causes 'pop eye'?

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Popeye can be caused from a few different things. But typically it's either from bumping it or a wound if only one is bulgy or cloudy or from fluid buildup behind the eyeball itself from an infection. Typically bacterial. High Nitrates can cause stress on the fish and allow infection to set in. The reason that only 1 or two can get is because they had lower immune systems to begin with. Maybe from being chased more than others/ being bullied regularly.

[darkstar144]

I think my fish got pop eye from high nitrate levels and being the victim of aggression.  I got the nitrates under control and took out most of the big rocks I had in the tank.  Left a couple large rocks in the tank.  The aggression between the fish seems to be better, but I did lose a few fish:(

[Deleted]

Sorry to hear that Darkstar...