If your fish has bulging eyes, don’t be alarmed. Popeye disease is common in pet fish, and in most cases, they will fully recover. A fish’s eyes can bulge due to trauma or an underlying infection, and catching the disease early on is crucial for their recovery. As a fish owner, you must learn how to recognize common illnesses. So, if you want your fish to live a long and happy life, dive into the essential information below about why your fish’s eyes are popping out.
Popeye Disease Could Cause Bulging Eyes
A fish’s eyes can pop out due to a condition known as exophthalmos, commonly called popeye disease. It can affect one or both of a fish’s eyes, and it causes the eyes to bulge abnormally from the sockets. Bulging eyes in fish occurs when fluid leaks into the area behind the eyeball due to trauma or infection. It can also be a natural physical feature because some fish, such as telescopic-eyed goldfish, have naturally bulging eyes due to their breeding and not because of an illness.
Finding a fish with bulging eyes is alarming, especially for first-time aquarium owners, but the good news is that in most cases, fish will recover from popeye disease. Depending on the severity, however, the eye may not entirely return to normal – and if left untreated, it can be fatal or cause blindness. Note that fish cope well without vision because they have a strong sense of smell and hearing, which helps them to move around. Fish also have a unique lateral line sensory system, which picks up on movement, vibrations, and water pressure.
Popeye Disease Can Result from Trauma or Infection
The primary causes of popeye disease are injury or infection. In some cases, the cause isn’t clear. Fish are more prone to infections, such as popeye disease, when they live in a stressful environment, and it often occurs as a secondary response to poor living conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of popeye disease below:
1. Injuries – Popeye disease caused by an injury usually only affects one eye. Sometimes, you may even be able to see the injury in the eye. Fish can injure themselves on aquarium plants and decor while zooming around or from fighting with a tankmate.
2. Infections – Popeye caused by infection usually shows in both eyes and indicates an environmental imbalance in the aquarium. Many common fish illnesses occur due to stress and poor living conditions, which lower their immune system and make them more vulnerable to disease. Popeye can also arise from excess fungi, bacteria, or parasites in the water.
The Symptoms of Popeye Disease in Pet Fish
There are many popeye symptoms, including bulging eyes and lethargy. The best way to spot any marine illness is by getting to know your fish and learning to recognize abnormal behavior. Watching aquarium fish is a fantastic way to reduce stress and will also help you quickly spot when something isn’t right.
There is no diagnostic test for this common fish illness; a vet or healthcare specialist will diagnose it on symptoms alone.
The most common symptoms include:
- Cloudy, bloody or discolored eyes – discolored eyes often indicate a ruptured retina
- Eyes bulging from the socket – is the most common and obvious symptom
- Signs of stress and illness – such as loss of appetite and lethargy
- Behavioral changes – such as hiding, isolating, and clamped fins
- Stretched eye sockets – eye sockets will look broader than usual
- A swollen body
- Poor appearance – dull color and rough or raised scales are strong signs of stress and illness
How Can I Treat Popeye Disease?
You must treat popeye disease based on its cause. If popeye occurs because of an injury, it usually resolves itself without intervention. But, you must closely monitor the sick fish and seek professional advice if it worsens or they develop other symptoms. Popeye caused by infections is more complex to treat. If you suspect that popeye is due to infection, you must seek medical advice from an aquatic vet or fish health care specialist. Veterinarians usually advise using broad-spectrum antibiotics for treatment.
If only one fish is affected, you can treat it individually in a quarantine tank, but you must treat the whole tank if several fish are affected. Fish usually recover from popeye disease in a few weeks, but it can take months in severe cases. You must feed fish high-quality food and ensure they have pristine water throughout their recovery. Some aquarium enthusiasts add aquarium salts to the water to help. You should use purpose-made aquarium salt as per the instructions. Never put table or rock salt into a tank.
How Can I Prevent Popeye Disease in Fish?
With fish illnesses, prevention is better than cure, and ensuring your fish have a balanced, clean, safe environment will keep most illnesses at bay. Ultimately, you can’t entirely prevent popeye disease from occurring, but you can reduce the chances. Regularly monitoring your fish will help you catch illnesses in the early stages, which gives them the best chances of recovery.
Here’s a list of the things you can do to prevent popeye in fish:
- Remove dangerous objects in the tank – such as sharp or protruding edges on rocks, plants, and decor
- Regularly clean and monitor your aquarium – test aquarium water frequently, and ensure the parameters, such as temperature and pH are correct
- Ensure the tank environment is stress-free – bullying, overcrowding and lack of mental stimulation for pet fish, such as plants and hiding places, can create stress
- Monitor your fish – get to know their normal behavior, so you can quickly tell when something is off
- Feed a high-quality diet – pet fish with a top-rate balanced diet are healthier and more resistant to illnesses
