male seahorse with pop eye?

[crzy4reefs]

his eye is popped out and he's swimming funny. he was fine yesterday eating i'm guessing this happend at night......i don't know how that would happen. i have a penquin filter on there and that's it. is he doomed?

[mendelec]

I'm sure you know this is coming, but .... we need just a wee bit more information....

What's your setup, how long has it been established, what's your water parameters (all of them, not just "they're OK), what do you mean by popped out (gone/removed, dangling by nerves and blood vessels or swollen). How long have you had him? CB or WC? Any history of disease? Eating what (i.e., what do you feed him)? What are the other tankmates? Have there been any recent changes/additions to the tank? Do you have a QT setup available? Your location would also be real helpful, as it will provide some insight as to what's available in your area.

Popeye is usually a sign of a serious internal disease. So, the short, harsh answer without any real information from you, is probably yes. Try to respond with as much information as you can dig up, and perhaps someone can provide some useful advice.

Elliot

[crzy4reefs]

1.swollen eye just one of them.
2.the tank has been set up for 2 yrs its a 29gal seahorse tank
3.i've had him for less then 2 months.
4. he eats frozen mysis shrimp and sometimes live ghost shrimp
5. ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 0 ph 8.3 salinity 1.023 dkh 10
6. i do 10% weekly water changes using RO/DI water
7. i use instant ocean salt
8. i have tons of macro in there. 3 inches of live sand and tonga live rock
9. he is cb
10. so far as i know he had no disease
11. i did a slow drip acclimation with him
12. there are 5 hermit crabs 1 conch 3 snails and 1 other sehorse a female who is fine and eating.
13. there hasn't been anychanges to the tank
14. tank temp is 74degrees
15. i live in RI
16 i have a 10gal i can set up for a QT tank.

thanks so much....................

[crzy4reefs]

no need to reply.......at 5:10pm he passed away thanks for your reply mendelec.

[Wink]

I wouldn't consider the situation quite so harshly. Popeye can be caused by anything from a physical injury to serious disease. It isn't a disease itself, it is a symptom. I think the biggest problem is we can't tell you what is wrong. Seahorse.org states is is most often bacterial infection. Syngnathid.org recommends checking the tank for gas supersaturation and if that's not it start by treating for parasites - if the eye is cloudy treating for external parasites with freshwater dip, Greenex, or Meth Blue (will destroy biofilter) or if eye is not cloudy using metronidazole (does not destroy biofilter) for internal parasites.
Since it is only one eye, physical injury is also very possible. So.. what should you do? It's up to you.
I personally have had two seahorses (totally separate incidents) develop mild popeye in both eyes. In both cases I chose to treat with Melafix - a natural preparation of Tea Tree Oil which aids in healing and has antibacterial properties. Both horses are alive and well today. I get it at Walmart, it doesn't hurt the biofilter or any other critters in the tank. You might see some heavy breathing and even "coughing" when you first put it in. Turn off your skimmer 'cuz the stuff does bubble. I can't tell you this will work, all I can do is share my experience. HTH

Vicky

[crzy4reefs]

thanks for your help wink but it's too late he passed away........will my other sehorse be affected...i'm doing a water change right now. it happend to fast he was fine yesterday i'm guessing this happend at night cause when i went to feed them i noticed his eye and his bizzar swimming.........

[Wink]

I'm sorry to hear it... I know how hard it is.

Unfortunately, since we don't know what caused it, we have no way to know if the other seahorse is at risk. Personally, I would probably go ahead and use the Melafix as a possible preventative that has no negative effects and could help.

So sorry,

Vicky

[crzy4reefs]

ok i'll do that i have some.......thanks for your help....it's a sad sad loss.........