Duffy was fine last night when I was feeding them, and this morning my mom was feeding just a little and noticed that Duffy was having difficulty locating food and saw that his eyes was swollen and red. It looks like it was bleeding from the inside. My worry is that Duffy is might be blinded in one eye.

I've had him isolated in another tank, but I just don't know what to do. Help please!

When the doc suspected that I might have glaucoma, I was terrified, and I was telling my fishes that I may be blind. Yes I talk to my fishes as if they can understand me. I don't want any of my fish to be blind, it's a terrible feeling to lose sight. As human we treasure our sight, I believe it's the same for goldfishes. Please advise.

Water conditions.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.3mg/l
PH - 7.8
Only decoration plants in the aquarium and small pebbles which are somehow rough.
Feeding in small quantities twice a day, morning and evening.
I'm feeing a mixture of shrimp flakes, freeze dried tubifex and pellets.
I do have a filtration system which is something like the Fluval, it sucks water from a small submersible motor and is discharged onto filters overhead.

well, because youve got a readable amount of nitrite in the tank, one or more of several things are happening.

1-your filter is inadequate for the size tank you have. what is the make and model of the filter? do you know the gph?

2- your feeding too much for the filter to clean-up. it doesnt sound like it.

3- your tank is relatively new or was recently cycled. is it new at all? what size is it and are their any other fish with him?

4- you might have crashed your cycle by over cleaning or adding some sort of questionable additive or medication. have you?

5- i may have missed something, anybody know what?

either way, the measurable nitrites tells me that your aquarium water is less than ideal. things like readable ammonia and nitrites can and will cause popeye and a whole slew of other things to occur. try stepping up the water changes for now. also, if you can, get a dechlorinator that is also a detoxifier (prime or amquel+ are very good). adding aquarium salt to the tune of 2 1/2 level teaspoons per us gallon will help him deal with the nitrites that are evidently there. once youve achieved a good balance and arent getting any more ammonia or nitrites, you can discontinue the salt if you like. or you can run the salt the whole time your medicating, again, thats up to you.

you can get a few different medications at your local fish store. i would suggest using maracyn 1, 2 or plus. if you get the plus, thats all youll need. if you get 1, try to get 2 as well and use them concurrently. also, i dont know how well it works for popeye but, you might try fungle fungus clear (up to you). it might take up to a week and a half before you get the swelling down but, a good antibiotic will do just that.

do you know what your nitrates are??

post back soon about your tank and filter. something may not be right with it.

by the way, im sorry to see your duffy like that.


he looks a lot like my pearlscale, squirt.

dont worry, im sure that youll be able to help him heal up nice and quick.

Hi Toothless

Ok, sorry, the filter is a powerhead, pushing water up to an overhead filter. I'm not sure about it;s GPH as everything I have, tanks, filters were given to me. Nitrate is registered at 10ppm. Don't think it's over cleaning, I've not done any water change for a week and half.

Ok I've started the medications for Duffy, but unfortunately, the meds that you're recommending is not available at where I am. The LFS recommended me something that is manufactured locally and is in a pill form. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed)

Will post back from time to time. Thanks so much for the help.

oh, sorry. i didnt realize that you were in singapore.

im thinking that you need to figure out why youve got measurable nitrites. even if you medicate the tank, it wont help until you get the params steady.

is there a manufacturer name and or model number on the powerhead?

how big is your tank?

are their other fish in with duffy?

since you havent done a water change in a week and a half, i would suggest that you increase your water changes to every other day or every 3 days. youll need to keep your water as clean as humanly possible to allow the medication to do its job.

anyway, good luck with him and let us know whats going on!

paul