Congo tetra pop-eye problems..treatment?

[AquaSox]

Have fungus on eye of female congo.

Normally fungus I leave it or water change and it goes away, but its on the eye and getting worse.

The fungus (or bacteria) is cottony and white. Tank is 72 gallon. Any suggestions on how to treat?

I'll get picture as soon as i can

Thanks

Have now confirmed pop-eye with or without eye cloud.

[AquaSox]

Doesn't look like a fungus now. Looks like a small pearl covering the eye of the female. Anyone know what this is or how to treat it?

The fish appears to be healthy otherwise...eating and swimming normally. Below are some pictures...one showing the healthy eye for comparison.

[Momobobo]

All I can think of is it damaged its eye =\ Salt and clean water for that. Don't want to feel bad, you havnt been getting any advice at all so far =0 I'm surprised somebody hasnt replied yet.

[AquaSox]

Its possible that it might have been an injury or at least started as one. I changed the water 50% last week...I will do so again this week.

How much salt would you recommend? ...I do not want to kill my plants.

[Momobobo]

Not too experienced in this case. I usually dose a teaspoon for 10 gallons which shouldnt really affect your plants.

[gklaw]

It could be just pop eye.

Take your picture and go see Roberto at Pet Habit on PineTree Way across from Henderson Centre.

Roberto is very very knowledgeable and will have some good advice and good medication for you.

You will be pleased to meet the gentleman regardless. Tell him Gordon sends you and you will probably get a discount

Pretty sure Grant's amazing staff at IPU could help as well if you are closer to IPU.

[AquaSox]

I agree this might be a case of popeye, although it doesn't fit exactly. Some of the congos actually do definitively have popeye now as well as dropsy. The problem is these are all non-specific symptoms...any of these could be caused by a number of factors.

No anti-popeye medications have worked. I have tried several standard ones and environmental parameters in my tank are quite good...but there is obviously something wrong.

I'm somewhat skeptical of people working in pet stores (many have limited knowledge from my experience).

I will check out the ones you listed.

[gklaw]

Roberto is the owner and he has his fair size of fish tanks at home as well. I trust store owners like Roberto, Grant and April more than anyone else. If they guess wrong on their own stock, it cost them big time !

IMHO, none of these things are exact science. I even have the same feeling when I go see my doctor. I remembered my daughter had seizures at around 3. Call ambulance to take her to emergency, tests, more stress and subsequently more seizures from the stresses. Specialist, professor, x-ray, spinal cord fluid test (still hurts me to think about it now ) - the conclusion: not sure, seizures went away and never came back in 10 years - thank God.

If you love your fish like I love my daughters, I can share you pain. I have to say I will never love my fish anywhere remotely close to loving my daughters. My infected fish usually got taken out of their misery very fast to save the rest of its tanks mates from the same misfortune.

[jobber604]

Almond leaves and epsom salt. I'm going to try that one day in the bath tub.

[AquaSox]

Almond leaves and epsom salt. I'm going to try that one day in the bath tub.

Actually those are probably some of the few things I haven't yet tried. They are some of things I've noted from your PM's.

I've actually seen epsom being used on some other sites to treat popeye. Supposedly it helps draw excess fluid away from the eye and surrounding tissue. I'm not sure how the plants will react but the ones I have in the 72 are not too finicky...generally "low tech" plants. My personal experience with MgSO4 in my other tank that I get stunting growth of rotala sp. even at fairly low dosing.