Help with my maroon clown fish

[salt newbie01]

My clown has something wrong with his rt eye. Some days it is only a small white spot on the bottom of the eye, and other days the bottom half of his eye is swollen and sticking out. On the bad days the eye is a little milky looking. Could it be some type of fungus? None of the other fish seem to have anything wrong with them. I just wish I could get whatever it is to go away. I don't want it to get worse and end up killing the fish. here are some pics. the first is a good day and the other ones are from a bad day.







The bad day photos don't show how swollen the eye gets. I will try to get some more pics.

[Reinfinity]

Looks like popeye, (It's an infection name, I'm not trying to be funny) for information on cause and treatment, you can look
here.

Make sure you read the entire article though...

[Ironman]

Ya looks like popeye. Its very treatable but hard to get reef safe medicine, try some metronidazole in a food soak for a week. usually it progresses quickly, also feed like theres no tommorow, a fat fish is a healthy fish. good luck, I can bring some metronidazole if you need some

[salt newbie01]

Thanks guys - yeh from what I have read it does look like pop-eye. Brian do you know if the metronidazole would be more effective than tetracycline? The tetra. that petco sells says reef safe. I thought I would do a food soak like you suggested. I just didn't know if one would be less harmful for the reef?

Thanks again

[Ironman]

my modo has always been never treat the water, I dont care if its reef safe or not! I wiped out my first reef tank by treating it with a reef safe medication and swore never again. I have always used metronidazol but only as a food soak as it isnt reef safe in the water. The amount that ever enters the water is so small it doesnt hurt anything. but the food is so full of it that the fish gets a better dose and its taken internally. I cant comment on tetra. cause i havent tried it! there is a medication called Ampicillex which is designed more for popeye and could be used as a food soak but is also not reef safe. I would try the metronidazole first but its your tank!

[salt newbie01]

Well I caught the maroon clown tonight and put her into a QT. It was easier than I expected. A BIG THANKS to Bryan for a fish trap. It took about 60 sec - the clown was in the nem feeling safe and I slowly moved the clear cylinder close to her and guided her with my free hand. I am supposed to pick up some maracyn II tomorrow from Michael's. If that falls through I got another type of antibiotic from Bryan to have as a back-up. I'll let ya'll know hoe everything turns out.

[bkv1997]

cool beans keep us posted.

[salt newbie01]

Well I got the clown into 10 gallon QT on sunday night - Added first dose ( 2 tabs) of maracyn II monday night. The water turned bright yellow from the medicationand this morning the water looked cloudy also. Is this normal with the medication? I tested the water tonight and all is well. there is a little ammonia and a little nitrate but not much.
I planned on doing a 2-3 gallon water change before dosing the tank tonight. I thought this might help keep the tank within normal parameters. Does this sound like a good idea or should I do something else? I have never treated a fish in QT before. any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

[Ironman]

I havent used maracyn so I cant help, but I would follow the directions exactly. if you do something different it might not work well and extend the process, further stressing the fish. Just my opinion

[YupYup]

use bio bandage from hikari its a dosage treatment where it can be topical medicated potions to add to the fish