Guppy fish is a popular choice for aquariums, but once in a while, it surprises the beginners with a new incident that will leave them shell-shocked and worried. I have noticed people overlooking the small changes in their fish, which can indicate some serious problems. One such change is a bulging eye; have you noticed the eye of your fish getting all balled up? It is something serious, and you cannot put a lid on it. And to start the treatment, you need to know what is wrong here. So, why is guppy fish eye bulging?
The bulging eye of guppy fish is a condition known as ‘Popeye,’ and different things such as water quality, infection, injury, and parasites cause it. This disease is really dangerous for your fish if you do not treat it on time, so you need to know the cause behind this problem to provide the right treatment.
This blog post will look at what causes a guppy’s eye to bulge, the signs of pop eye disease, and how to treat it. We will also discuss whether or not a bulging eye can kill your guppy fish and how easy it is to cure.
So if you have been wondering, read on for answers!
Is It Normal For Guppy Fish To Have Eye Bulging?
No, it is not normal for guppy fish to have eye bulging. However, if you notice that your guppy fish’s eye is bulging, it is a sign that something is wrong with your fish, and you should take action to treat the condition.
Guppy fish is a very popular tropical freshwater fish with brightly colored bodies and long fins, and they are relatively easy to care for.
However, sometimes guppy fish can develop a condition called pop eye, which causes their eyes to bulge. Poor water quality, bacterial infections, or injuries usually brings pop eye in guppies, and it can get fatal if you leave it untreated.
Why Is My Guppy Fish Eye Bulging?
While it is not the most common of problems that can befall your guppy fish, bulging eyes are certainly something you might encounter.
Also called “pop-eye,” this condition is usually the result of poor water quality or bacterial infection along with dropsy, a fungus, or internal parasites.
In some cases, injuries sustained from fighting with other fish or running into objects in the tank can also cause bulging eyes.
Whatever the cause of your guppy’s pop-eye disease, it is important to take action quickly to treat the condition, as it can be fatal to your fish if left untreated.
Bad Water Quality
If the water in your tank is not properly filtered or cycled, it can build toxins that can eventually cause pop-eye.
Additionally, if your tank is overcrowded, this can also contribute to bad water quality, as there will be less dissolved oxygen in the water for your fish to breathe.
Bacterial Infection
The popeye can occur when bacteria enter the body through the gills or an open wound. Once inside, the bacteria can attack the guppy fish’s organs, including the eyes.
Symptoms of a bacterial infection include bulging eyes, cloudy eyes, and redness around the eyes. If left untreated, a bacterial infection can kill your guppy fish.
Dropsy
Dropsy is a disease that causes fluid to build up in the tissues of the guppy fish. The fluid build-up can cause the fish’s eyes to bulge.
Other symptoms of dropsy include a bloated body, scales that stand away from the body, and redness around the fins. If left untreated, dropsy is fatal.
Fungus
Fungal infection is a common disease in aquariums, and bad water quality, overfeeding, or stress brings in.
Fungus looks like white cottony growth on the body or fins of the fish. It can also cause cloudy eyes and fin rot.
If your guppy fish has a bulging eye, it’s likely due to a fungal infection. The good news is that this disease is fairly easy to treat with aquarium salt and medications.
Aquarium salt in the guppy tank will help kill the fungus, and the medications will help prevent it from returning.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the medication packaging carefully. And don’t worry, your guppy fish can live in saltwater with a minimal level of salinity.
Injuries
An injury to the head or body can also cause the eyes of a guppy fish to bulge. A blow to the head can damage the eye and cause it to swell.
If your guppy fish has a bulging eye, it’s important to check for other injuries. If you see any other injuries, be sure to treat them accordingly.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites are another common cause of bulging eyes in guppy fish. These parasites live off the blood of the fish and can cause anemia.
Anemia is a condition in which there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues. This can cause the eyes to bulge and other symptoms such as lethargy and weakness.
If your guppy fish has a bulging eye, it’s important to check for parasites. There are many different medications available to treat parasites. Be sure to follow the instructions on the medication packaging carefully.
What Does A Bulging Guppy Fish Eye Look Like?
In general, you will notice that one or both of your fish’s eyes are enlarged and protruding from its head. For example, a guppy fish with a pop eye will have one or both eyes bulging from the socket.
The affected eye(s) may also appear cloudy or opaque, and the eyeball itself may appear cloudy or have a white film. In severe cases, the bulging eye(s) may entirely pop out of the socket.
Signs Of Pop Eye Disease In Guppy Fish
In addition to the obvious bulging eyes, fish with the pop eye may also exhibit the following signs:
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Floating upside down
- Rubbing against objects in the tank
If you notice any of these signs in your fish, you should take them to the vet for a check-up.
Can Bulging Eye Kill Your Guppy Fish?
Now, let’s talk about whether or not a bulging eye can kill your guppy fish. The answer is, unfortunately, yes.
If the condition is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the eye and lead to blindness in guppy fish. Pop eye is often fatal in guppy fry (baby guppies) because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.
Even in adult guppies, the mortality rate is still quite high. So, taking action as soon as you notice any signs of pop eye disease in your fish is important.
In severe cases, the entire eye may rupture and fall out of the socket. This is why it’s important to seek treatment for your fish as soon as you notice any symptoms.
Hence, a bulging eye in guppy fish is not usually fatal but can turn into one if you leave it untreated. If the underlying cause is not treated, the fish can develop other health problems that will become fatal.
Is Bulging Eye In Guppy Fish Hard To Cure?
The good news is that, in most cases, bulging eye is fairly easy to treat and cure. However, it’s important to catch the disease early on before it has a chance to do too much damage.
If left untreated, the pop eye can lead to blindness, and eventually, you will start to find your guppy fish dying due to other issues that blindness brings. However, with prompt treatment, most fish make a full recovery.
In most cases, the underlying cause of bulging eyes is an infection. This could be a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. In some cases, the culprit is also parasites.
If you notice that your fish’s eye is bulging, the first thing you should do is check the water quality. If the water quality is poor, that could cause a problem.
It would help if you also looked for other signs of illness, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and strange behavior. If your fish exhibits any of these signs, it’s important to take them to the vet immediately.
How Do You Treat Guppy Fish With A Bulging Eye?
Once you’ve ruled out water quality as the cause, you can start treating the infection with antibiotics, antifungals, or antiparasitic medications.
In most cases, bulging eye is fairly easy to treat and cure. However, it’s important to catch the disease early on before it has a chance to do too much damage.
If left untreated, the pop eye can lead to blindness and eventually death. However, with prompt treatment, most fish make a full recovery.
You may also need to treat the fish with aquarium salt and raise the temperature of the water. These treatments will help kill the bacteria, fungus, or parasites causing the infection.
Aquarium Salt
Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt for every five gallons of water. This can depend on the severity of the infection.
If you have a very small tank, you might need to remove the fish and treat them in a bucket or sink. You should also keep an eye on the salt levels and ensure they don’t get too high. High levels of salt can be harmful to your fish.
Medications
You can use a variety of medications to treat your fish, depending on the underlying cause of the infection.
If bacteria cause the bulging eye, you can use antibiotics such as erythromycin or kanamycin. And if a fungus causes the bulging eye, you can use antifungals such as ketoconazole or chloroquine.
If parasites cause bulging eyes, you can use antiparasitic medications such as metronidazole or praziquantel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, As you can see, a bulging eye in guppy fish is not a death sentence. With prompt treatment, most fish make a full recovery. However, it’s important to catch the disease early on before it has a chance to do too much damage. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or would like to share your experiences with a bulging eye in guppy fish. Thanks for reading!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!