It's a bacterial infection. Sometimes with frequent water changes, it can be calmed down and everything goes back to normal. Other times, it just continues until it (sorry to be gross) pops. I have one gourami that had this some months ago. A pearl that I've had now for 4 years! It was really distressing to look at - just one eye. The rest of the fish were fine. Eventually (sorry to be gross) it did rupture - and there were rams that were picking at the wounded eye. But you know - they seemed to be doing this to clean it up.

She's been one-eyed for about 2 1/2 months now. There's a socket that is slowly decreasing in size - and it definitely healed up cleanly. First she hid a lot - like the first two weeks after the eye ruptured, but eventually recovered and she acts pretty much normally and eats well. (knock wood!) It's sometimes hard because fish come at her on her blind side, but she seems to pretty much stick by a moonlight that has been her companion for the 4 years.

I've read that this can be caused by bad water quality. I think sometimes stress can also spur on latent bacterial infections and voila... popeye!

Yep, popeye can strike when there're bad water conditions. The eye will get cloudy and then start bulging from the skull. Go for an antibacterial like Triple Sulfa, E.M. tablets, or Furan-2. That's pretty heavy-duty stuff, so don't mix it with anything else. Keep an eye on your other fish. So far, Triple Sulfa has worked for an acquaintance of mine, so I'd recommend that.

I really love honey gouramis... they're so pretty and small. I have two resident honeys... but haven't seen them for sale anywhere around!! Where did you get yours,Pequa??! The only dwarfs I'm finding are the powder blue and flames these days.

I got them at South Shore Tropicals in West Babylon (suffolk co.)
They're right off Montauk Hwy just east of McDonalds.
I think just a little bit far for you, Sky.

-Andy

ack yes - a bit of a hike!!!