Very sick Bubblegum parrot fish

Question
Hi there. I have a 9 year old Bubblegum fish named Walter. Hes been slowly going down hill for about 6 months now. I've asked around to some other people but it really didn't help. Walter use to come to the tank and "play." But for the past 3 weeks. He stays at the top, kinda laying sideways. His left eye is poped out pretty far now. I'm assumeing "popeye?" but he doesn't move. He only eats every couple of days now. (He use to be a pig when it came to eating)His left gill only moves sometimes and his left fin doesn't move at all. When he does move its like he darts around the tank and then back to that same spot. A few months ago I found a small black spot that looks to be on the inside of his scales. It was on the left side as well. I asked about it and was told it wasn't anything to worry about. But a week ago, that same spot had a fussy white growth and then poped out. I have a pleco and a silver doller in the 55 gal tank with him and they seem to be just fine. Any ideas please? I was told to have him put to sleep, but I want to try to help him before I do that.. THank you so much for your time and knowledge!

Answer
Hi Jennifer,
  It doesn't sound very good for Walter.  He is likely getting very old and things are accumulating that he cannot fight any longer.  Popeye isn't a disease per se, but rather a symptom that can be caused by many things.  Unfortunately I cannot suggest anything specific that you can do to help him.  Sorry.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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