Fire Eel Emergency

[n-e-w-land]

Hi there,
Two days ago I introduced a fire eel to my 160 gallon tank, the journey was quite long, around 2 hours and he then jumped onto the floor when I arrived home and I stupidly took a few seconds catching him which probably didn't help. Before all of this after the journey a white film had formed over his eyes making him presumably blind (hopefully not permanent?) Also his nose/mouth had become slightly white and bent over.

I have checked on him today and he is breathing fairly rapidly and a large white fungal growth has formed over his nose area.

Im a really worried about my eel and would like some advise as to what to do from here.

Thanks Jake.

 

[Anguilla82]

Hi there,
Two days ago I introduced a fire eel to my 160 gallon tank, the journey was quite long, around 2 hours and he then jumped onto the floor when I arrived home and I stupidly took a few seconds catching him which probably didn't help. Before all of this after the journey a white film had formed over his eyes making him presumably blind (hopefully not permanent?) Also his nose/mouth had become slightly white and bent over.

I have checked on him today and he is breathing fairly rapidly and a large white fungal growth has formed over his nose area.

Im a really worried about my eel and would like some advise as to what to do from here.

Thanks Jake.

fire eels can be quite suceptible to getting bumps and bruises. sounds like he went thru the wars a bit, probably rubbing off the protective slime and brusing his nose area.
good clean, well oxygenated water is a must.

i would be very careful if planning on using chemicals to treat the fungus as eels tend to be very funny about them

the fungus and whiteness should heal itself if given good water quality and the eel is kept stress free.

 

[n-e-w-land]

Hi, Thanks for your speedy reply. Do I need to put him in a tank on his own or would the move just stress him out further? Would adding some salt and raising the temperature be benificial?

Thank you again

 

[WILDER]

The white on the nose and mouth is it fluffy looking. Not sure what you mean by bent over.
Cloudy eye is a symtom of a desease not a desease in its own right.

 

[n-e-w-land]

Thanks Wilder, the white is fluffy looking, i think it may be a fungal infection due to the fish not be able to see and therefore swimming into things and injuring its nose. The fish is now currently on its side and gasping.

 

[WILDER]

It sound like columnaris to me if its on the mouth as well, fish can break out in columnaris if they are stressed.
How does his gills look.
Check water stats and increase aeration.

 

[WILDER]

Columnaris (a.k.a. Mouth Fungus)
Info taken from here.

http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

Symptoms:

An infected fish will have off-white to gray cotton-like patches on the head, fins, gills, body and particularly the mouth. In time, these areas will develop into open sores. Gill swelling may occur, gill filaments may stick together and excessive mucus may develop in the gill area. Rapid breathing can be seen. Fins may deteriorate to the point of leaving the fin rays bare. Muscles may be inflamed and capillaries may rupture. Fish, particularly livebearers, may exhibit "shimmying". Infection may be acute (killing an infected fish within hours), or chronic (lingering for several days before eventually killing the fish). As with most diseases, not all symptoms need be present.



Cause:

The bacterium Flexibacter columnaris.



Treatment:

Ensure that your water conditions (e.g., Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Nitrate levels, and water temp.) are within their proper ranges. If not, perform a water change and/or treat the water accordingly. Recommended medications include: Furanace, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Cure, Furacyn, Furan-2, Triple Sulfa, E.M. Tablets, Tetracycline, or Potassium Permanganate. Medicated foods are also recommended. Columnaris can be highly infectious and may quickly kill all aquarium inhabitants; therefore, early treatment is essential. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.

 

[n-e-w-land]

Thanks. Its just one patch of white fungus on the nose, i mentioned the mouth as well because they are sort of a connected part of the fish if you know what I mean the nose is just above the mouth On the link you posted I think this possibly seems more likely as the infected area is the place where the nose was injured? What do you reckon?

'Fungal Infections



Symptoms:

Fungal infections can be differentiated from other infestations because white, gray or brown cotton-like growths can be seen on the fish.



Cause:

Healthy fish are not affected by fungi, but succumb following an injury to the skin. Fungal infections are caused by various species of Fungi, such as Saprolegnia and Achlya.



Treatment:

The most important thing to do is return water quality to optimal levels. Since fungal infections are not contagious to otherwise healthy fish, treating only the infected fish is recommended. Treatment should include dabbing the affected area with a cotton swab dipped in Methylene Blue. Use caution in the fish’s eye area because Methylene Blue can cause permanent damage if applied directly. If the eye is infected, or the fish is small, a dip is preferable. Prepare a bucket using fresh, dechlorinated water of the same temperature and pH as the water in the aquarium. Add one drop of Methylene Blue for each gallon of water and place the fish in it for ten to twenty minutes. Dips may be repeated up to two times a day until symptoms have subsided. If several fish are affected, treat the entire tank with Methylene Blue, Fungus Eliminator, Fungus Guard, or Fungus Cure.'

 

[WILDER]

fungus can grow on dead tissue.