Snow flake eel help

[Nrputnam]

Hi I have a snowflake eel had for about 2 years now in my tank with only a humma humma in it also. Lately it has not wanted to eat and just today he has developed some stuff on his head need help figuring out what is wrong with him. Amm is 0 nitrate is 5 and no2 is 0

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh no and may have started as bacterial. Swollen areas or bumps on eels can have many reasons:

- Parasites below the skin (marble like appearance),
- Internal bacterial infection (has to be treated in a hospital tank with antibiotics),
- tumors (some will go away by themselves, some can only be treated by antibiotics),
- Constipation (swelling at the belly, use Epsom salt; don’t feed much krill, but rather mussel or crab meat once you get it to eat again)
- By any chance do you have a lionfish or rabbitfish that could have stung it??

Test and assure water quality has not deteriorated or false salinity whereas it is higher than your reading is showing.

 

[tinhorse]

What are you feeding? If live goldfish they can bring in bacterial diseases. Check your temp. As mine always shows signs of stress if them temp goes higher than 80 or fluctuates too much. I would suggest a couple 25% water changes over the next 4 days and ensure ammonia, and no2 are 0 and no3 is less than 7. Ph 8 to 8.4 . Good luck they are tough critters but need decent water