Fire Eel gasping for air and has white 'ulcers'

[Shasmisha]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

0

If I did not test my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

41-50%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every two weeks

If I do not change my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Hi everyone,

I have noticed my fire eel has not been eating and now it has been gasping or breathing heavily. I did a 50% water change just now, tests show 0 ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH 7.
Tank has sandy bottom and PVC pipes and decorations for hiding. It came out of its preferred PVC pipe and has been swimming around then stopping for a bit to gasp. It hasn't moved for the past 20 minutes.

If anyone could offer some insight, it would be much appreciated. I also have a tire track eel that is doing 100% fine, they live in opposite corners of the tank and never come in contact with each other.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Would you be able to share a photograph? It will be much easier to judge what is wrong with one.

 

[Shasmisha]

Here are two pictures I just took

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Thank you for the image! That doesn't look dissimilar to columnaris.
I'd treat with whatever parasite medications are legal in your area.

 

[Shasmisha]

I have pimafix, Kanaplax and LifeGuard. I am apprehensive to use lifeguard since I know spiny eels are scaleless fish, and the medicine is not appropriate for them. I am going to dose the quarantine tank with pimafix and hope for the best!

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

what have it been eating and how long have you had the fire eel for? is there enough current in the tank to move the water around for sufficient oxygenation? I notice mine pants when the filters are turned off for the water change. But they also pant when their stomach is full and is trying to re-arrange their food around they will spit their food out and re-eat them to stuff themselves the right way If they over eat. I’m very curious on what it has been eating if there was anything stuck in it stomach causing it to go on a hunger strike as they do not go on hunger strikes this size IMO Unless they are sick. however for the skin issue- are you sure its not accidentally injuring itself? I dose my tank with kanaplex once in a while as my eels tend to get hurt getting stuck in decor/heater/scraping themselves too hard to squeeze through stuff/holes. They are not exactly a graceful creature- they are super clumsy.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Attached is one of the two I currently own. They are not scaleless as you might assume. It reminds me of a snakes scale. Lol see how her body is full of dings and dents i cannot have her stay still alot of times to take a clearer marco shot (im an noob with tech) thats why I have to do constant water changes so her skin doesnt get infected.

 

[Caveden]

Thank you for the image! That doesn't look dissimilar to columnaris.
I'd treat with whatever parasite medications are legal in your area.

Why parasitic medicine? It doesn’t seem like a parasite to me in the photo.
it could perhaps be something to do with 0 nitrates. Maybe also even a fungus or bacterial infection.
could possibly try kanaplex cuz it heals ulcers.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

My bad, columnaris isn't a parasite, it's bacterial. Kanaplex should do the trick.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

What follows is for informational purposes since i cannot confirm nor rule out that it is columnaris your eel has.

Here is the thing about columnaris of which one should be aware. First there are multiple strains of the disease which have much different levels of virulence. The worst of them will kill before you see any symptoms. So this is not a worry if columnaris is what you have.

It is also common for columnaris to be accompanies by secondary infections bacterial and/or funga;, so monitor for this. Because of this it make it advisable to use a broad spectrum antibiotic. You may or may not need to treat for fungus. One of the combinatiosn of meds you might consider in this case is the Fristz Mardel complex. Maracyn (which is Erythromycin) Maracyn Two and if needed for fuunguis Maracyn Oxy. These meds are safe to combine according to Fritz mardel.

https://fritzaquatics.com/products/mardel-maracyn
https://fritzaquatics.com/products/mardel-maracyn-2
https://fritzaquatics.com/products/mardel-maracyn-oxy

One last note. Columnaris is often called cotton mouth disease. Yhis is because you see what appears to be a fungal infection around the mouth. This can be fatal as often fish stop eating, Columnaris can also affect the gills. It is also sometimes called saddlback disease because the white area will appear at the base of the dorsal fin.