Gas Bubble Disease in my arapima.

[Texasrockwell]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

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

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.

I just noticed that my pima has several bubbles on its head under the skin. Pretty sure it’s GBD. I am unsure why it is getting this now as I haven’t changed anything on pond for several years. The temperature here has been crazy high for several months, average is 102 F, maybe that has something to to with it ? I am unsure what I should do. I have a big aerator at the bottom of the pond, a power head and a small waterfall. Should I turn anything off or try to get the water temperature down? I don’t want it to get any worse as I know this disease can be fatal.

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

I just noticed that my pima has several bubbles on its head under the skin. Pretty sure it’s GBD. I am unsure why it is getting this now as I haven’t changed anything on pond for several years. The temperature here has been crazy high for several months, average is 102 F, maybe that has something to to with it ? I am unsure what I should do. I have a big aerator at the bottom of the pond, a power head and a small waterfall. Should I turn anything off or try to get the water temperature down? I don’t want it to get any worse as I know this disease can be fatal.

Rapid temp changes cause this
Freshwater disease guide tells you how to cure it I believe and a quick google search will help to idk how to cure it, I think The best thing you can do is to try to keep the temp stable

 

[Texasrockwell]

Rapid temp changes cause this
Freshwater disease guide tells you how to cure it I believe and a quick google search will help to idk how to cure it, I think The best thing you can do is to try to keep the temp stable

I first went to the disease guide and it says to aerate the water, Maybe I need to add more?

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

I first went to the disease guide and it says to aerate the water, Maybe I need to add more?

It’s also caused by nitrogen gases, I would also change the water heavily to get rid of the excess gasses, do you use well water?or tap Try testing it to see if it has elevated gasses, if so before every water change let the water “age” in tubs to get rid of the gasses (like a few days) prior to water change, if not i would find a source of excess gas, If there is nothing, change the water and increase aeration as you said and hope for the best as it is fatal by increasing pressure in the organs of the fish

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

Also I’m pretty sure arapaimas can get this pretty easily, I’ve seen a lot of pimas on yt with them

 

[Texasrockwell]

I am going to cut the powerhead and add another air disc for more aeration. From everything I read about GBD most of the time there is air getting into the pump and saturating the water. I think the arapaima prefers calmer water anyway, so I will get rid of any high volume water movement.

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

Any updates?

 

[Texasrockwell]

Any updates?

Yes. I stopped my waterfall and added another large air stone, and that seems to have taken care of the problem. The bumps on the pima’s head are almost completely gone. I watch quite a few YouTubers and I was watching a kid named Blake, and he had a Pima that had the same issue. Many people were telling him how to try and deal with the problem by turning off his waterfall and adding air stones, but for some reason he didn’t take the advice and sadly his fish died. For anyone having this problem, the additional aeration seems to help release the gasses that are saturated in the water. Thankfully people in forums like this have experience and advice that help save fish.

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

Yes. I stopped my waterfall and added another large air stone, and that seems to have taken care of the problem. The bumps on the pima’s head are almost completely gone. I watch quite a few YouTubers and I was watching a kid named Blake, and he had a Pima that had the same issue. Many people were telling him how to try and deal with the problem by turning off his waterfall and adding air stones, but for some reason he didn’t take the advice and sadly his fish died. For anyone having this problem, the additional aeration seems to help release the gasses that are saturated in the water. Thankfully people in forums like this have experience and advice that help save fish.

That Blake name sounds familiar… was it in a homemade 6,000 gallon pond and the channel name was somthing ranch or something? Glad I could help

 

[Texasrockwell]

That Blake name sounds familiar… was it in a homemade 6,000 gallon pond and the channel name was somthing ranch or something? Glad I could help

That Blake name sounds familiar… was it in a homemade 6,000 gallon pond and the channel name was somthing ranch or something? Glad I could help

Yup, that’s him