Engineer Goby with Skin Bubbles...

[cinematek]

Someone over in "New to Hobby" suggested I should post my fish problem here.

I got this engineer goby about a month ago. He hid for 2-3 weeks and then started coming out, but he is covered with what looks like air or water bubbles all over his body.

What is this?

 

[paulamrein]

I think I've read that it is due to the over-saturation of the water. I'd have to look more into it though

 

[cinematek]

What do you mean by over saturation of water? Like into the fish? Or do you mean over saturation of something in the tank water?

 

[paulamrein]

Gas bubble disease, basicly is when the water is in super-saturation with gases. Water can only hold so many elements. When it is filled to capacity with elements it's called super-saturation. This can be done by an airstone, or a skimmer that produces too many microbubbles. The jury is still out of what exactly causes it. But, it's safe to say you should check your mechanical filtrations or pumps to see if there is any excess air intake.

 

[Percula9]

Gas bubble disease is probably the correct diagnosis. It's like the bends in humans. Caused by supersaturation of gases in the water. Usually in fish, bubbles form behind the eyes.

 

[JHemdal]

Folks,

That isn't gas bubble disease. By definition there would be gas BUBBLES. Those are fluid filled vesicles (blisters). If they were filled with gas the fish would have to be named "Bob" 'cause he'd be floating. It would also be dead because supersaturation causing that many gas bubbles would cause cavitation in the heart and kill it immediately.

Now - what caused the blisters? I don't know for sure, but viral infections have been implicated in some cases, as well as the flagellate Spironucleous (related to Heaxamita).

JHemdal

p.s. - airstones do NOT cause gas supersaturation, they actually relieve the problem - like shaking up a can of pop releases the dissolved gases. Microbubbles are not the problem, it is gases actually dissolved in the water (that you cannot see) that cause this gas bubble disease. Common causes include leaks at the suction side of strong pumps and de-gassing caused by huge changes in water temperature.

 

[cinematek]

Awesome input, all!

Based on your input and other web articles I had diagnosed it as gas bubble disease, too, but now I'm intrigued by JHemdal's Spironucleous blister theory.

Either way, the next question is "how do I cure it?"

I'm on my way to my good LFS now with this post to ask more questions.

I'll report back when I have a course of action planned out.