White blotches on Peacock eel

[sombraroparty]

size: 55 gallon
water temp: 77-80F
Nitrate: >10
Nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0
PH: 8.0
Have had tank for 6 months

A few days ago I noticed these strange white blotches on my peacock eel. They occur in the same area on both sides of the eel. Ive had Scribbles for about 2 weeks and at first he would never come out, but now and hes become very active in the last few days, around the same time I noticed these spots. He eats right out of my hand and has had no loss of appetite.

The white spots don't appear to be increasing in size or growing as far as I can tell.



Should I be worried about this? At first I thought it might be a gravel injury but it doesn't make sense that it would be on both sides.

Anybody know whats going on?

 

[calioutlaw1a]

Nice fish, and nice name haha. It's difficult to tell from the photo, but are the splotches actually raised areas that are fluffy, or are they just discolored areas? It looks like an injury that is healing, but the fact that it is symmetrical on both sides makes me wonder if its something else. It could just be the coloration of this particular fish. Is it possible that these splotches were there when you got him?

 

[sombraroparty]

haha thank you. But they aren't fluffy or raised at all. I'm starting to think it may be my convicts being mean and its just an injury like you said. He definitely didnt have these spots when I got him though.

 

[White_Racehorse]

Hey, I have this as well on my biggest peacock eel. I just noticed it yesterday and came here looking for advice but havent found anything, and mine looks just like yours. I've had him 4 years and hes never had this coloration. Hoping he pulls through.

 

[kno4te]

Hey, I have this as well on my biggest peacock eel. I just noticed it yesterday and came here looking for advice but havent found anything, and mine looks just like yours. I've had him 4 years and hes never had this coloration. Hoping he pulls through.

Check ur water quality first. I’d normal I’d suspect some injury.

 

[White_Racehorse]

Check ur water quality first. I’d normal I’d suspect some injury.

I just checked it earlier today actually, nitrates, ammonia, nitrite all 0 with ~ 7.4 PH. Upon further research it seems like he may have had "whirling fish disease" and the white spots were just his stress response. Since posting my original reply, he has since passed, even though I removed him and treated him with PraziiPro. Will be treating the main tank with PraziPro, until I can get Naladixic Acid delivered. My suspect is a local fish shop that sold sick fish as it took about a month upon introducing them for my biggest eel to show symptoms. Unfortunate and I will be letting them know. If you're in Maryland, avoid GoFish, LLC. They sell sick fish, even after quarantine.

 

[tlindsey]

I just checked it earlier today actually, nitrates, ammonia, nitrite all 0 with ~ 7.4 PH. Upon further research it seems like he may have had "whirling fish disease" and the white spots were just his stress response. Since posting my original reply, he has since passed, even though I removed him and treated him with PraziiPro. Will be treating the main tank with PraziPro, until I can get Naladixic Acid delivered. My suspect is a local fish shop that sold sick fish as it took about a month upon introducing them for my biggest eel to show symptoms. Unfortunate and I will be letting them know. If you're in Maryland, avoid GoFish, LLC. They sell sick fish, even after quarantine.

Welcome aboard
A fully Cycled aquarium should have a positive Nitrate reading.

 

[White_Racehorse]

Welcome aboard
A fully Cycled aquarium should have a positive Nitrate reading.

No. Not at all. Tanks been running for 4+ years. You want minimal nitrates.

 

[tlindsey]

No. Not at all. Tanks been running for 4+ years. You want minimal nitrates.

That is true what you stated about minimal Nitrate. So you must do very large weekly water changes or is the aquarium planted?

 

[White_Racehorse]

That is true what you stated about minimal Nitrate. So you must do very large weekly water changes or is the aquarium planted?

I do at least 25% W/C every couple weeks, with a 50% W/C maybe once a month or longer. It has plants but isn't CO2 injected. The tank will take care of itself once established. It's actually easier for a larger tank to get established than a smaller one.