How to top off a tank for a snowflake eel

[Porcupine Reefer]

This freak accident happened to me a long time ago. One night I was topping off my tank with new water; the snowflake eel I had was sitting on one of the rocks, and I did see the new water being converted around him, before this night, the eel was just fine when I topped off the tank in the past so I didn't feel concerned about it. later on the next day I came down stairs, and then saw the eel floating at the surface and his stomach was bloated and discolored, I did see bubbles in its stomach so he did get gas bubble disease. The eel died that same day and I never got one since; but I thought about getting another one recently. how do I avoid this tragedy from happening again, and what do I need to do to prevent gas bubble disease for eels?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@Slocke

 

[Slocke]

I’ve never heard of this happening @Jay Hemdal ?

My recommendation is to either add smaller amounts more often or get an ATO that adds water in a high flow area.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I wonder if the water addition was coincidental to the gas issue? Snowflakes are not very sensitive to changes in salinity.

Gas bubble disease is a pretty specific affliction; either the skin disease we see in seahorses, or from supersaturation of gas in water. I wonder if it had food in its gut that decomposed in its stomach? That produces gas and bloating.

Here is an article I co-authored on gas bubble disease:
https://reefs.com/magazine/toledo-zoo-fish-health-q-a-gas-bubble-disease/