Gas embolism
Gas embolism in fish manifests itself in the form of small bubbles of gas on the body or eyes. As a rule, they do not pose a serious health hazard.
However, in some cases, the consequences can be very serious, for example, if the lens of the eye is touched or a bacterial infection begins at the site of a burst bubble. In addition, bubbles can also form on the internal vital organs (brain, heart, liver) and cause sudden death of the fish.
Causes of appearance
Under certain circumstances, microbubbles invisible to the eye are formed in the water, which, penetrating through the gills, are carried throughout the body of the fish. Accumulating (merging with each other), larger bubbles randomly appear – this is a gas embolism.
Where do these microbubbles come from?
The first reason is damage to the filtration system or excessively small aerator bubbles that dissolve before they reach the surface.
The second reason is adding a large amount of cooler water to the aquarium. In such water, the concentration of dissolved gases is always higher than in warm water. As it heats up, air will be released in the form of those same microbubbles.
A simple example: Pour cold tap water into a glass and leave it on the table. In addition to the fact that the surface will fog up, bubbles will begin to form on the inner wall. The same thing can happen in the body of a fish.
