Bloated Blenny... now with "blister" (pics) UPDATE 1

[ochopus]

Hello. I've done some online searching and found that bloating in blennies was common so I wasnt going to worry too much... but now my little starry eyed blenny is not only bloated, but seems to have a "blister" too. Water quality is fine, I just did a water change and have always used chemi-pure and purigen. I have had the tank about 3 years, hand blenny for about 2 years....
2 days ago, he was fine. Then I noticed he was super bloated. Like swallowed an olive whole. I researched and was going to hold off on feeding incase he was constipated or over fed and just wait it out. Now, today, I noticed while the swelling has reduced very slightly, he now has a blister. Its very thin bubble on his side, like those baggy air sac some goldfish have... and I think i can see thru it into his body, as if there may be a hole into his chest cavity. Cant really tell as hes always swimming around. And I think I see another spot/blister developing on his chest. He swims fine, still eats off the glass, rock, and tank surfaces, he breathes fine, a little more reclusive is all. I hope he's not being eaten from the inside out by some parasites.
Any ideas? Recommendations?
Bloated Blenny:

Now with Blister:

 

[beth]

This is certainly not normal. I'm not sure I've seen anything quite like it. When is the last time you used chemi-pure and purigen or changed it o ? What is your pH?
I might try antibiotics (Maracyn Two for saltwater fish) if and only if you had an established quarantine tank. Otherwise, I don't see much hope with this.
How are other fish?

 

[meowzer]

HOLY COW....are you missing anything

Looks bad

 

[nikesb]

looks like gas bubble disease to me. 2nd time ive seen it, but usually only in freshwater
"Gas Bubble Disease is caused by a sudden dramatic change in gas pressure in the aquarium. This can happen by changing too much water at one time or by adding cold water to the fish tank. Gas bubbles form in the fins and skin of the fish. The bubbles look like blisters and are very easy to see. The skin will crackle if you run your finger across it. If not treated in time, gas bubbles in the bloodstream will kill the fish. The treatment is to add alot of aeration to the aquarium. Lights should be left off to minimize stress. If you see alot of bubbles that have already popped, consider adding a general antibiotic to guard against secondary infection "

 

[al&burke]

Well I don't know if it applies to SW fish but sometimes with my pond fish they get bloated - I feed them cooked peas to help them with that. It wouldn't hurt to try - just peel the pea and squish it a bit. I don't think it will hurt anything.

 

[nikesb]

im pretty sure the bloating and the blister is due to a sudden pressure change. you need to relieve the pressure somehow

 

[ochopus]

Thanks for all the replies and input... here is an update...
After work today, I stopped by my local aquarium shop and spoke to the pros there, described the situation and showed pictures... the owner believed that at this point, its probably a lost cause. Most likely a bacterial infection, too far progressed, and too difficult to treat in a reef tank. Unfortunately, I can't afford a QT set up...
The water parameters are fine, temp is good, I change out chemipure and purigen every 6 months. No chance of a water temp shock as I warm the water before water change and the chiller is always set to 78. All the other fish are fine, the clowns, watchman goby, anemones, shrimps, GSP...
Anyway, he is still alive. Still acting normal. Still swimming, chomping on the glass, hanging out in his favorite spots - which allowed me to photograph him more...
WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY (3/30/2011)...
Funny thing, his condition keeps changing. Still looks bad though. His swelling is gone. This first blister that was more near his fin is gone/healed. But now the problem (probably more serious than ever) is that another "spot" or lesion I noticed yesterday as just a slight discoloring... has developed into a hole on his chest. Now, I can't tell if there is a parasite inside, or the thing I saw flapping in and out was some skin being move by his breathing...
Even with all this, he is still acting normal... Dont know what to do... I'm just waiting for him to expire. Please see pics below. First is the discoloration I noticed yesterday, the second photo is today showing how its turned into an ulcer or hole...

 

[nikesb]

it looks like the swelling has gone down.
i dont agree with what your lfs said, if it was a bacterial infection i wouldnt expect the blister. the blister is almost always gas bubble disease. if the fish is acting normal, then just leave him stress free and let him be. the tissue damage will repair and he should be fine.

 

[smartorl]

Do fish abcess? It looks to me like whatever pressure was building up inside, blew out through the blistery thing which was the easiest path, just like an abcess.
This is really interesting.

 

[meowzer]

I don't understand....so they told you do nothing and watch it die???/ there has to be something that can be done

 

[nikesb]

the good thing is that its a blenny and it usually will perch on the sand so the lowest point in your tank which helps with gas bubble disease. just dont do anything drastic and he should be fine. its not disease that can be passed on

 

[beth]

I was thinking a tumor or abcess. It does look less bloated with the cut now, is it?
Any other fish harrassing him?