Sick Snowflake Eel? :(

[jendwyer3]

I have had my snowflake for about a month now and began eating thawed fish (whiteing i believe) for dinner every couple days. Today he seems very sluggish and had his head laying to the side and when I come up to visit with him he just looks at me with sad eyes and I noticed a lump on the left side of his body just behind his face. Do you think I feed him too big of a bite of fish and he can't get it swallowed or through his digestive system? Is he just relaxing? Is he bored? Mad? I am torn up over this because he just isn't acting like himself and I have become very attached to him. Any comments of your experiences with them would be great. I am a marine biologest and I am very up on keeping the water peramiters perfect for him and his tank mates (they don't bother each other) so I don't think that it is water quality.
It is a 200 gallon tank with only him, a clown, yellow tang... so they are free to roam and he has plenty of places to hide.
Thanks ahead of time for your help.......

 

[jendwyer3]

Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites - Zero
I have only feed him whiting and silversides and only had him about 3 weeks.
Last time i feed him was 2 days ago and the next day he was sick.
He was acting normal when i feed him came up to the top and meets me with the food.
How is he breathing?
His breathing is labored long drawn out breath
Have you observed the fish come out and swim around? I don't see him swimming around active like... but he does move from one favorite hiding spot to his other spot but I don't see him doing it.
I am just worried about the head laying on the floor..... he has such a personality and he always comes to the glass too meet anyone that walks by and never ever bothers the other fish.
Do you think maybe he hurt himself of a piecs of hard coral (not a reef tank)?
Thank you so much for responding!