why do our fish keep swimming to the top, like they are bobbing for air?

Question

it just looks like they are bobbing for air, is this normal?

Answer 1

If they are permanently up at the surface like that it is very likely that they ARE bobbing for air.

It's possible that your tank has become deficient in oxygen for some reason, over-stocking, over-feeding or a few dead fish in the tank are the most likely causes but whatever the reason you need to do something about it quickly.

Firstly, please don't listen to anyone who says they are looking foir food. That's not the way fish do things, if they see food at the surface the'll eat it but otherwise they will look elsewhere. If you keep putting food in it will only make matters worse.

Does the water smell? if it does you need to change at least half of it as soon as possible, otherwise the best thing is to try and correct the problem and let the tank settle down, that's particularly true if the tank has only just been set up.

Have you got a filter? If not I would suggest you get one, make sure it's clean and working properly and preferrably contains some charcoal to absorbe gases etc. Put an air stone in as well if you have one. That should give you a bit of breathing space and you should see the fish start to behave normally again.

You don't say what type of fish you have or how big the tank is but as a general rule you should allow at least 3 to 6 square inches of surface area per inch length of fish depending upon whether they are tropicals or cold water and how bulky they are. If the tank is grosslly over-stocked the only thing to do is try and get rid of a few fish.

Have a look and see if there are any dead fish in the tank and if there is an excess of mulm at the bottom syphon it out.

If you are adding any chemicals to the tank including plant fertilisers stop adding them until you've got things sorted out.


Hope this helps, good luck

Answer 2

If your tank is relatively new (set up for less than 2 months) the most likely reason is a buildup of ammonia or nitrite in the water. Both are a product of the fish wastes, and are toxic to the fish. They interfere with the ability of the fish to take in oxygen, so it appeas as though they're gasping for air, even in a well oxygenated tank.

Of course, the problem could also be a lack of oxygen - If you don't use a filter or airstone to circulate the water, there may not be enough oxygen near the bottom of the tank, and if your room is warmer than usual, or the heater is malfunctioning and overheating the tank, warm water holds less oxygen than does cool water.

Answer 3

I'd have to ask you if you have tested the water quality lately? Elevated Nitrite (NO2) concentrations can cause fish to surface for air because high nitrite concentrations prevent the blood of fish from transferring oxygen. As for the oxygen levels water chemistry wise, most are correct in stating that you should have an air stone to provide oxygen within the water. I would also perhaps buy more rocks for a greater surface area for your bacteria, which rid ammonia and nitrite, to colonize in your aquarium. Get your water tested and ask the pet store if they have a dissolved oxygen meter or just a simple test kit to analyze your oxygen concetration.

Answer 4

it sounds like that is exactly what they are doing, bobbing for air. Have you got an air pump running into your tank? if not get one and be sure to get the right size pump your local pet shop/aquarium should be able to give you correct one. If you cant afford one right away at least get some oxygenating plants in there

Answer 5

my GF does an identical, yet I even have an 80 L tank, it relatively is around approximately 21 gallons. I even have 2 GF and often i do no longer feed them contained in the morning, I actually have a clear out which makes bubles around the fishtank, so i replaced into questioning that they may well be tryign to pop the bubbles, yet i attempted giving them nutrition, and that they ate it like loopy. So i assume they are hungry. yet until eventually now i transfered them to an 80L tank, i saved them in some 3-5 L fish bowl, in lots of circumstances, in the event that they don't get sufficient oxygen, they could be respiratory alot, examine out their gills, see if it keeps establishing and shutting and if its truly quickly, it basically skill which you will would desire to purchase an airstone to maintain your fish tank oxygenated. yet another difficulty possibly is that the water is grimy? do you sparkling it as quickly as a week a minimum of? its prevalent to take 20% of the water and alter it back, be sure that that's dechlorinated water. too plenty amonia would have been produce, considering the fact that GF style of poops alot lol, you should get a clear out to your fish tank. yet i propose getting your self a sort of oblong fish tank, quite of a fishbowl while you're retaining them in a fish bowl

Answer 6

Hi
They probably are, you don't mention if they're in a pond or a tank, if they're in a pond oxygenate it with the hose pipe or use water from a watering can, if they're in a tank buy a pump.
This is a good example of why people who keep pets should learn something about them.
Ray. West York's. U.K.

Answer 7

Has the water in your tank got enough oxygen in it. Are you using one of the air pump stones to diffuse oxygen into the water in the tank?

Answer 8

Many fish are surface feeding like eating little bugs etc.

Answer 9

To get oxygen from the air also.

Answer 10

they are either hungry or the water in the tank does not contain enough free oxygen for them to breathe. too many plants in there will use up the free oxygen, especially the decaying matter liberated from them