When you see your fish hovering just below the water line, it’s a sign of distress. It’s also a sign of a panic attack. They has wide eyes and rigid fins.
The water seems clear to you but the fish need air and cannot get it. That’s not boredom or trying to catch some attention. That’s a fish that’s trying to tell you something.
Something are wrong with your tank. That there is clear water doesn’t necessarily mean there is healthy water. What you don’t see, what you don’t smell, is generally what the issue is.
Maybe the oxygen level have dropped. Maybe chemistry is out of whack. Perhaps ammonia are spiking.
Whatever it is, the fish can’t escape the tank, you need to change environment. The number one culprit? Low dissolved oxygen.
Why Fish Gasp At The Surface Of The Tank
Recognizing Fish Gasping and Distress
Warmer water has less oxygen capacity. As room temp goes up during the summer, the water warm up. As that happens, the water have less and less oxygen capacity.
So the water is warm, and doesn’t have enough air in it for the fishs. Gasping is what happens when the fish can’t get enough air out of the water. The problem isn’t that your filter isn’t working; the problem is that the water is too thick with heat.
Low Dissolved Oxygen in Warm Water
To fix this mechanicaly, increase surface agitation. Take a filter output or air stone and point it towards the surface so you makes some ripples. The more stuff moving around on top, the more gas exchange happens.
Simple physics, but it saves lives. The same kind of visual signs occur with ammonia poisoning. Overstocking the new tank and overfeeding it are common mistakes new tank keeper make.
Ammonia Poisoning and New Tank Syndrome
Because the biological filter hasn’t had time to get established, the nitrogen cycle fail. Ammonia concentrations increases in the tank, which burns the gills. The damaged gill cannot efficiently pull oxygen out of water, which is why the fish gasps for air.
Immediately test your water. If there’s ammonia present, do a partial water change. While working toward longer term solutions, use an ammonia conditioning product that detoxifies the ammonia.
A neglected filter can also cause poor water quality. It will decrease its flow rate due to mechanical media clogging up. Waste will accumulate in stagnant pockets.
Filter Maintenance and Beneficial Bacteria
Fresh oxygen won’t make it through. This cause beneficial bacteria to die off, leading to a crash of cycle. Glass may become slimy or the water may turn cloudy.
In some cases, the water appears fine but the underlying biology is not. Never clean filter media with tap water. Use old tank water to clean filter media.
Tap water will kill the good stuff you’re trying to protect. Keep the flow going and don’t allow debris to block intake. The problem can also be caused by external factors.
Treating Tap Water Before Adding
Tap water contain chlorine and/or chloramines which will damage gill tissues. Respiratory distress can occur even at low levels. Treat your tap water prior to adding it to the tank.
Make certain any water conditioner you’re using addresses both chlorine and chloramines. There is some less expensive ones out there that only address one or the other. Read label.
This little step avoids a big time crisis. But other times, the gulping indicates illness. Gills may be irritated by parasites such as flukes or ich.
Illness Signs and Quarantine Protocols
In an attempt to compensate, the fish will breathes more, gasping. It’s uncomfortable, so the fish will flash against the decoration or have clamped fins. White spots on the fish are another indicator.
If you’ve got clean water parameters, then assume this is some kind of biological problem. Treat accordingly. Isolating any sick fish help, too.
Before introducing any new fish into your main tank, quarantine them. Prevention is always cheaper and less stressful than treatment. Changes in swimming behavior are often the first clues.
Daily Observation and Early Diagnosis
The best diagnostic tool available to you is watching your fish. More than test strips. They’ll be up at the surface if something’s wrong.
Do something! Test the water, check the temperature, and check your filter. Look for signs of illness.
Catch problems early, and you could of fixed most of them. Listen to that gasp…it’s your warning. Your tank will get back to normal.
