Why fish gulp air

You will need to do two things. Firstly, try to reduce the temperature of the aquarium or at least stabilize it so there are no sudden rises. We use plastic pop bottles filled with cold water and floated in the top of the aquarium.

This will help in extreme hot weather. Secondly, increase the air supply into the aquarium. Add another air pump or increase the surface water movement. Read our review on the 9 Quietest Air Pumps available online. Although we have focused on goldfish in this article, the basic principle can apply to all fish. Gasping for air at the top of an aquarium is never a good sign for any type of fish, tropical, cold water or saltwater.

Table of Contents. Author Recent Posts. Carl Broadbent. I have been working in the tropical fish industry for over 30 years now and I'm still learning. Everyday is a school day in this hobby. In my spare time I play golf very badly! You can add pond plants, which naturally release oxygen into the water during the daytime. You can also add an aerator, a waterfall, or spitter to make sure the oxygen levels are sufficient.

Using pond cleaner tablets will add beneficial bacteria and a water clarifier and chlorine remover will help to ensure excellent water quality for healthy fish.

If your fish are gasping for air you should quickly oxygenate the water by turning on a hose or any other water pump and spraying the water in the air so it gets oxygenated and then lands in the water garden. Doing a partial water change is also recommended. If the water has more than a degree temperature difference then do the water change over several hours. Once you have solved the crisis, try to figure out what caused the sudden loss of oxygen.

Checking the pond site and using a test kit will help to determine the cause as well as determine the steps to take to fix the problem in your pond. The warmer the water gets, the less oxygen it holds.

In hot weather the tank may be overheating naturally, so try to cool it and boost aeration. Gasping fish is often an early warning that something is wrong, so if the tank is very warm and heater light on this could be to blame and will need replacement. Heaters are generally reliable, but when they go wrong the consequences are usually devastating.

Both ammonia and nitrite affect gills and can cause gasping, so test the water at the first sign of trouble. When ammonia is present fish produce extra mucus, which reduces the surface area of the gills, making them less effective at extracting oxygen. Nitrite affects the blood by changing the haemoglobin bit that carries the oxygen, so fish gasp in trying to extract the oxygen they need from the water. Any signs of ammonia or nitrite are worrying.