Fish Gasping For Air

[crackmonkey]

Usually my tank is fine and thetes enough oxygen and they breath normal but now tonight for some reason they're all breathing really fast, even my neons are coming up for air. I tested water with all my test kit solutions, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, ph ect... and all are fine.

 

[MasterP]

Check your water tempature. They will gasp at the top if it's too hot.

 

[red-devil0602]

yes check the temp this happened to me last week and killed my favorite fish

 

[crackmonkey]

temp is around 26.5 which is fine since my main fish are discus and they like 28 but even they are gasping. Lost a rummy nose & a ram today

 

[WILDER]

Look for signs of parasites any red inflamed gills, do they look like they have been sprinkled in salt, any yellow to gold dusting on them plus, has anyone been using house hold chemicals near the tank.

 

[!Gina]

They could have an infection/disease, I had a similar problem a while back caused by 'velvet' the skin looks
velvety and fish will often go to the surface for air.
It can be treated fairly easily.

I hope this helps

 

[rdd1952]

You haven't just recently started adding CO2 for plants have you? That will drive the oxygen out of the water. Add an airpump as soon as you can. If it's an oxygen issue, that will solve it till you can figure out the real cause.

 

[crackmonkey]

I trested the tank for that cotton wool like groath thing a few days ago, all cleared up now and did 50% water change yesterday. Also I put ammonia chips in my external filter last week maybe thats a problem?

 

[Rodders]

Treatments take oxygen out of the water. You should really run an airstone while treating.
But seeing you did a 50% water change I would have thought it would be ok.
Can try dropping a airstone in there and see if it improves.

 

[CFC]

Are there any other signs of illness such as cloudy eyes , weight loss, abnormal swimming, flicking and rubbing?

I just recently lost a fish to a suspected outbreak of Costiasis which began with the fish heavy breathing and then progressed faster than i was able to properly identify and treat the disease. Keep an eye out for any further symptoms and be prepared to treat the tank if nessasary. It would be a wise precaution to buy a bottle of Protozin (by Waterlife)as a standby should it be the worst.