Fish Jumping Out Of The Water?

[giganova]

Hi all --


what does it mean when fish start racing to the surface and jump out of the water? Not enough oxygen to breath ... or are they just having fun??

 

[WILDER]

No there something wrong.
Need your water stats quick in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Does your filter ripple the surface of the tank.

 

[giganova]

Stats seem to be fine:


NO2 = 0
NH3 = 0
PH = 7.6


29 gallon tank with live plants, 2 angel fish, 2 guaramis, 2 algae eater, 10 neon tetras, about 8 zebras.
Fish are all older than 2 years (none died during this 2 year period when I had this setup), and the angel fish recently spawed (although but the eggs mysteriously disappeared over night during the 2nd day).

Does your filter ripple the surface of the tank.

A little, not much (didn't want to disturb the Co2 injection)

 

[WILDER]

Very rare to have a nitrate reading of 0, what your tap nitrate reading.
Been usng any household chemicals near the tank, or decorating.
Try and increase aeration in the tank.

 

[fubarmick]

my parrot sometimes jumps outta water when he going for food!!!!
and my zebras jump out ov water into my breeding trap!!!!!
nothing wrong with them just what they do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WILDER]

If you have had the fish two years and there trying to jump out and never have done before, I would say there something wrong.
Which fish are trying to jump out.

 

[giganova]

Only the three biggest fish are trying to jump outa water, the two angel and one algae eater. I guess it could be a lack of airation.

 

[WILDER]

I agree if its an algae eater turn aeration up, its tough on the bottom for them if there lack of 02 in the tank.

 

[n3ont3tra]

My first thought was that some kind of chemical got into the tank, have you used ANYTHING around the tank? Air freshener, glade plug-ins, scented candles (not sure if this is harmful, I've heard it was, though).

 

[Tolak]

Usually fish will hang out at the surface if there is a lack of aeration. With that heavy of stocking there should be some nitrate reading. I would start by increasing the aeration, doing a water change in case there is any environmental pollution, and either have a shop test your water, or get a new kit, the chemicals may be out of date.

With that heavy of stocking in a 29 with a breeding pair of angels I would try to jump too. Breeding angels can get aggressive with each other, as well as other tankmates. If a fish has no place to go but up it will try.

 

[giganova]

Do you think I have heavy stocking?

 

[Tolak]

The breeding pair needs 20 gallons on their own, I will put a smaller breeding pair in a 20 by themselves, a larger pair goes in a 29 with a few corys & a small plec. This is a standard stocking scheme for angels. In a pinch I will divide a 29 for two small pairs, that is considered overstocking.

If you look at the pair of gouramis as being the same bio load as a pair of angels you are overstocked, not by much as I see it, but overstocked nonetheless. Add in the rest of the fish, and it's a very busy tank. The stress added by a breeding pair only makes it worse.