Is This Normal Or A "freak Of Nature"?

[z06vette387]

Hi,

I have a green emerald Cory catfish, and not only does it eat off the bottom, but it eats off the surface. It will actually go to the surface of the water, swim upside down, and eat. Catfish are bottom feeders and I know they are known to gulp air from the surface, but eat??? Is there something wrong with the fish? It looks healthy, no abnormalities, and it swims fine. Any answers to this, becasue I am just baffled. lol.

Matt

 

[erk628]

Hi,

I have a green emerald Cory catfish, and not only does it eat off the bottom, but it eats off the surface. It will actually go to the surface of the water, swim upside down, and eat. Catfish are bottom feeders and I know they are known to gulp air from the surface, but eat??? Is there something wrong with the fish? It looks healthy, no abnormalities, and it swims fine. Any answers to this, becasue I am just baffled. lol.

Matt

I have two Columbian Sharks (catfish) in a braskish tank and they do the same thing. However I have never seem my corys do this.

 

[Gatorbait]

I don't know anything about Cory's but catfish aren't the extensive bottom feeders everyone thinks. They are extremely predatory and will eat fish higher up in the water column all the time.

As far as gulping air, I wouldn't worry about it if it's just a hit and dive. Most fish I've had from cichlids to piranhas to community fish do this.

 

[SuperColey1]

My Greedy Plecs oftencome up to the surface and run along it upside down as if its glass.

 

[QuotheRaven]

Corydoras labryinth fish so Im pretty sure have a extra lung ( I Think...Im certainly no expert) which holds air which is used to create bubble nests so if they are zooming up to the top taking a gulp of air and back down it's fine if they are staying at the top gasping not good and eating from the surface would mean their greedy

 

[Fishkrazy1]

Sorry mate but corrys Lay their eggs, not in a bubble nest BUT everywhere they can they scadder them throughout the tank but they do have the labrynith which is used to hold air, but not to build bubble nest, it's so they can have a fresh supply of oxygen when the oxygen levels in the water is low... Say speaking of which do you notice any other fish "gasping" at the surface all the time?

 

[QuotheRaven]

Oh yeah I got confused Hoplo catfishes build bubble nests not cories...DUH!...silly me!

 

[z06vette387]

Sorry mate but corrys Lay their eggs, not in a bubble nest BUT everywhere they can they scadder them throughout the tank but they do have the labrynith which is used to hold air, but not to build bubble nest, it's so they can have a fresh supply of oxygen when the oxygen levels in the water is low... Say speaking of which do you notice any other fish "gasping" at the surface all the time?

None of my other fish are at the surface for air, its just the cory cat.

 

[crazie.eddie]

Cories are NOT labarynth fish.

How long have you had the cories? Does it only do this during feeding time? If so, it may have learned the good foods are at the surface.