Why Are My Fish Gulping?

[jambo1238]

Hi everyone.

I have a rio 125 which has been running for a year and a half, it is a moderately planted tank which is daily supplemented with easylife easy carbo,
only 1ml a day.

My tank only has 6 black ruby barbs and a single honey gourami as the other two died recently.

And my problem is that all my fish are constantly gulping for air at the surface, I don't understand the cause.

There is plenty of water cirulation and I do 25% weekly water change.

Any suggestions or help greatly appreciated.

 

[minxfishy]

Have you checked your water stats lately, ammonia and nitrIte?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Have you checked your water stats lately, ammonia and nitrIte?

Agreed.

Poor water quality will make the fish open there mouths a lot faster, and you will also be able to see their gills move a lot more and faster as well.

-FHM

 

[Ally555]

Agree eith both above. Check your water stats.

 

[freerunner416]

Agreed with above but i would add an air stone and make sure your filter is breaking the surface instead of being fully under the surface.

 

[Truck]

because plants respire and photosynthesise they could be using some of the oxygen and not putting any back due to low CO2 levels i would dose more easy carbo circa 3-4ml a day. and aerate the tank and check water stats

 

[saz326]

If water stats are fine - any chance they are just looking for food? Maybe the gourami does his surface breathing trick (gouramis do breath air to supliment the oxygen they get from the water), and the barbd think he is eating, so they go up to see where the food is.

 

[WILDER]

Gasping can be bad water quality, toxins in the water, ph shock, parasites, lack of 02 in the water.

 

[jambo1238]

Yeah will defo check my water stats.

Thanks for the help