breath at top of water

[crazy4discus]

my discus seems to always breat at the top of the water surface what does this mean is it flukes?

[angel12]

Sounds like they arent getting enough O2 do you have a planted tank ? do you have an airstone or place your filter so that it ups the rate at wich the water is moved on the surface providing more agitation so that the CO2 in the water can be released into the Air above it .......this will allow more O2 into the water ... are your fish breathing through one or both Gills if they are breathing through both but rapidly then check your ammo and nitrate/nitrite levels to see if there is anything untward going on... if through one it could be a sign of flukes are they rubbing against any rocks or hard places ?

HTH

[jeep]

What's your ammonia and nitrate readings?

[crazy4discus]

i need to check and yeah i got filter and airstone in there for them there breatheing threw both gills

[angel12]

in that case more likely to be nitrite levles the Nitrite affects the fish ability to absorb O2 from the water resulting in heavy breathing
Others on here will be able to advise re how to reduce it ..

HTH

[crazy4discus]

ok thanks

[Discusgeo]

Symptoms of nitrite poisoning include gasping and rapid gill movements, which could be mistaken for a shortage of oxygen. In extreme cases, fish can actually die of suffocation because nitrite binds to the oxygen-carrying component (haemoglobin) in the blood.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

[crazy4discus]

once again thanks for the info discusgeo

[Carol_Roberts]

Water changes, salt, buy test kits

[crazy4discus]

yep yep carol been doing that and got me test kit there doing better not breathing on top of water no more so thats good