Huffin and Puffin

[deangelo]

Hi all..I noticed that my endli and ornate are always sort of breathing heavy every time i see em, I wonder why? could this be a nervous reaction cause they are both shy, skittish and hide a lot or is there something wrong , my senegal doesnt do it and its in there with them and doesnt hide ..any bichir owners out there who experienced this feel free to share...

 

[Oddball]

Fish gasp when they can't get enough oxygen. Do a gravel wash/water change and boost your aeration. These are air-breathing fish. However, they're also riverine fish (for the most part) and river species have higher O2 demands than lake/pond species.

 

[deangelo]

I would've guessed that they would have plenty of oxygen since it is a planted tank and i got an air stone running through it...Question though, how come my senegal doesnt breathe heavy like them since they're all in the same tank jus these two...

 

[Jeox]

gill flukes?

 

[deangelo]

I was thinking that but wouldnt gill fluke also affect the senegal as well ..plus they dont scratch or rub themselves against anything and they stay at the bottom most of the time and they are eating well..Its just that when i see them or they know i'm there they have their mouths open when they breathe, could it just be a nervous reaction cos ive seen them on occasions when they think i'm not there with their mouths closed and chilling at the bottom of the tank or their hiding places Help please anyone as i do not want to medicate the fish unnecesarily and put the fish under stress...

 

[rasdbo]

man calm down, do they still swim to top for air? my 6 bichirs do the same usually after a good feeding but they all will swim to the top for air and all are very active!! so don't worry just watch and enjoy

 

[deangelo]

Yup they all swim to the surface for air and are active..I just wanted to know if this is natural and if others experience this and i guess it is cos I dont want them feeling stressed out, love my bichirs...