is it normal

[bluehairman]

for my senegal to swim to the surface and breath in some air then return to the bottom and let out a bubble? i've heard they can breath air better than most fish, so i'm wondering if he's not getting enough oxygen? but i have plenty of surface movement from filter. and a bubble wall and sponge filter.

 

[benzjamin13]

They do it once in awhile...nothing to worry about unless it's up at the surface all the time gulping air.

 

[le patron]

They do it once in awhile...nothing to worry about unless it's up at the surface all the time gulping air.

 

[Angler]

It is pretty common for Polys. They have an air breathing organ.

 

[bfhslilred93]

yep

 

[bluehairman]

alright thanks everyone. was just making sure, he only does once in a while. all the other fish are fine i just thought maybe polys needed more oxygen than other fish.

 

[killerfish]

Completly normal Polys have a primative lung that they can gulp air with Its instinctive for them to do this every once in a while

Also polys don't need more disolved oxygen then other fish the reason they evolved there primative lung it to gulp air from the surface as a means of getting oxygen in muddy or oxygen depleted water so really they could survive in aquariums with no airation at all but for there comfert its good to make sure there water is oxygenated and it benefits of you tank as we'll

 

[beblondie]

Actual 02 uptake in polypterids is roughly 40% lung 38%gilland 22% absorbed thru the body-Anne