spiny eels and aeration

[jar2x]

do i need to have airstones in the tank? it might just be me but my eel seems to breathe faster if i don't have airstones. i have a lot of surface agitation with a powerhead pointing upward.. is this not enough for a spiny eel? do any of you keep spiny eels without a bubbler?

my airpump is really noisy which is why it was turned off in the first place.

 

[Fat Homer]

If hes breathing heavy and the sound of the pump annoys you, maybe you can run the aeration during the day and switch it off at night...

Also what are temps inthe tank like? Since warmer water doesnt hold oxygen as well as cooler waters from what i've heard...

 

[jar2x]

i am not really sure that he is breathing heavy because everytime i go near he gets excited and breathes fast regardless of the airstone. i have to look at him from afar so he doesn't see me. so i am actually not sure if it is just me being paranoid.

temp is usually at 78. that is what i actually do, the pump is on when i am not around. i was just wondering how other people keep theirs. and just making sure that my problem is just aeration.

 

[monsterkeeper87]

They are heavy breathers, I wouldn't worry to much if the the only symptom, if it starts racing to the surface for air that's a different story but just fast breathing is normal for these guys


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[MonsterMinis]

I would suspect gill flukes... and increasing flow. ime spiney like a faster flow then most fish ie 8-10 turnover rates. when they gasp like that there is a lack of oxygen in the water, it is not normal or healthy for them to constantly gasp like that. I also see it sometimes when my nitrites spike above 20ppm. I found live plants help a lot to increase oxygen levels, nothing crazy or fancy just some good root plants that do well under low/mod lighting.

 

[monsterkeeper87]

I would suspect gill flukes... and increasing flow. ime spiney like a faster flow then most fish ie 8-10 turnover rates. when they gasp like that there is a lack of oxygen in the water, it is not normal or healthy for them to constantly gasp like that. I also see it sometimes when my nitrites spike above 20ppm. I found live plants help a lot to increase oxygen levels, nothing crazy or fancy just some good root plants that do well under low/mod lighting.

Could be parasites or setup but I have high flow in my tank, and 2 really strong bubblers and mine would always breath fast, not gasping but fast breathing like some catfish.
Would you say it was just breathing faster than most fish or really struggling ?


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[jar2x]

i have a powerhead in there right now and i have been experimenting with the use of bubblers over the past week. He was just breathing faster than the other fish, definitely not struggling. i also noticed that he breathes fast when i come up to the tank. i read around here that some owners have eels that get really excited to see them. during tank maintenance he is always all over my siphon.

my nitrites are always 0.. nitrates around 20 or less.. i dont let it get any higher. will read up on gill flukes but i already treated the entire tank for IPs this year, so i won't be treating for parasites until i am absolutely sure.

thanks for all the replies.