Fish swiming to top of tank and putting mouth above water

[lawdawg18]

One of my angels is swiming to to the top of the tank and it lookslike it is sticking it mouth out of the water. Only one fish in the tank is doing it, and I just noticed it doing it this morning. I check ammonia and Nitrites this am both were zero.
Tank is 55 gal, planted, 3 angles, 3 baby clownloaches, 4 blackskirt tetras, 1 rainbow shark, 1 brittlenose pleco.
Any ideas?
Jason

 

[Seaman]

First thought is that its gasping for air, not a good thing......I would lower the water level a bit or raise your filter (assuming its a hang on back filter) a little so that the water coming out of the filter is a little more turbulent, which should help the gas exchange process. Keep an eye on them, if eveyone in the tank starts doing it, then you need to do something to disturb the surface of the water to get more oxygen into the water.

 

[lawdawg18]

I did do a water change yesterday and filled it up a little more than usual.

 

[SnakeIce]

my angelfish does that if I haven't feed him for a day, he is just begging.

the test is whether the angel looks at you and then does it or is just doing it whether or not you are there. if the angel is begging it will be trying to get your attention befor it does the mouth to the surface thing.

if they are going for air usually they don't stick thier mouth out of the water, they just touch the surface and suck in air.

 

[gonefishin]

I go swim in the lake sometimes, even though I can't breath under water. So why can't a fishie go for a, uhh, uhh, whaterver? on a more serious note I've seen a fish or two do this, either for fun or, like ICE says, to get some food. Try putting a guppie in when it does this and see how it responds. If they are all healthy I wouldn't worry.Back to the smart *$$ remarks, my dog beggs all the time, why can't fish?

 

[ChicoRaton]

My angelfish beg like that every time I open the lid. They stick their mouths out of the water right under where my hand is. If no other fish are gasping, I'd guess that's what your angel is doing. They're really smart...for fish anyway.