Goldfish Gasping for air!! Need Help!

[bklynGOLDIES]

Hello All,

I am writing today because I am very concerned about my fish always hanging out at the top of the tank and gasping for air. What kills me is that I have tried to follow every piece of advice that I've read regarding this topic and nothing seems to help. I am a new fish owner and my tank has only been up and running for 3 months.

- I have 5 fancy Goldfish in a 50 gallon acrillic tank (2 small, 3 medium ones)
- All of my readings are good for ammonia and nitrites
- I have a power filter hanging off the back creating good surface agitation(I also lowered the water level in the tank to give the filter's waterfall more force)
- I also have an airstone in the tank producing a good amount of bubbles
- I regularly perform water changes/vaccum the bottom of the tank
- The water temperature is 75 Fahrenheit
- I believe the PH is around 7.6
- I try my best not to overfeed them
- I send them really good vibes!!

One fish in particular is at the surface constantly just floating there and sucking for air. All of them have healthy appetites which I've been told is a good sign. If anyone can offer some suggestions as to what might be ailing my fish I would be SO appreciative! Do some fish just like playing with bubbles at the top and waiting to be fed?? Again, I am a beginner and would love to hear your insights.
Thank You,
-Brian :worthy:

 

[OrionGirl]

What are the actual test results? Do you see any discoloration around the gills? Goldfish don't 'gasp for air'--they can't do anything with air.

 

[rufioman]

The fish is trying to suck oxygen from the water. When it can't draw in oxygen from the water it will gasp at the surface. How much water is actually in that tank if you "leave it low" to allow the waterfall effect? The airstone and water changes should do enough to re-oxygenate your water. Are you using a liquid test kit? Were you using one when you added the fish to make sure it was cycled?

 

[THE V]

Most of the gas exchange in a tank is at the surface of the water. The best thing to do is to make sure your airstone & filters positioned to create a current in the tank.

Since only one fish is gasping and not the whole tank we have to think that it is something with the individual fish. Probably something attacking the gills like Gill Flukes.

 

[tanker]

Your temp is at 75, try lowering it. Colder water holds more O2. You say that your ammonia and nitrite levels are good===They better be "0" that is the only "Good" level. What size is medium and what size is small??==in inches. I would raise the water level back up==more water the better.

 

[rufioman]

^right. Goldies are colder water fish anyways if I remember correctly.

 

[fshfanatic]

^right. Goldies are colder water fish anyways if I remember correctly.

Yes, they are. They are prone to fungus if kept in warmer water.

 

[SubRosa]

Get some numbers. You can believe anything you want to about your water, but hard numbers are the proof in the pudding. One consideraion is that fancies are nery prone to intestinal bloat/swim bladder disorders which prevent them from controlling their buoyancy. Watch the fish at the top carefully. If they start swimming down and stop do they seem to float to the surface?

 

[bklynGOLDIES]

Thank you for your responses

Thank you all for your replies..

"Subrosa"- The one that is gasping for air the most DOES seem to be floating more than she's swimming

I am using Tetra Easy Strips for my readings, the lastest results are as follows:

-Nitrate NO = between 0-20 ppm
-Nitrite NO2= 0
-Total Hardness(GH)= 100 ppm
-Total Chlorine= 0
-Total Alkalinity(KH) = 60 ppm (less than ideal according to the chart!)
-Ammonia= 0

The actual size of my fish are as follows: (I have a 50 galllon tank)
3 fish X 3inches
2 fish X 1 &1/2 inches

I've only lowered the water a couple of inches to allow for more waterfall force, I will put in a little more water based on your advice.

I am curious as to how people lower the temperature in their tanks. I live in an apartment and I don't have direct control over the apt.'s heat settings. I guess I am fortunate that the water seems to be consistently @ 75 degrees Fahrenheit in my place.

 

[SubRosa]

You can place a small fan so that it blows across the surface of the water to drop the temp a few degrees below room temp. The trade off is you'll be evaporating water much quicker than normal. Your water numbers don't seem out of line, but dip strips are notoriously unreliable.