wierd behavior

ara35

AC Members
Aug 10, 2006
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i have 9 rosy red minnows in a 15 gallon tank and every now and then i see them at the top of the water, almost look like theyre gasping for air. what are they doing and why??
 
how long have you had your tank set up? is it cycled? what are your levels?

if you have high ammonia, or not enough aeration in the water that could explain it.
 
If you have plants...
in the day time: plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen (to breath)
at night time: plants convert oxygen into carbon dioxide (= less stuff to breath)
There is more oxygen towards the top of the tank so they go there.

So a combination of plants and bad aeration (by your filter) could be doing it.
 
Tank temp? Filter? Surface movement?

Exact ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings?
 
going on this thread by the OP http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131754 and there is another as well I am going to say that you really need to be testing your ammonia & nitrite.

This tank is not cycled - the minnows are being used to do so. Their behaviour would indicate to me, most likely, that you have ammonia/nitrite build up beyond that which the fish can tolerate. Test with a good liquid drop test kit - API Master Test Kit is great. If parameters are above .25 ppm for ammonia or nitrite do an immediate water change to get it below - change as much as is necessary to do this.

You may as well check your nitrate too although it is almost certainly not a problem - in the long term you want to keep this below 20 ppm.

If you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and are sure you are doing the test right, it is time to look at surface agitation/oxygenation...but for now I'm going to say the simplest answer is probably correct...its a nitrogen cycle problem.
 
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