Gasping Or Hungry!??!

[aznknight]

honestly when ppl say fish gasp because they lack the oxygen needed.......i cant really tell the difference???.....my fish often come to the top of the water and just start chompin away......to be it appears to be that they want food......or they r looking for floating food.........so how can i tell if they r gasping??

[ChilDawg]

They are likely gasping...how warm is it? If they are fed well, they won't be begging for food...so I'd guess gasping, but warmth of water is the usual reason...or low water quality. We need more info on the water parameters!

[blitzen25bm]

if they are gasping they are just at the top opening their mouths and looking like they are going to die. if they are hungry they will do the same thing but they will actully stick their heads out of the water and make slurping noises. My kois would actully get out of the water past their eyes. and would do this everytime someone goes by even though i feed them about 10 times a day. (you guys don't have to be concerned about over feeding. ive had a pond for over 10 years and i dont over feed, i like giving them little bits thoughout the day because they do not have stomachs and its so they can digest and then get more food without stuffing themselves once a day.) -john

[fredfish]

easiest way to tell is this: if they only do this when you enter their field of vision then they are "begging" for food, if they do this constantly even when they cant see you, then you got a problem with the oxygen level or toxin level with your water