Have you ever been watching your fish and all of the sudden one of them starts swimming around really fast? Or worse, gasping for air at the top of the tank? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Many fish owners have experienced this with their fish and it can be a little bit worrying. So why is my dwarf gourami breathing fast? Let’s take a look.
Why Is My Dwarf Gourami Breathing Fast?
A lot of the time, fish breathe fast when they are trying to tell you something. But what? There is a school of thought that says if a fish swims up to the top and breathes in the air, it could be because he’s got a parasite or some kind of infection.
If your fish does this from time to time and it’s only for a few minutes at a time, don’t worry – but if he stays at the top and seems like this is all he wants to do (in other words, doesn’t go back down and continues to try and gulp air), you should check with your local aquarium store or fish expert. They might be able to give you some helpful advice.
Another reason why is because of water conditions. Sometimes, if there’s something wrong with the water in your tank, the fish will try and tell you by breathing at the top of the tank. This can be a sign that something is wrong with either the pH or hardness levels that have been thrown off by something in your tank.
If this is the case, you may need to do a water change or take some other measures to correct the issue. It’s best if you can get help from an expert with this since it could be dangerous for your fish otherwise (and at the very least, frustrating).
Certain illnesses can cause a fish to breathe fast. One common illness is swim bladder disease. If your fish seems to be swimming around fine but suddenly starts breathing at the top of your tank, this could be what’s going on.
Sometimes, it will happen randomly and other times, they will keep doing it until you give them their own space (or treat them). If you think this could be the case, check your tank’s water and see if any issues need to be corrected.
Finally, it could also be because of stress or boredom. Fish sometimes get bored when you keep them in a small tank without enough hiding places for them to rest during their downtime. Or they can be stressed out by the presence of other fish (especially if they’re trying to claim dominance in your tank).
If this is the case, try moving your fish to his tank or getting him some company that’s more appropriate (and less threatening).
Once you’ve ruled out any of these possibilities, then it could be a sign that your fish doesn’t feel well. In this case, call the experts and get the help you need before any issues get worse.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
