Why Are My Pond Fish Gasping for Air at the Surface of the Water?

Introduction --- When Your Fish Start Gasping for Air

Sometimes, you see fishes opening their mouth and coming to the surface for air and you think they probably recognize you or that they are coming out to get the feed but no, it is not any of those, rather, the fish is gasping for air and requires your immediate attention.

In this article, we would examine what to do when you see your fish out of water breathing and how to prevent that.

Do Fish Really Breathe Oxygen?

The answer to the question 'Do fishes breathe oxygen?' is yes but just not the way humans do.

Why Pond Fish Gasp for Air --- 7 Common Causes

Is your pond fish gasping for air? We will discuss 7 reasons for that:

1. Temperature

When the water in the pond is warm, it has less oxygen than cold water. This means in summer, your water will hold less oxygen. Add to this the increase in fish metabolism in warmer weathers, your fish will require more oxygen.

2. Overcrowding

The more fish you have in your pond, the more oxygen will be used up and big fish consume more oxygen than smaller fish.

3. Lack of Plants

If your pond doesn't have any pond plants in, this is a serious issue and needs to be resolved. Plants add a huge amount of oxygen into the pond and help to curate the chemicals in the water.

4. Poor Water Quality

Poor water quality can contribute to fish gasping for air at the pond's surface, so get an effective solar pond filter that filters your pond year-round by looking through our catalogue in Poposoap.

5. Excess Algae

Excess algae that spreads fast in your pond could likely be using up all the oxygen in the water.

6. Pollution

If your pond water is polluted by either Ammonia, nitrites, or chlorine, it makes it harder for fish to breathe even if oxygen is present.

7. Sudden Change of Water

Suddenly changing your pond water without considering the temperature of the former pond water is bound to make the fish shocked

How to Help Fish Gasping for Air (Step-by-Step Fix)

When you see your fish gasping for air, take the following steps to help it:

1. Increase Water Flow

Firstly, observe if the water seems still as still water quickly loses oxygen. If it does, there is the need to create surface agitation in these ponds. You can do this by getting a floating fountain or a bird bath fountain or even a waterfall from our product manual.

2. Test the Water

Next, test the water with a water test kit. If ammonia or nitrite exceeds zero, then change the water partially.

3. Treat Water Properly During Changes

Before replacing the water in the fish pond, first make sure that the new water you are introducing is free of chlorine and treated and that the temperature is a bit similar to the former one so as to avoid shocking the fish.

4. Separate and Treat the Fish Gasping for Air

If it is just one of your fish that is gasping for air, remove it from the other ones and test it for infections.

5. Reduce the Quantity of Fish in a Pond

Another reason why your fish might be gasping for air despite the fact that the pond is well maintained is that the fish in the pond are too much. This, it is a limited amount of oxygen that a large number of fish are getting. So, reduce the quantity of fish in a particular pond and transfer the rest of them to a different pond.

6. Clean Leftover Food

The result of overfeeding fishes is the availability of leftover food that breaks down and diminishes the availability of oxygen so check if there are leftovers and clear them out immediately.

How to Prevent Future Oxygen Problems

A proverb says; 'Precaution is better than cure', and what a wise saying that is. To prevent future oxygen problems for your pond fish, ensure consistent aeration and maintain a healthy pond ecosystem. Here are some practices you could observe:

1. Install an effective aeration system

2. Increase water flow by use of bird bath fountains, floating fountains or waterfalls

3. Avoid overstocking fish

4. Manage algae and vegetation regularly

5. Prevent waste buildup

6. Provide cover for the fish during hot weather

7. Test water regularly

Signs Your Fish Are in Trouble

- When you see your fish gasping for air or you see a fish out of water breathing.

- When foul odours are coming from the pond.

- Rapid development of algae in the pond

- When their fins are held close to their body instead of spreading out.

- Redness or discolored gills.

Conclusion --- Keep the Oxygen Flowing

It is not the end of the world if your fish starts gasping for air. All you need to do is keep the oxygen in your pond flowing through the various ways discussed in this article. If you follow them all, you will keep your fish from gasping for air.

The next time you see a fish out of water breathing, you now know it has run out of oxygen. But do not wait for your fish to run out of oxygen before you take the necessary steps, rather, keep your pond healthy year-round by getting Solar Aerators & Fountains from Poposoap now.

READ MORE: Pond Aerator vs Fountain