Why do fish gasp for air right before they die?

Question

This is my second fish to do that.. they start with gasping for air then just lying there panting and then die..!

why is that?

Answer 1

I think that MAYBE the tank is too hot like its in the sun alot , if its too hot than the oxygen levels in the water decrease and i know you have a filter . So maybe try moving it to a shaddy area where at times it get cold but not too cold , so i think the only reason is just the temperature :D

Answer 2

now you can't

Answer 3

Well i think when it is panting on the ground, that it wants the water kinda....so put it in a vase or something else that has a fair bit of water in it.

Answer 4

Check your water quality, it could be ammonia build-up and it's deadly to fish...

Answer 5

because they cant breath from their gills so they have to gasp air ...

Answer 6

Isn't it kind of obvious the poor thing is suffocating to death? If you're too cheap to get a bubble pump for the aquarium, can't you at least change the water every day?

Answer 7

well wouldn't you gasp for air just before you died? maybe the water is too warm and the air is escaping the water and they are suffocating to death.

Answer 8

Yes do a 25% water change now.

What is happening is your tank isnot cycled.  Here is a link to read to understand what cycle is and what it does to your fish.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biolog...

Your fish are gasping for air because the toxic levels of ammonia and/or nitrites are high in the tank.

Water changes should be no more than 25% once per week to help keep the ammonia and nitrites out.

Adding an air pump won't help  They are decoration only and do nothing for your fish as far as adding dissolved oxygen to the tank.  Your filter does that.

Right now you can also lower the water level by 1 inch and allow the water to dump into the tank, but until you test the water and do a water change even that won't help.

Answer 9

That means your aquarium does not have any/very little dissolved oxygen left in the tank. The fish is just trying to get one last breath of fresh air, but in the end they got too tired and died of suffocation.

Try to install air pumps and aerate the aquarium, to keep the water moving and not stagnant. Your fish will be happier that way.

Another tip is that you may want to keep a close attention to the water temperature as well. Some fish thrives better in warm water, and some can breed better in cool water depending on the species.

Happy fish-keeping :)

Answer 10

i don't know how to save her but i think fish gasp becuz they're actually trying to get water not air

Answer 11

maybe its like what they do when they die, like us huans we **** our self when we die.

Answer 12

probably in an effort to stay alive

or to die faster

will we ever know?

Answer 13

they need water to flow in their gills. there trying to open them but the cant. closed gill's = dead fish. they need water to flow through the gills to open them, allowing them to breath.

i suggest you put the thing in water, so it can swim, so water can flow through its gills, so it can breath.

Answer 14

Is it in, or out of the water when tis happens.... I dunno. but aparently youve got to get oxygen plants or these hard white this that release oxygen into the water, otherwise theyll pretty much "suffocate underwater". You can get thm from pet stores and stuff.  

Answer 15

it is likely that it is low on oxygen

buy an air pump and air stone to increase the oxygen level