dwarf gourami respiration?

[sophie]

Is it normal for dwarf gouramis to breathe relatively rapidly?

I have had one for three weeks now and while he appears to be healthy &
happy in every (other) way, his respiration seems very rapid to me - but
I am used to cold water fish.

any advice very gratefully received - ammonia nil, nitrite nil; don't
have nitrate kit as the shop is out of stock but I think its must be ok
as there is no algae. There's plants & driftwood in the tank, tank mates
are rasboras & kuhlis. The tank _is_ overstocked but the filter is
coping, biologically at least although I am thinking I should move to a
bigger filter to deal with fine mechanical filtration - gross mechanical
is fine; the substrate (where I can get at it between plants!) is clean.

Any advice gratefully received,
--
sophie

[Ozdude]

"sophie" > wrote in message
...
> Is it normal for dwarf gouramis to breathe relatively rapidly?
>
> I have had one for three weeks now and while he appears to be healthy &
> happy in every (other) way, his respiration seems very rapid to me - but I
> am used to cold water fish.
>
> any advice very gratefully received - ammonia nil, nitrite nil; don't have
> nitrate kit as the shop is out of stock but I think its must be ok as
> there is no algae. There's plants & driftwood in the tank, tank mates are
> rasboras & kuhlis. The tank _is_ overstocked but the filter is coping,
> biologically at least although I am thinking I should move to a bigger
> filter to deal with fine mechanical filtration - gross mechanical is fine;
> the substrate (where I can get at it between plants!) is clean.
>
> Any advice gratefully received,

I think it sounds okay. They usually hang at the surface gulping if it's a
respiration problem. I've noticed with mine, the higher the water
temperature, the more he respires, as there is less oxygen in warm water.

I wouldn't worry too much unless his gills are flaring red or purple ;) He
could be stressed too, which can cause rapid respiration under water for
these fish.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith