Foxface gulping air

[jbd]

I have a Foxface Rabbitfish in my 30 gal tank and I have had it for several years. Besides fragged coral, the only other intentional inhabitant is a cleaner shrimp. I noticed he has been gulping air at the surface of the tank. It looks like it is trying to eat the flake food I feed it, but there is no food left. Does it need more air? Or is it just doing some neurotic thing because he's in a tank?

 

[Katrina71]

Do you have an air stone you could drop in?

 

[mort]

I've seen tangs do the same thing and it is normally because they are trying to eat the protein film that sometimes forms on the waters surface.

So I'd check for oxygen levels but there might be another reason.

 

[Jesterrace]

Is he doing bubble blowing? If so then that is perfectly normal for a Foxface, just a goofy characteristic for them. BTW 30 gallons is too small for any Foxface.

 

[jbd]

Do you have an air stone you could drop in?

No, but I could get one. Do you use one in your tank?

 

[Katrina71]

No, but I could get one. Do you use one in your tank?

If something is off with my little guys, yes.

 

[Katrina71]

It's a band-aid for a root cause though.

 

[jbd]

It's a band-aid for a root cause though.

What would be the root cause?

 

[Katrina71]

What would be the root cause?

If it is something other than normal behavior, it could be a number of things. Can you post some pics? Is your water cloudy? Does he look healthy otherwise? What are your parameters?

 

[jbd]

If it is something other than normal behavior, it could be a number of things. Can you post some pics? Is your water cloudy? Does he look healthy otherwise? What are your parameters?

Foxface is active, eating well, doing all the normal fishy things and has the tank all to itself. I run low tech LPS systems, and Foxy is in my 28 gal frag tank. No recent additions or changes. Alk at 8, Ca and Mag are nominal. I don't test for anything else. 5 gal water change every week.

 

[mattzang]

it's probably spy hopping to see if there's a larger tank nearby it could jump to

 

[Marco S]

I have a 6" Foxface in a 200 gallon tank that just started blowing bubbles in the corners of the tank a few weeks ago. I know this is a breeding behavior for freshwater Bettas, so I wasn't too concerned, but now you have me interested. I am following to see what others say...

 

[minus9]

They're actually skimming the surface of the water for algae. Not all do it, but I've seen plenty do it, especially my one spot. If they were circling the return or a powerhead (or swimming directly into flow), then I would be concerned a little, but then again, fish do weird things. Just make sure they have plenty of algae (nori) to graze on.
Also, as mentioned above, 28 gallons for 3 years isn't the best situation for this fish. It looks healthy to me, but would benefit from a much larger tank.

 

[Katrina71]

Maybe it just wants attention? I have fish that do this when I'm in front of the tank. They associate me with feeding. Yes, mine are spoiled.

 

[TRIGGER SHARKFIST]

My one spot Foxface does it and has always done it. (over a year)
He's totally healthy.

I believe some fish even gulp air to clean gills after eating. Regal tangs do this a lot.
Mine will hit the surface then expel the air through the gills and repeat.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Glad to know that's normal behavior. That's my new thing learned for today. :D

 

[Chris531]

I have a one spot Foxface which has started gulping air in the front left corner of the tank. It appears to be doing it more often, but maybe I am just noticing it more now.
None of the other fish are doing this, noone is flashing, or breathing heavily.
Recently I did add two chromis which were QT'd and treated for Uronema with Metro and Kanaplex. I am not certain that the Fox Face's air gulping only started AFTER the addition of these new fish.

I initally thought the air gulping might be flukes and I am nervous to do a freshwater dip followed by taking samples under a microscope for confirmation. I do have Prazipro on hand... and now I've just read this thread which indicates it might just be normal behaviour?

Generally Foxy seems very happy and healthy. His top quarter doesnt go completely yellow like in JBD's photo above, more of an oil stained yellow -Is this normal or an indication of chronic stress?

Other inhabitants are 2x tiny Percula clowns, 1x Kole Tang, 1x cleaner Wrasse, 1x Bartlets Anthias. 350L tank.

 

[mcarroll]

They're pretty good at eating from the surface compared to most fish.....IMO the bubbles (and other aassociatd behaviors) are just to stir the food "stuck" to the water into the water where they can get to it. (Pretty much what others have said.)

IMO that's a pretty small tank for that fish in the long term....make sure he's getting enough food every day...he's probably still growing! :) Move him to a bigger tank "soon".