Why do fish sometimes breathe faster?
The respiratory rate, ie how fast fish breathe, is determined by the oxygen content in the fish’s body. If the organism does not get enough oxygen, it accelerates gill movement.
There can be various reasons why the organism does not get enough oxygen.
At higher temperatures, water absorbs less oxygen than at lower temperatures. For this reason, an increase in temperature can become a problem, especially for fish from cool, oxygen-rich mountain streams. Especially since the oxygen requirement of the fish also increases at higher temperatures, which is fatal.
When the temperature in the aquarium rises, for example in summer, the fish breathe faster as the temperature rises. The higher respiratory rate is necessary for the fish to take in the amount of oxygen they need to maintain circulation. At the same time, the fish become less active to reduce oxygen consumption, basically to conserve oxygen.
But it also happens that there is enough oxygen in the water, but the fish cannot absorb this oxygen in sufficient quantities. Common reasons for this are nitrite poisoning and excess CO2. Some diseases, such as parasites on the gills, also lead to reduced oxygen uptake.
A real lack of oxygen is rare in well-planted aquariums. Even at higher temperatures. Many Amazonian fish are adapted to low oxygen levels in the water.
International Rainbow Fish Society display tanks:
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