Can cories swallow air??

[fishwatcher]

In a previous post (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=93782) you will see I'm having a tough time with a peppered cory I just got. I am wondering now if maybe he'd just swallowed a bubble or 2... He's been an the surface of the water, almost as if he can't control it, just floating. He'll swim some, but as soon as he stops, it's right back to the top. Well, just a few minutes ago I was watching him as he tried to swim towards the bottom. All of he sudden he came back to the surface and spit out 2 bubbles! He then swam all the way down! He came back to the top yet again, and spit out another bubble! Is this what his problem has been? Maybe when I put the airstone in he swallowed bubbles when he came up for air? Could it be that hasn't actually been sick, but just needed to burp?!?
I hope so, as I sure do like him alot!
What's your opinion?

 

[dwarfgourami]

Swallowing air is one of the things corys are supposed to do; they shoot up to the surface at regular intervals as a reflex action whether they are actually low on oxygen or not. If they hang out there all the time, it is worrying though; they should shoot down again. Often if one goes up the others will follow. Like yawning, sets everybody off.
Never heard of a cory needing to burp, but perhaps he did. Hope he'll be allright now anyway.

 

[fishwatcher]

It's the only thing I can figure out. He keeps going to the surface (though straight up-and-down this time, not floating on his side) and spitting out bubbles. THen he'll swim around again like he's supposed to. Before he started spitting out the bubbles, he couldn't swim more than a few inches down, almost like he, well... had swallowed a bunch of air. I know they breathe air, so I'm not sure if he maybe swallowed actual bubbles from the airstone and they just didn't pop. Is that possible? I'm befuddled by this, but happy at the same time as it seems he's doing much better.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

Unlike most fish, if corys are unable to get enough oxygen from the water, they are capable of taking gulps of air from the surface. They swallow the air and the oxygen is absorbed through their intestines. If your cory is doing this, don't be surprised if it passes through him and comes out in little "fish farts."

 

[fishwatcher]

That's funny! And gross!
So do think he could have swallowed actual bubbles that just didn't burst, and they were essentially making him float? And now that he's spitting out little bubbles, he's coming down? It reminds me Willy WOnka and the Chocolate Factory, when the little boy and his grandad drank the fizzy drink and they had to burp it up to stop floating.
I've never heard of a cory doing that, but darn if it doesn't look like that's what happened.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

I don't think that's what happened to him, but if he's swimming around now, at least that's a good sign.

 

[fishwatcher]

Oh yeah! I'm glad he seems to be coming out of it. I do wish I knew what was wrong though.
But what is it they say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth? So I'll take what I can get, and be happy.