Corydoras on top

[Tempestuousfury]

Every now and then, a corydora goes up to the surface and seems to be sucking up air. I can hear the noises they make, and I can see bubbles. I'm 100% that it isn't breathing, seeing has how they use their stomaches for that purpose.

I also highly doubt that it is at all related ot breeding.

Any ideas?

My thoughts, maybe they are hungry, though they get fed well enough, and it makes no sense for them to go to the surface in search of food.

 

[LoachLover]

Mine always would do that, not sure why.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

For me, it is brand new. I have had these fish for many months, but they haven't done anything like this before. Also, it's the schwartz's corydoras that are doing it, namely the one that I believe is a male.

 

[LoachLover]

The ones that mainly do it with me are the albino, and mine were doing it from the very begging and I've had then 2 years.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Ooh. This is so cool. You can feed them when they come up! Grab a pinch of flakes (big ones) and place them between your thumb and index finger and but your fingers in the water just as the fish are going up. If you do it right, they won't get scared, and they'll eat "out of your hand".

 

[LoachLover]

Ooh. This is so cool. You can feed them when they come up! Grab a pinch of flakes (big ones) and place them between your thumb and index finger and but your fingers in the water just as the fish are going up. If you do it right, they won't get scared, and they'll eat "out of your hand".

hmmm, I'll have to try that

 

[Fishy411]

i think they need a bubble of air to use for their swim bladder or something. My albinos do that and yesterday one jumped clear out of the water. Fortunately he didnt hit anything.

 

[jesssa]

my sister's three albinos always do that its so cute. they are so wriggly and they realyl will eat out of your hand if you try it

 

[catfishfan]

My albino corys do the same thing.. They ll swim on the bottom , then all of a sudden dart for the top. I read they do it as a natural reaction to low oxygenated water.....same as the common plec and african dwarf frog.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Yeah, and that is how they "gulp" air, through their stomaches. Here, however, they stay at the top for a good length of time...