Oranda Gulping
When I got my Oranda I was told that he shouldnt go to the top of the tank and gulp because he will get an air bubble in his tummy. I bought special food so that he wouldnt have to take it off of the top. Later on I told the pet store lady that he seems to do it just for fun, and she basically made me feel horrible because "I shouldnt let him do that, and when I see him doing that, I should try and stop him... or I should feed him so he goes to the bottom." How can you stop a fish from doing what it wants to do?!
When we walk over towards the tank he swims as quick as he can down towards the bottom. Like he knows he is doing something wrong. Its so strange... Could he be bored and thats why he is doing it? How can I ...un-bore him if thats the case?
Anyways, The reason I am posting this is because I am worried he will get sick, his belly already looks bigger...and yesterday he was doing it and it looked like he lost his balance and did a kind of back flip....I cant sit next to his tank all day to make sure he doesnt swim to the top. Are there any reasons he could be doing this?
I have an air pump in there so its not a lack of oxygen. Ive burried the pump in some plants so the bubbles arent really bad at the top, and even if there are a few hes not going for those... he is just gulping in general.
By the way...he is the only one in the tank, and its a 5 gallon tank. (I know it should be bigger, but its all that was available to me for the time being, when I get more money I will get him a bigger tank.)
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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