paradise fish

Question
QUESTION: i bought my first paradise fish in February 2009.  He lives in an 8L tank along with one plastic plant and a few rocks. The other day, he was sitting at the bottom of the tank with bubbles coming out of his gills and mouth.  Then he rushed to the top to breath in some air so that he could settle down.  He looks completely normal. I change his water once a week.  please help me :(

ANSWER: Hi Christine,
A 2 gallon tank is too small for a Paradise fish.  They need a 20 gallon tank to stay healthy, and happy.  They grow to 10 cm long.  When kept in a small tank, their growth is stunted, and their internal organs have no place to grow.  When this happens, the fish get sick, and dies.
There is not much you can do for gas bubbles.  Changes all of his water, and add 1/2 teaspoon of aquarium salt.  May sure you have no ammonia in your water.
Hope the little fellow pulls through.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi Lynda
thanks for the quick reply
i'm going to buy a tank for him soon
i'm planning to buy a filter and some bubble fountains
is that ok?
he also sits at the bottom of the tank alot
is that normal?
is he sleeping?


ANSWER: Hi Christine,
It isn't normal for him to sit at the bottom of the tank.  Check to see if his tummy is swollen, and if it is, feed him a cooked frozen pea, remove the outer layer, and cut it into tiny pieces.  Feed this to your pet one piece at a time making sure that the pieces don't fall to the bottom of the tank. He may be constipated, and if he does not waste, it could lead to swim bladder disease. If this does not help him, and if he doesn't waste, you will have to treat him with an antibiotic.  "Kanamycin" is very good to treat SBD, but sometimes is hard to find.  If you cannot find it, buy Tetracycline, or Furan 2 and follow the directions on the package.  Be careful not to overdose.
It could be something else, check him often to see what he might have.  Does the bubbles coming out of his gill happen only when he eats, or does it happen all the time?  Check to see if his gills are red...if so, it could be flukes.  Observation will tell you what is wrong with him, and write back to me if his gills are red.
When you install your new tank, and filter, you will have to let it cycle before putting your fish in it.  The best way, is to buy an old sponge at your pet store.  A used sponge is full of good bacteria, and would help in your water chemistry.  Let your new tank run with nothing in it for about 2 weeks.  Check your water for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates.  When they are all down to zero, or safe, you can then add your fish.  This is very important, as new tanks always have ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in them.  They must cycle before adding a fish, or the fish will die.  
Hope this will help you, and he will be happy to have a nice new tank!
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi lynda
i checked his tummy, its not swollen
and he does waste
little bubbles come out of of his gills everytime he eats
but once he was at the bottom of the tank and a lot of bubbles came out of his gills and mouth.
i will continue to change his water to see if it helps
He hasnt sat at the bottom of the tank recently
today he swam around in his tank really fast he seemed really happy.
then afterwards he would sit at the bottom of the tank for a little while. then he starts to swim around again

Answer
Hi!
I'm happy he does not have SBD.  This is what I think happened, he took in too much air at the surface, and then let it out which caused the bubbles to come out of his gills, and his mouth.   This often happens to goldfish that are kept in bowls, and have small water surface.  This is why your Paradise fish needs a bigger aquarium, and an air stone would help.  
It can also happen when a fish takes in food from the surface, air gets in, so he lets it out making bubbles.
You don't have to change his water every day, but make sure he has no ammonia, or nitrates in his water.  Change his water once a week, or more if you see ammonia in his water.
He will be happy when you get him his new tank, with more room to swim.  For now, he seems to be okay...nothing to worry about.
Lynda