why are my new bristlenose staying at the top of the tank gasping for air all the time?

i got some new bns a few days a go and there staying at the top of the tank always gasping for air i never see them eat when i give the the algae waffers is the ammonia or lack of oxgyn plzzzzz tell me im worried they will die!!

It's probably lack of oxygen.
Are you using an airpump? or does your filter have a venturi option? both these are methods to add extra oxygen.
If you don't have either of these options then move your filter outlet(if you can) so that it's rippling the surface.

spot on!

get some air into the tank ASAP! bristlenose come from fast flowwing rivrs in the amazon basin, picture where you would go white water rafting. Imagine how much O2 they are used too

i try to use the venturi as much as possible....

though have turned it off for a while and now using a air curtain, and couple of air stones... sometimes the venturi can cause too much algae to grow and adhere to the light reflectors on fluval tanks, so if your gonna go for the venturi drop the water level by about a inch in the tank if you can as it will make your reflectors last longer (thats if your tank depth allows the decrease)

oh and if you cant lift your outlet then put a obstacle infornt of it and you get the same effect...

sometimes i leave a floating fry saver in the tank just to blow the outlet air off as it helps disturb the water

regards lj...