Nothing is more soothing than seeing your guppy fish swimming around in the tank. But sometimes, you may notice that your guppy fish are swimming weirdly. They might stay at the tank’s top and not move much. This can be concerning for new guppy fish owners. Do guppy fish stay at the top of the tank? This is a question that many people have asked, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Guppy fish are top swimmers, so they stay at the top of the tank more often than other fish. But there are a few reasons why guppy fish might stay at the top of the tank and not move much, such as low oxygen levels, improper water parameters, bullying, aggressive tankmates, poor water quality, swim bladder disorder, stress, hunger, etc.
In this blog post, we will explore why guppy fish might stay at the top of the tank and provide solutions for each potential reason. Stay tuned for more information!
Do Guppy Fish Stay At The Top Of The Tank?
Well, it all depends on the situation. If you’ve just brought your guppy home and he’s floating at the top of the tank, don’t worry; this is normal behavior.
Guppies are top-dwelling fish and usually stay near the water’s surface. However, something might be wrong if your guppy has always been a bottom-dweller and suddenly starts floating at the top of the tank.
However, if guppy fish is too much on the top of the tank and is not moving, it is a concern. I will not take these situations lightly, and if I were a beginner, I would ask around in a fish community or bring the fish to the vet.
Is It Normal For Guppy Fish To Stay At The Top Of The Tank?
Yes, it is quite normal for guppy fish to stay at the top of the tank as they are surface-dwelling fish. Guppies usually stay at the top of the tank because they are looking for food.
However, there are other reasons why guppies might stay at the top of the tank; remember that. There are subtle signs that hint at the issues your guppy fish has.
But as it is about them swimming at the top of the tank and not staying there for hours, that is normal behavior.
Are Guppies Top Swimmers?
Guppies are good swimmers but prefer to stay at the top of the tank because that is where most of the action happens. The top of the tank is also where they can get more oxygen.
Guppies are not only top swimmers but also very good jumpers too! So, cover the tank properly if you have an open tank and don’t want your guppies to jump out.
Usually, guppies swim at the top of the tank because that is where most of the action is. As a result, more oxygen is available at the surface for them to breathe.
If you see your guppy fish swimming erratically or upside down, that is not normal behavior, and you should investigate the cause. Unfortunately, it is often a sign of a disease or illness, so it’s best to get your fish checked out by a veterinarian.
Why Do Guppy Fish Stay At The Top Of The Tank?
I have seen people struggle and ask this question a lot. So I am here to clear the air and give you some answers!
There are a few reasons why guppy fish stay at the top of the tank:
Low Oxygen Level
If the oxygen levels in the water are low, guppies will start to stay at the top of the tank. This is because they need to be closer to the surface to breathe properly.
If the water in the tank is stagnant and has no oxygen exchange going on, it will start to become anoxic and can kill your fish.
To fix this, you need to ensure enough oxygen in the water. You can add an air stone, bubbler, or plants to the tank.
Improper Water Parameters
One of the main reasons why guppy fish stay at the top of the tank is because of improper water parameters. If the pH levels are too high or low, it can cause stress and discomfort for your fish.
Additionally, if the ammonia or nitrite levels are too high, it can also lead to your fish feeling uncomfortable and stressed. As a result, they may try to find a way to escape the water by swimming to the top of the tank.
Bullying
Another reason why guppy fish stay at the top of the tank is because other fish are bullying them. If larger and more aggressive fish are in the tank, they may constantly chase your guppy fish and force them to swim to the top of the tank to escape. Additionally, if the tank is overcrowded, this can also lead to bullying and aggression from other fish.
Poor Water Quality
Another reason why guppy fish stay at the top of the tank is because of poor water quality. If the water is dirty, it can cause stress and anxiety in fish.
This can lead to them swimming at the top of the tank in an attempt to get away from the poor water quality.
Swim Bladder Disorder
Swim bladder disorder is a common health problem in guppy fish. It causes the fish to have difficulty swimming and often results in them floating to the top of the tank. If your guppy is floating at the top of the tank, it is likely suffering from swim bladder disorder.
Stress
Due to stress, guppy fish can also stay at the top of the tank. Too many changes in the tank (such as a water change) can cause stress in your fish. This can lead them to swim to the top of the tank in an attempt to escape the stressful situation.
Hunger
Another reason why guppy fish stay at the top of the tank is that they are hungry. If you have not been feeding your fish enough, they may swim to the top of the tank in search of food.
Lack of food and nutrients will make your guppies desperate for food and they will tend to move to the only food source they know, i.e., top of the tank where you drop those food from.
Guppy fish cannot live long without food and hunger can get the best of these fish. Can you just stay kind and gentle when it comes to these delicate fish and feed guppies twice a day and what they will eat within 2 minutes?
Do Guppy Fish Sleep At The Top Of The Tank?
No, they do not sleep at the top of the tank. These guppies typically sleep near the bottom of the tank or in some hiding spot.
So if you see your guppy fish sleeping at the top of the tank, it could be a sign that something is wrong; it is likely due to one of the reasons listed above.
Your guppies sleep mostly on the mid and bottom parts of the tank. So seeing your guppy sleeping at the top of the tank more often may signify something wrong with him.
How To Stop Guppy Fish From Staying At The Top Of The Tank?
I know the desperation we have when it comes to getting things back to normal. We want our beloved guppy fish to go back to swimming all around the tank and not just float near the top.
To stop your guppy from staying at the top of the tank, you must figure out what is causing the problem and act accordingly.
Here are things you can stop guppy fish from staying at the top of the tank:
Increase Oxygen Level
One way to stop your guppy from staying at the top of the tank is to increase the oxygen level in the water.
You can do this by adding an air stone or bubbler to the tank. Guppy fish need oxygen to survive in the tank so you cannot risk to lower the oxygen level in the tank.
You don’t actually need an air pump in the guppy tank and guppy can survive just fine without equipment like an air pump but only when there is proper water displacement and ideal oxygenation.
I know it seems like an expense, but saving your fish is worth it. If you have a lot of plants in the tank, you can also remove some of them.
Plants release oxygen into the water, but they also consume it as well. Therefore, removing some plants will increase the amount of oxygen in the water and make breathing easier for your guppy.
Maintain Ideal Water Parameters For Guppies
One of the main reasons guppy fish stay at the top of the tank is improper water parameters. If the pH levels are too high or low, it can cause stress and health problems for your fish.
Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates should also be at safe levels to prevent illness and stress. You should test your water regularly to ensure it is within the correct range for guppy fish.
Change The Water Regularly
If you don’t change the water often enough in the guppy tank, it can lead to poor water quality, which can stress your fish and make them more likely to stay at the top of the tank.
It would help if you did a partial water change at least once a week to keep the water clean and fresh for your fish. This will also help to remove any toxins that may have built up in the water.
Remove Tankmates
If you have other aggressive and larger fish in the tank as guppy tank mates, they may bully him or her. Guppies are generally peaceful fish, but more aggressive tankmates can sometimes pick on them.
If you think this is the case, you should remove the aggressor from the tank and see if your guppy’s behavior changes.
If you have aggressive tankmates, they may be bullying your guppy, which can cause stress and make them want to stay at the top of the tank.
Remove any aggressive fish from the tank and ensure plenty of hiding places for your guppy to feel safe.
Give Them Good Food And Make A Proper Feeding Schedule
It is well quite clear that your guppy fish is omnivores that will devour anything you will drop in the tank.
Yes, it seems absurd but it is a fact that guppies do not mind what you serve them, however, they do appreciate a good food once in a while.
A guppy diet ranges from meats to plants, microworms to zucchini; honestly they are the ones who consume balanced diet if you give one properly.
Heaven, these guppies even munch on algae present in the tank when there is no food. However, it is not a good idea to skip their meal.
These guppies will manage by eating and nibbling on plants but only for a while. You need to drop good food like bloodworms, lettuce, microworms, daphnia, spinach, brine shrimp, zucchini, tubifex, cucumber, mosquito larvae, etc. once or twice a day.
Or else, you will start to see dying guppy fish and these guppies will even eat the dead fish floating around.
I have seen guppies eating up their babies when there is no other food in the aquarium. Make sure the size of food never exceeds the size of their eyeball or what they can eat within two minutes.
Why Are Guppies At The Top Of The Tank After A Water Change?
A water change is one of the most common reasons guppies stay at the top of the tank. Guppies are very sensitive to changes in water parameters, and even a small change can cause them to become stressed.
When guppies are stressed, they often swim to the top of the tank, where they feel more comfortable.
If you’ve just done a water change, ensure that the new water is the same ideal water temperature for guppy fish and pH as the old water.
If the new water is too cold or too hot, it can stress out your guppies and cause them to swim to the top of the tank. You should also slowly acclimate your guppies to the new water for over an hour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Guppy fish usually stay at the top of the tank because of stress, poor water quality, or bullying. However, you can stop your guppy from staying at the top of the tank by increasing the oxygen level, maintaining water parameters, changing the water regularly, and removing aggressive tankmates. If you do all these things, your guppy will be much happier and healthier! Thanks for reading!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below! I’m always happy to help. Guppies are one of my favorite fish, and I hope this article was able to help you better understand them! Thanks for reading!
Happy Guppy Keeping!!