When you add guppies to your tank, you may notice that they often stay in the corner. Do you have a guppy that is always hanging out in the corner of the tank? I know how puzzling it is for fishkeepers, as it’s not entirely clear why guppies would choose to stay in one spot rather than explore their surroundings. So why do guppies stay in the corner of the tank?
Guppies stay in the corner of the tank due to stress, new tank syndrome, temperature fluctuations, ammonia poisoning, or illness. Therefore, it is important to take measures to reduce their stress and make them comfortable.
If you have a pregnant guppy, she will also stay in the corner to hide from other fish. Additionally, overcrowding can cause guppies to seek refuge in the corners of the tank.
In this blog post, we will explore why guppies might stay in the corner and what you can do to help them feel more comfortable in their home.
Is it Normal For Guppies To Stay In The Corner Of The Tank?
No, it’s not normal for guppies to stay in the corner of the tank. Instead, guppies usually stay in the middle or upper part of the tank.
If they’re staying in the corner of the tank and not moving around much, it’s a sign that something is wrong.
You need to test the water to ensure the ammonia and nitrite levels are 0 ppm. Guppies like the water temperature to be around 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, if the temperature fluctuates too much, it can stress the fish out. It would help if you used a heater to stabilize the water temperature in the guppy tank.
Why Do Guppies Stay In The Corner Of The Tank?
It would help if you learned why guppies stay in the corner of the tank before you can determine how to fix the problem.
Many potential causes range from stress and new tanks to temperature fluctuations and ammonia poisoning. Some guppies may even be ill or pregnant.
Let’s start with the most common reason guppies stay in the corner of the tank:
Stress In Guppies
Guppies are very sensitive to environmental changes, and a new tank is a big change. It can take them several weeks to adjust to their new home. In the meantime, they may stay in the corner of the tank where it feels safe.
When you first introduce your fish to a new tank, they undergo a period of acclimation to adjust to the new water parameters.
The process of acclimation can be stressful for fish, so it’s not surprising that they would want to stay in one spot during this time.
If you just got your guppies, give them time to adjust to their new home before you start worrying about why they’re staying in the corner.
Temperature Fluctuation
Guppies are tropical fish and prefer a water temperature of 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature in their tank drops too low, they will become stressed and may seek out the warmest part of the tank, which is often the corner.
Ammonia Poisoning
Ammonia is a poisonous gas produced when fish waste and uneaten food decompose. And ammonia levels can rise very quickly in a fish tank, and if they get too high, they can cause ammonia poisoning.
So, it is one of the most common reasons these hardy guppies lose their cool demeanor and show they are suffering by staying in the corner of the tank.
Symptoms of ammonia poisoning include:
- Gasping for air at the surface of the water
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Discolored gills
- Nervous system damage
- Death
If you think your guppy has ammonia poisoning, you should immediately do a water test to check the ammonia levels in your tank.
You can also add an ammonia remover to your tank to help remove the ammonia if it is high in the tank.
Illness
The corner of the tank is the haven for sick fish. So, if your guppy is sick, it will likely stay in the corner of the tank.
Many different diseases can affect guppies. Some of the more common ones include:
- Gill parasites
- Flukes
- Ich (white spot disease)
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
If your guppy is sick, it will usually have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Gasping for air
- Sitting at the bottom of the tank
- Floating upside down
- Discolored body or fins
- Clamped fins
If you think your guppy fish is sick, you should take it to the vet to get a diagnosis and treatment.
You can also try treating the illness at home with medication, but this is not always successful.
Fear
Guppies are very timid fish, and they may stay in the corner of the tank out of fear. Many things can cause guppies to be afraid, including:
- Loud noises
- Bright lights
- Aggressive tank mates
If your guppy is afraid, it will usually have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Guppies will hide in the corner of the tank or some other hiding spots
- Gasping for air at the surface of the water
- These guppy fish will stop eating and lose their appetite completely
- The color of guppy fish will start to change, and you will find them with discolored bodies or fins
If you think your guppy is afraid, you should try to make its environment more peaceful. This may include reducing noise and turning off lights at night in the guppy tank for the guppies to sleep peacefully.
You should also remove any aggressive tank mates and choose some compatible mates for your guppies.
Pregnancy
Female guppies can get pregnant very easily, and they will often stay in the corner of the tank when they are pregnant.
If your guppy is pregnant, it will usually have one or more of the following symptoms:
- A large belly
- Swelling around the abdomen
- Dark spots on the body
Separate your pregnant guppies if you think they are expecting, and provide it with a peaceful environment and plenty of food. You should also remove any aggressive tank mates.
Overcrowding
If your tank is overcrowded, the guppies may stay in the corner to avoid being harassed by other fish. Unfortunately, an overcrowded tank can also cause stress, leading to illness.
If your guppies are staying in the corner of the tank and you think it may be due to overcrowding, the best thing to do is to remove some of the fish from the tank. You can also add more plants and hiding spots to help reduce stress.
What To Do When Guppies Stay In Corner Of The Tank?
I know you are scared and don’t know what to do when you see your guppy swimming erratically and darting around the tank.
Your guppy hanging out near the heater or in the corner of the tank a lot lately will make you sad, and it’s understandable.
I will tell you what you can do to bring these fish out of that corner. First of all, you have to find out what is causing your guppy to stay in the corner of the tank.
Is it one or a combination of the following: stress, temperature fluctuation, ammonia poisoning, illness, fear, aggressive tankmates, pregnancy, or overcrowding?
Once you know what is causing your guppy to stay in the corner of the tank, you can take measures to correct the problem.
Add A Heater And A Filter
If you want to do right by your fish, you must maintain the ideal temperature your fish asks for. The ideal temperature for guppies is between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You also need to ensure that the water in your tank is well aerated and has a good filtration system.
A good filter will help remove toxins from the water, such as ammonia, and it will also help maintain the correct pH level.
Perform Water Changes In The Guppy Tank
If you think your guppy is staying in the corner of the tank because of ammonia poisoning, you need to do a water change immediately.
You should also check the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates levels in your tank. If they are high, you need to take measures to lower them.
Do a partial water change of at least 25% and vacuum the gravel to remove any accumulated waste.
Acclimation
You can try to acclimate them to their new environment by slowly adding them to the tank over some time.
This means slowly adding them to your tank over the course of an hour or so. If you add them too quickly, it can be a shock to their system and cause long-term damage.
Acclimation will help them get used to their new environment and reduce their stress if your guppies stay in the corner of the tank because of stress.
Quarantine Sick Fish
If you think your guppy is staying in the corner of the tank because they are sick, you should quarantine them immediately.
Please put them in a separate tank away from the other fish. This will help stop the spread of disease and give the sick fish a chance to recover.
It would help if you also used a heater in the quarantine tank to stabilize the water temperature.
Treat Sick Guppy
If your guppy stays in the corner of the tank because they are sick, you must treat them with medication.
You can get medication from your local pet store or online. Salt can do wonders for some common illnesses like fin rot and ich.
Add Plants And Hiding Spots
If your guppy is staying in the corner of the tank because they are scared, you can add live plants in the guppy tank along with some hiding spots. This will give them a place to hide when they feel scared or threatened.
You can also try adding a floating plant to the tank. This will give them a place to hide and help reduce the stress levels in the tank.
If you are adding new plants to the tank, ensure they are safe for guppies and will not harm your fish.
You can also try adding a piece of driftwood or a rock to the tank. This will give them a place to hide and help reduce the stress levels in the tank.
If you add new driftwood or rocks to the tank, ensure they are safe for guppies and will not harm your fish.
Adding plants and hiding spots to the tank is a great way to help reduce the stress levels in your fish and give them a place to hide when they feel scared.
Choose Compatible Tankmates And Remove The Aggressor
If your guppy stays in the corner of the tank because other fish are bullying them, you will need to remove the aggressor from the tank.
You will also need to choose compatible tankmates for your guppy. Make sure that the fish you add to the tank is not aggressive and that they will not bully your guppy.
You can also try adding a school of guppy fish to the tank. This will help to reduce the stress levels in your guppy and also help to protect them from being bullied by other fish.
Guppy fish will have difficulty living alone and prefer to stay in a group of at least five other guppies.
Adding a school of fish to the tank is a great way to help reduce the stress levels in your guppy and also help to protect them from being bullied by other fish.
How Long Will New Guppies Stay In The Corner Of The Tank?
If you have just added new guppies to the tank, they may stay in the corner of the tank for a few days. This is because they are trying to acclimatize to their new environment.
After a few days, they should start exploring the rest of the tank and not spend all their time in the corner.
Something may be wrong if your guppy stays at the corner of the tank after a few days. Make sure to check the water quality and temperature of the tank and make sure that everything is correct.
If you think your guppy is sick, quarantine them and take them to the vet. Or else you will see your guppies staying at the top of the tank next, where the oxygen level is high, water is better, the heater is present, and the pace where they will find food immediately.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Guppies may stay in the corner of the tank for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is stress. Other reasons include temperature fluctuation, ammonia poisoning, illness, fear, aggressive tankmates, pregnancy, and overcrowding.
If your guppy is staying in the corner of the tank, you will need to figure out why and then take steps to fix the problem with all the advice I mentioned above.
And comment down if I have left something here. I hope this article helped you and your guppy. 🙂 have a great day!
Good Luck!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!