Guppy fish are small, colorful, relatively easy to care for but surprise you every single time with a new comical act. Sometimes they can start swimming in circles for no apparent reason. Did you witness this as well? While this may look like harmless behavior, it can actually signify a serious health problem. So, why is my guppy fish swimming in circles?
Your guppy fish is probably swimming in circles due to whirling disease, boredom, stress, or a swim bladder disorder. Whirling disease is a serious, fatal condition like swim bladder disorder, so you’ll need to take your fish to the vet for treatment.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the possible causes of this behavior and how you can correct it. Do not panic or take harsh decisions, calm yourself down first. This can happen to best of us. Just read this article and figure out what went south in your aquarium.
Why Is My Guppy Fish Swimming In Circles?
Now, there are a few reasons your guppy fish might be swimming in circles. Some of these causes are more serious than others, but all of them can be fixed with the right treatment.
There are several potential causes of guppy fish swimming in circles:
Whirling Disease
The first possibility is that your guppy has the whirling disease. Whirling disease is a parasitic infection that affects the nervous system of fish.
This is a neurological condition that affects the balance and movement of the fish. As a result, the fish will swim in circles or erratically.
Myxobolus cerebralis is a parasite that can cause whirling disease in guppy fish. This parasite enters the fish through their food and attacks the central nervous system.
The symptoms of this disease include:
- The fish swimming in circles
- Swimming erratically
- Trouble balancing
- Twisted spine
- Darker tail area
- Deformed head
Tubifex worms are one of the hosts that can bring this parasite into the tank when you drop it as food. So, be careful when you feed your guppy fish. And, the symptoms will not appear until 35 to 80 days since the infestation of the parasite.
Remember this condition can get fatal to fish and can spread quickly through a population. It seems like these fish are chasing their tail; the typical radial-tail behavior.
And the chances of this disease are pretty slim if you have had guppies for more than 6 months in a tank with a higher temperature.
Ammonia Poisoning
Another potential cause of guppy fish swimming in circles is ammonia poisoning in the aquarium. Ammonia is a toxic substance that is produced by decomposing organic matter, like a fish waste.
If the level of ammonia in your tank gets too high, it can poison your fish. Symptoms of ammonia poisoning include erratic swimming, gasping for air at the surface of the water, and lethargy.
If you think your guppy might have ammonia poisoning, you should do a water test to check the level of ammonia in your tank.
If it is high, you will need to do a water change to lower and remove the ammonia. You can also add a product to your tank that will remove ammonia, like zeolite.
Swim Bladder Disorder
The swim bladder is a sac of air that helps fish stay buoyant in the water. If the swim bladder is damaged, it can cause the fish to float to the surface or sink to the bottom. It can also cause the fish to swim in circles.
Swim bladder disorder is usually caused by poor water quality, but it can also be caused by overeating or swallowing air when feeding at the surface of the water.
Yeah, the problem in the fish’s swim bladder brings more than erratically swimming. If you look at the affected fish, it would often swim upside down or in circles. The good news is that you can cure this disease easily.
First, you need to find out what’s causing the problem. Is it poor water quality or something else? Once you know the cause, you can take steps to fix it.
Stress
Stress can also cause fish to swim in circles. Fish are sensitive to changes in their environment, and loud noises, bright lights, or temperature changes can stress them.
When fish are stressed, they release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol makes the fish more likely to get sick and can cause them to swim in circles.
To reduce stress, you should ensure the fish tank is in a quiet place with no bright lights or loud noises. It would help if you also kept the water temperature stable.
Boredom
Boredom can also cause fish to swim in circles. Fish are active creatures and need stimulation to stay healthy. They can get bored and start swimming in circles if they don’t have anything to do.
You should add plants and decorations to the tank to keep fish from getting bored. You can also try feeding them live food or toys to play with.
Territorial Behavior
Fish are territorial creatures and can become aggressive when they feel their territory is threatened. When fish are aggressive, they may swim in circles to intimidate other fish.
To reduce aggression, you should provide the fish with plenty of hiding places. You can also try adding more fish to the tank, so the fish have less territory to protect.
How To Make Guppy Fish Swim Normally?
You can make guppy fish swim normally by maintaining the water parameters, adding plants and decorations, testing the water and using beneficial bacteria, using a large tank, and treating diseases.
There are a few things you can do to help your fish swim normally again:
Maintain The Water Parameters
One of the main reasons why guppy fish swim in circles is because of poor water quality. If the water in your tank is not clean, it can cause a number of health problems for your fish, including swim bladder disorder.
To keep the water in your tank clean, you must do a weekly water change and vacuum the gravel. You also need to make sure that you are using a filter and that it is clean.
You need to maintain the water parameters in your tank. Test the water regularly and make sure that the pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all at safe levels.
If you have a problem with your water parameters, you can use a water conditioner to help fix it. You can also add plants to your tank to help keep the water clean.
It would help if you kept the pH level between seven and eight, the ammonia levels low, and the nitrite levels zero. You can test the water parameters with a test kit.
Add Plants And Decorations
Adding plants and decorations to the tank can help the fish feel more secure and less stressed. The plants will also provide oxygen and help keep the water clean.
You should add plants that are easy to care for, and that will not die if the water quality is not perfect. You can also add decorations such as rocks and driftwood to the tank.
Test The Water And Use Beneficial Bacteria
If you think that the water in your tank is not clean, you should test it with a test kit. You can also use a water conditioner to help improve the water quality.
You can also add beneficial bacteria to the tank. This will help to keep the water clean and provide a place for the fish to hide.
The nitrifying bacteria will help to convert the ammonia in the water into nitrates. Keeping them in a biological filter media in the filter will also help to keep the pH levels stable.
Use A Large Tank
If you have a small tank, it is important to upgrade to a larger one. This will help to improve the water quality and provide more space for the fish to swim.
It is also important to keep the tank clean and free of debris. You can do this by vacuuming the gravel and doing a water change every week.
Treat Diseases
If you think that your fish are sick, you should take them to the vet. There are many diseases that can cause swim bladder disorder. If you think that your fish are sick, you should take them to the vet.
You can treat some of these diseases with medication, while others will require surgery. (Fair warning: the surgery is never easy to perform on small fish and you will most likely lose the fish. So, just say goodbye if it comes down to surgery. It’s not worth it.)
How Do You Treat Guppy Fish Whirling?
If your guppy fish is whirling, it is important to get them to the vet as soon as possible. This condition can get fatal if you don’t treat it on time. The vet will usually prescribe medication for the fish and will also recommend changing the water parameters.
However, maintaining the water parameters and using a large tank is important. This will help to reduce stress in the fish.
Treating the disease is the best way to ensure that your guppy fish swims normally. Use a large tank and add plants and decorations to help keep them healthy and stress-free. If you have any concerns, consult with a vet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, guppy fish swimming in circles can happen due to a few different things. The most common cause is whirling disease, but ammonia poisoning, swim bladder disorder, stress, boredom, or territorial behavior can also contribute to that. If your guppy fish is swimming in circles, the best thing to do is to test the water and use beneficial bacteria. You can also use a large tank to ensure your guppy fish has plenty of space to swim. Finally, if you think your guppy fish might be sick, you should take it to the vet for a checkup.
Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful in understanding why your guppy fish might be swimming in circles. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Take care!
Good Luck!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!