Why Does One Of My Guppies Stay At The Bottom Of The Fish Tank?

Does your guppy has an extended belly?

Did you cycle water in your aquarium before adding guppies?

Do you keep any larger fish in your aquarium as well?

Is your guppy laying at the bottom motionless or having difficulty swimming or breathing?

Is your guppy swimming sideways or tipsy at the bottom of the tank?

One explanation for seeing a guppy fish hanging out at the bottom of the aquarium is that she’s pregnant and in labor. The reason for her staying at the bottom of the aquarium was so she could release the fry peacefully. If the female guppy fish has an extended belly and seems to be seeking out peaceful or secluded corners of the aquarium, she’s preparing to give birth.

When you set up a new aquarium you must first make sure that you properly cycle the tank. Bad water quality is one of the major stress factors and reasons why guppies may start behaving differently. Water changes performed regularly (weekly or biweekly) are also required.

Even if they may prefer water parameters in the same range, some fish don’t get along with each other, this can lead to aggression, territorial behavior, fights, and injuries. It’s highly stressful for a fish to be put into the same aquarium with fish they’re not compatible with. Don’t keep guppy fish with large fish that may eat them. Angelfish, cichlids, and Endler’s are not good options for guppy fish tank mates. Compatible tank mates for guppy fish include mollies, platies, swordtails, cory catfish, bristlenose plecos.

If your guppy fish is sick, you may find it laying at the bottom motionless or having difficulty swimming or breathing. Many diseases can trigger this behavior or cause swimming issues including swim bladder disorder, dropsy, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, etc. You should always try to look for other symptoms (spots or lesions on the body, ragged fins, loss of appetite) to help identify the type of disease that’s causing these issues. If it’s a treatable disease, you should immediately use appropriate medication and perform water changes as required by the treatment.

If you notice your guppy swimming sideways or tipsy at the bottom of the tank, the organ that regulates their buoyancy, the swim bladder, may be damaged. As a result, guppies may have trouble staying afloat and sink to the bottom of the tank. The most common cause is an enlarged abdomen or intestines caused by overeating or constipation.

Ammonia poisoning is another reason why you may find your guppy fish at the bottom of the aquarium. Ammonia poisoning can be deadly to your fish and ammonia levels should be monitored. Ammonia poisoning can be sudden when there’s a huge ammonia spike in the aquarium (it can happen in newly cycled tanks) or it can happen slowly over some time if ammonia levels are not monitored and water changes are not regular.