Guppy fish are colorful and active fish. They are pleasant to look at and can sometimes be calming. So, you might be asking yourself, “Why Is My Guppy Fish Staying Hidden?” Some key reasons that caused guppies may include pregnancy, sleeping, sick, stress, poor water conditions or having aggressive tank mates. A guppy staying hidden can be for many different reasons. Read on if you are keen to find out more
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Why Are My Guppies Not Swimming Around?
If your guppies are not swimming around and staying hidden, there are a few variables that can cause it. Here are 7 of them.
Pregnant Guppy
When female guppies are ready to give birth, they usually look for places to hide. Inspect the guppy that is hiding and see if it has an extended stomach or V-shaped belly. The gravid spot will also be darker than usual. With no cover in the tank, like live plants, for the female to hide, it will lie down at the bottom of the tank.
Sleeping Guppy
If your guppies hide at the bottom of the tank during the night, then they are more than likely sleeping. They don’t do this during the day, so sickness is likely the cause.
Sick Guppy
Guppies suffering from various diseases or parasitic infestations often hide at the bottom of the tank or in the corner. Usually, signs of sickness include loss of appetite and less activity. Other symptoms of illness are cuts, spots, damaged fins, scoliosis, swollen eyes, or dropsy.
Stressed Guppy
It’s easy to tell if your guppies are stressed. Aggressive tank mates, poor water parameters, or more males than females in the tank. Take your pick, all these things cause stress.
Aggressive Tank Mates
Guppies are not aggressive fish. So, do not keep aggressive fish in the same tank as guppies. Guppy fish are schooling fish and will group when threatened in the wild. But, without the numbers to do so in a tank setting, they may hide instead. To prevent this behavior, choose compatible tank mates for your fish.
Poor Water Parameters
Proper guppy water parameters include achieving the keeping the TDS level low, setting the ideal pH level, and keeping the aquarium clean. When the water in the tank is of poor quality, the fish become less active and sink to the bottom of the aquarium. Always change at least 50% of the water bi-weekly to reduce ammonia levels and to clear out toxins and debris.
More Males Than Females
Having more males than females in a guppy tank can cause problems. The males will pursue the females and try to mate all the time.
Constant harassment by males can stress out the female, and it will try to hide. Mating too often also reduces the lifespan of guppies and may slow their growth. Try to keep three females to one male per tank, also keeping in mind the 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water rule.
Having more females than males in the tank can also help keep the guppy population under control. Here’s how to tell the difference between male and female guppy fish.
Do Guppies Bury Themselves?
If you still cannot find the problems after checking from the above, most of the time it is just common behavior from the guppies. Depending on what is in your fish tank, they can hide under rocks, behind decorations, within the artificial plants or even try to bury themselves in the ground.
References
- Fish Behavior Basics – Hartz –https://www.hartz.com/fish-behavior-basics/
- Guppies in hiding – Aquarium Advice – https://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/guppies-in-hiding-25048.html
- Guppy Hiding Behind Filter – Fishlore – https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/guppy-hiding-behind-filter.282711/
- Male Guppy Hiding Away – My Aquarium Club – https://www.myaquariumclub.com/male-guppy-hiding-away-1172380.html
