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A few days back I welcomed three new guppies to the planted tank. On the very first day, all my new guppies were hovering at the top of the aquarium. So I was wondering and thinking why my guppies are staying at the top of the tank.
After careful observation, I found that new guppies mostly swim near the surface of the water. Once new guppies are settled in and adjusted to the new environment, they will start swimming all around the tank.
| On the other hand, there are many problematic reasons why are guppies staying at the top. A few of them which I encountered: – starving for food – swim bladder disorder – inadequate water quality – ammonia increases – insufficient oxygen levels – pregnant guppy about to give birth. |
In this article, I will give the reasons and provide useful solutions.
Table of Contents
Why Are My Guppies Staying At The Top Of The Tank?
Reason # 1: Hungry Guppies
One of the reasons why are my guppies staying at the top of the water is because they are starving and searching for food.
So, to check whether they are hungry. I would look carefully at guppies mouth if it is open for long time, then it is a clear indication they are waiting for food.
It is feeding time for lovely guppies, so if I forget to feed them, they are smart enough to remind me.
Solution 1: Feeding on Time
If your guppies are staying at the top, you can feed them a small amount of flake food once or twice a day, with a gap of twelve hours between each feeding.
| Pro-tip : I have prepared feeding schedule for guppies and feed them flake food for tropical fish. When I am busy or going out I use automatic feeder. |
Reason # 2: Swim Bladder Disease
There are many causes of swim bladder in guppies such as
- eating too fast,
- inhaling too much air,
- transportation stress,
- overfeeding,
- infection and parasites,
- poor water quality, and
- water is too cold.
Hence, guppies prefer to swim at the top of tank.
Further, I suggest looking for other guppy swim bladder signs such as
- swimming sideways,
- enlarged belly,
- floating upside down,
- curved back
- no appetite
Solution 2: Fasting and Medicated Food
Guppy swim bladder treatment by following these steps:
- First, stop feeding your guppy for 2 days.
- Then, raise the water temperature to 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps kill any infections.
- On the third day, feed peas.
- After day 3 include high-fiber food in their diet which will make digestion easy.
| Pro-tip : I increase the water temperature using an aquarium heater, and add aquarium salt to recover guppies quickly. Consult Vet, if required. |
Reason # 3: Low Water Temperature
Water is important for guppies to thrive. So if you find guppies staying at top of water, then something is wrong with water.
I start with checking water temperature using a thermometer, if water is too cold (around 64 °F or 18 °C) then guppies cannot move or digest their food properly. For this reason, guppies are staying at the top of the tank.
Solution 3: Heater Installation
I keep constant water temperature to establish a suitable environment for guppies. The best solution is:
- The water temperature should not be fluctuating, so I keep within the ideal guppy water temperature range of 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C).
| Pro-tip : Using an aquarium heater makes guppies comfortable. |
Reason # 4: Ammonia Spike
The common reasons for guppies gasping at top of tank is waste accumulation in aquarium.
Water gets polluted due to
- overfeeding,
- uneaten food,
- sick or dead guppies,
- irregular water change,
- fish waste,
- unmaintained tank,
- a dirty filter and substrate.
These all generates ammonia which is harmful for guppies.
Some aquarist will suggest installing a good water filter that reduces nitrate levels but won’t remove nitrate from aquarium water. Further, it increases level of nitrate which make difficult for guppy to breathe.
Hence, this is why guppies swimming at surface.
Solution 4: Detoxify Water
The easiest fix is to weekly do 25% water change , clean tank, filter and substrate.
I perform water check every week by preparing a timetable and putting a small reminder on phone.
| Pro-tip : Every week, I use water conditioner to remove chemicals and detoxifies water. |
Reason # 5: Lack of Oxygen
Low concentration of oxygen is one of the key reasons for guppies swimming at the top of the tank as they feel suffocated.
If there is no movement in tank water will reduce the level of oxygen and guppies might feel uncomfortable and they start looking for oxygen-rich spot in tank.
Guppies find water at the top of the tank has direct contact with air which have good amount of oxygen.
In absence of sufficient oxygen level in the lower section of the tank, your guppies will prefer to swim at the top where they can breathe easily.
Solution 5: Raise Oxygen Levels
The easiest way to increase oxygen concentration is by creating the movement in guppy tank.
| Pro-tip : I use Aquarium Air Stone or Air Pump which makes oxygen dissolving rate faster. |
Reason # 6: Pregnant Guppy about to give birth
Many ask on fish forums “Why is my pregnant guppy at the top of the tank?”
The simple answer is pregnant guppy is close to birth. She is looking for a spot to deliver guppy fries.
Female guppy needs a lot of oxygen to push out babies. So they hang out near the surface or may select a corner of tank to release fries.
Solution 6: Pregnancy Care
This indicated tank is either not sufficently aerated, so increase the water movement in aquarium, seperate pregnant guppy and reduce stress.
| Pro-tip : Avoid overcrowding, use oxygen pump with adjustable air flow and create healthy enviornment for pregnant guppy. |
Conclusion
In this article, I have mentioned the possible reasons why are guppies staying at the top of the tank such as hunger, swim bladder disease, poor water quality, high toxic level and insufficient oxygen.
The best solutions is to feed regularly, antibiotics, cleaning tank, partial water change, and improve oxygen level will make guppies happy.
Hope you have found the reason why are your guppies swimming at surface and will be able to solve it.
If you have any question please feel free to post your question in the comment box.
FAQS
Do Guppies Sleep At The Top Of The Tank?
Yes, Guppies sleep at the top of the tank.
Why Are My New Guppies Staying At The Top Of The Tank?
Generally, new guppies staying at top of tank indicates stress and unfamiliarity with new environment and tank mates.
Why Are Guppies Swimming At The Top Of The Tank After A Water Change?
Guppies staying at top of tank after a water change because they like the extra water movement and more oxygen at the surface.
Why Is My Female Guppy Staying At The Top Of The Tank?
If the female guppy is pregnant and ready to give birth then it is likely to stay at the top of the tank as it is consider to be more calm and safe place.
Happy Guppy Keeping!
I am Alexa with 5+ years of experience in fishkeeping industry with expertise in taking care of guppies, aquariums, and dealing with diseases. Moreover, I am lovely wife, dedicated mom, and passionate guppy fish keeper. If you are into guppy fish keeping like me, you are in the right place. Explore the blog, ask questions, and enjoy guppy fishkeeping journey with GuppyAdvisor.
