Fish have such unique personalities, making them such fascinating animals to have at home in an aquarium. Caring for fish has its moments of anxiety when they act in different ways. For instance, why do fish lay at the bottom of the tank?
Fish laying at the bottom of a tank isn’t always a bad thing, so knowing how to spot peculiar behaviors and distinguish them from typical behaviors is paramount. If something is amiss, there are plenty of solutions to bring your fish back to happiness and health.
Is It Normal For Fish To Lay At The Bottom Of The Tank?
When fish lay at the bottom of their tanks or aquariums, many fish parents tend to panic. However, there are some instances where this is completely normal behavior. Of course, there are also occasions where laying at the bottom of the tank is a symptom of your fish feeling sick or struggling with something happening in the tank.
When you observe your fish over time, you’ll get to know what is normal for them and what isn’t. Fish have their own ways of trying to interact and communicate with humans to let them know that something is wrong. Changes in typical behavior and routine are one such way that we can tell that our fish aren’t happy.
How your fish behaves when lying at the bottom of their tank is another good indicator of whether or not you should be concerned that something’s wrong. If they are just simply lying down, they are likely fine.
Why Do Fish Lay At The Bottom Of The Tank?
Fish can be found hanging out at the bottom of the tank for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons are either completely innocent or are part of a fish’s normal behavior, and there are simple solutions to fix the issue.
There are also ways to tell if you need to keep a closer eye on your fish in case they’re unwell. If there’s the potential that a serious problem or a sickness is causing this change in behavior, your fish is going to do the best they can to communicate this to you through other signs and symptoms.
Your Fish Is Sleeping
Many fish like to sleep towards the bottom of the tank, especially if there is some soft substrate or aquatic plants they can lay on. Resting at the bottom helps them stay hidden from other fish who are still awake and might disturb their peaceful slumber.
Older fish who have less energy during the day may also prefer sleeping at the bottom of the tank. Having your fish rest and sleep is encouraged, so the lights should be turned off every day at certain intervals to support that need.
Your Fish Is Relaxing
Fish need to take some time to themselves to relax, just like we do. This may include them simply lounging or floating near the bottom of the tank. You’ll be able to tell if they are just trying to relax if their breathing is regularly paced and their pelvic fins are ever-so-slightly moving.
Fish can get tired, especially active and older fish, so a little bit of downtime is needed. If they aren’t given the space and the parameters they need to wind down and relax, they can become sick by pushing themselves too much.
Your Fish Is A Bottom Dweller
There are some types of fish that enjoy staying close to the bottom of the tank. In the wild, these fish would also swim at the bottom of a body of water. They enjoy the calmness of the bottom, being close to their plants, and staying separate from the other fish who like swimming at the top of the tank.
Many fish who enjoy bottom-dwelling are also bottom feeders. They search for food that sinks to the bottom of the tank or nibble on crumbs that fall on your aquatic plants.
Your Fish Is Getting Accustomed To Their New Environment
If you’ve recently introduced a new fish to your tank, they might gravitate towards the bottom of the tank as they get used to their new surroundings. This may reign true even if they’re the only fish in the tank. It’ll likely take a few weeks before they feel comfortable resting in other areas of the tank.
There Isn’t Enough Room In The Tank
The size of your tank needs to account for each fish having space to swim, play, rest, and eat while also accounting for space to set up plants and accessories. Some fish like having more space than others do. If your tank is too crowded, some fish might lay on the bottom in an effort to get away from everybody else.
Your Fish Is Bored
Fish need stimulation, just like any other animal. Some fish even like to play. If there isn’t enough opportunity for play and activity in your fish’s tank, they might get bored and just lazily lay at the bottom of the tank.
There should be a combination of aquatic plants and decorations in their tank that your fish can lay on, swim through, and push around. You might have to be selective based on your particular fish’s wants and needs so you cater to their preferences.
Your Fish Is Stressed Out
It cannot be overstated how bad stress is for fish. The smallest source of stress can cause your fish to behave in unusual ways, which could include them laying at the bottom of the tank. It may take some trial and error to find the root cause of their stress, but it’s necessary to get them acting normally again.
Your Fish Is Trying To Establish Territory
If you have multiple tank mates together and they seem to fight towards the bottom of the tank, they might be fighting over territory. This might happen if there aren’t enough areas for fish to hide or rest away from others. It may also happen if you’ve put fish that naturally don’t like each other in the same tank.
They Are Hiding From Other Fish
Fish may hide at the bottom of their tank between decorations or plants if other fish are pestering them. You might notice that this fish gets chased around a lot, and tends to scurry back to the bottom quickly when they try to swim up, only to get ambushed by another fish.
Some types of fish are known to not get along with certain fish, so it’s crucial to be selective when putting together a fish tank of several different breeds of fish.
The Water Is At An Inadequate Temperature
Many types of fish are very particular about how they like their water. Their water needs to mimic their natural environment as much as possible, and if you’re mixing types of fish, they should only be mixed if they like similar environments.
You should be monitoring water temperature regularly, but it doesn’t take much for the water temperature to change. Fish who are stressed because of temperature change may appear to be struggling to breathe and may seem erratic.
The Water Current Is Too Strong
Most fish like calm water in their tank, but not all of them do. If the current manages to sway too much, no matter the reason, it can make your fish scared, and they’ll lay at the bottom of the tank to try and escape the current. Be sure you’re pairing tank mates that like the same kind of current together, so everyone is happy.
Your Fish Is Sick
There are some illnesses known to cause certain behaviors in fish to be aware of. One such manifestation of these illnesses is a fish’s propensity to stay at the bottom of the tank. You’ll likely notice other signs, such as a lack of appetite, frantic gills or fins, and lethargy. A poor diet can also lead to illness, less energy, and refusal to eat.
Some of the infections or bacterial fungi that fish can catch are contagious, while others aren’t. Often, your fish will have to be quarantined, water will need to be treated, and in some cases, the fish may need medicine.
Your Fish Has Ich
Ich is one of those diseases that fish parents tend to worry about the most. This can be a very contagious illness that can make fish miserable, and it can be fatal if it’s not treated. Thankfully, it is fairly easy to notice if your fish has ich, and it’s easy to treat.
Fish tend to gravitate towards the bottom of their tanks when they have ich, and you might also notice they rub themselves against the bottom. This is because ich makes them itchy. You may also notice that fish with ich have white spots that form on their bodies.
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The Tank Water Is Tainted
All sorts of nasty things can develop in tank water when it’s not cycled properly or replaced with fresh water occasionally. Some of this buildup in the water can make your fish very sick, and this type of sickness can be fatal. This could include ammonia poisoning or nitrate poisoning.
You should have a routine in place to monitor what’s in the water to catch it before it makes your fish sick. Any deviation from this routine might cause something to fester in the water for long enough to impact your fish.
What To Do If Your Fish Is Laying At The Bottom Of The Tank
As mentioned, not all reasons for fish staying at the bottom of a tank are bad. However, if your fish is showing some concerning symptoms alongside this behavior, there are ways to take care of the potential issue at hand. If you can’t quite figure out whether or not your fish is acting irregularly, there are always ways to investigate before taking action.
Check Water Temperature
Water temperature always needs to be monitored as it can go up and down very easily. When the water temperature is off for fish, they struggle to get enough oxygen and get tired more easily, which can make them gravitate towards the bottom of the tank and can lead to them getting sick. Be sure to adjust the temperature as needed to keep your fish happy.
When water temperature goes up or down, especially in a short amount of time, it can frustrate your fish’s sense of calm and their ability to stay comfortable. Temperature can impact their metabolism, which will either make them ravenous or unwilling to eat. The stress of unsuitable water temperature is not one that any fish handles well.
Test Water Occasionally
Other factors in the water outside of temperature can make your fish feel sick or stressed out, which can be one reason why they are laying low in their tank. You should always have a testing kit handy to make sure that the water isn’t dirty, the pH is balanced appropriately, and that there aren’t any contaminants such as ammonia present.
Separate Unruly Fish
It’s important to avoid putting fish together that are known not to get along. Mistakes happen, but you should separate fish that don’t like each other into separate tanks. This discourse can cause all fish involved stress, which is dangerous for a fish’s health.
Put The Right Tank Mates Together
It’s strongly recommended you know about the breed characteristics and preferences of fish before bringing one home. Some types of fish like to be on their own, some fish don’t like other fish of the same sex, and some fish need to be in a tank with other fish to be happy.
Knowing these preferences before you purchase fish and putting them in a tank at home can help save you and your fish a lot of stress.
Quarantine The Fish
If you have multiple fish in one tank and you believe one of your fish could be sick, you should quarantine them to avoid having them spread their illness to the rest of their tankmates. This involves safely taking that fish out of the communal tank and placing them into a clean tank until they are healthy again.
Add Hiding And Resting Spots To The Tank
If your suspicion is that your fish are just resting or looking to have some space away from other fish, your tank may benefit from having some more plants or aquarium toys in it. This will give your fish other types of surfaces to hide in and rest on, as well as entertain themselves with.
This can help reduce the chances of some fish pushing other fish around because they’re bored or because they are trying to reign supreme over their tank mates.
Get A Bigger/An Additional Tank
While it’s lovely to watch a bunch of fish swimming around in a tank, overcrowding can be a major issue for all fish involved. Be sure your tank is big enough to suit the types of fish and the amount of fish you have at home. Otherwise, it may be time to upgrade the size or get a second tank to accommodate everyone.
Move The Tank To A More Suitable Environment
The placement of your fish tank in your home is important. If the room gets too warm or cool or is too noisy, your fish may get stressed out and start behaving differently. Placing an aquarium by a window may not be ideal, as it’s likely that the presence or absence of sun will lead to temperature changes in the water too frequently.
It could be worth moving your tank to a quieter room with more temperature control if nothing else seems to work, though you shouldn’t do this very often. You should also ensure that pets are kept away from fish tanks and that it’s not too close to a television or other source of constant noise.
Change Their Food
It may seem unrelated, but a fish’s diet is important to its health and happiness. Some fish can’t get by on cheap, generic fish foods, and over time, this poor quality food can lead them to become unhappy and tired, and they might just lay at the bottom of the tank.
Be sure you know what to feed your fish based on their breed, and ensure you’re watching that they actually eat their food. A food switch could be all they need to perk up and start exploring their tank again.
Be Patient With New Fish
Bringing home a new fish and transferring them to a new tank, only for them to stay at the bottom, can be worrisome. It’s not abnormal for fish to stay fairly still in a spot where they feel safe when they are trying to adapt to their new home.
As long as the fish is eating and they aren’t being bothered by other fish, you will just have to stay patient until they get used to the tank. =
Frequently Asked Questions
As previously discussed, some breeds of fish like hanging out towards the bottom of the tank as part of their typical routine. Others aren’t known to do this much. It all depends on what kind of fish you have.
Why Is My Oscar Fish Laying On Side At Bottom Of Tank?
Oscar fish, in particular, will lay on their side at the bottom of the tank when they are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in their tank. This is somewhat common when you’ve just transferred your oscar fish to a new home, and they are trying to gather their bearings. This should hopefully be a temporary behavior.
If you have oscar fish in a tank with other fish, be sure that they are placed with the right kinds of fish. Oscar fish are fairly docile, so if other fish are pestering or bullying them, they might lay at the bottom of the tank in an effort to surrender to the other fish.
Why Is My Betta Fish Laying On The Bottom Of The Tank?
Bettas will sometimes sleep at the bottom of their tank, but typically speaking, they will usually lay on something. Since bettas tend to be more animated fish, if you notice a change in their activity or personality, there’s a good chance they are lying at the bottom of the tank because they aren’t feeling well.
Some of the root causes of this change in behavior could be inadequate water conditions, the temperature of the water being off, they are feeling sick, or they are starting to slow down with age. Look for signs of lethargy or a lack of appetite to try and determine whether or not they are sick and check the quality and cleanliness of their water.
Why Is My Molly Fish Laying On The Bottom Of The Tank?
Molly fish are one type of fish that aren’t known for liking the bottom of the tank. The only time it’s normal for molly fish, in particular, is when they are sleeping or pregnant. If you see your molly fish lying down on the surface of your tank, it’s a good indication that something is making them unhappy.
There are a couple of likely culprits; either the water is not to your molly fish’s liking, or your molly fish is sick. This is a behavior that these fish often exhibit when they have a swim bladder infection, which needs to be treated as soon as you suspect it.
Recap
It is hard not to panic when you walk by your tank, only to see a fish lying still at the bottom of the tank. Thankfully there’s a good chance your fish is just trying to get some rest. It’s still important to observe your fish, so you differentiate between normal and abnormal behavior.
Take a mental inventory of your fish and how each of them normally spends their days and nights. This will help you gain more insight into whether or not your fish just likes to relax at the bottom of the tank or your fish is trying to tell you that something’s wrong and you need to take care of it.