Distressed Guppy

[Craster]

I have a 180l tank, water measurements all as they should be, pH 7.5. It currently has 5 Zebra Danios, 4 Otos, and 3 guppies.

The one male guppy spends all of his time in the rear top right-hand corner of the tank, behind the filter outlet pipe. He hardly moves at all. He's showing no signs of disease or being bullied, he just spends all his time up there 'hiding'.

At feeding time, he comes out and feeds happily with everyone else, swimming normally, looking perfectly healthy, then retreats back into his corner again.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be up with him?

Thanks.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Does the guppy look thin at all? Is he a delta/large tailed male guppy plus has he always been this way or only recently?

 

[Craster]

He doesn't look thin, and he's eating well.

He started hiding after being in the tank for a few days - before this he was avidly chasing his lady friends. Nothing was deliberately changed in the tank between him happily swimming about and him going and hiding.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If he is a delta/large tailed guppy it could be possible that the current/water flow in the tank is too strong for him, its not an uncommon condition with the larger tailed varieties of guppys.

 

[Craster]

That's interesting, thanks. It would explain why he is hiding behind the filter outlet, where the water flow would be virtually zero.

Any suggestions for finding a way to make it any happier? More heavily planting the tank to disrupt the flow a little?

 

[Kribster]

You could try angling the outlet against the side of the tank, or "installing" an exhaust type outlet that slows the flow right down - a bit of tubing with a thick grill inside - like a stiff sponge, but with way more holes in it...

It worked for me when i got it right, but now i have an undergravel filter...