Guppy Acting Funny?

[Betta_Shark5678]

Hi

As you may know I got three guppies last Friday! These are the first guppies I've ever had. One of them (the oldest, and biggest of the three) has been swimming funny. He will swim completely vertical while twitching. He'll also stay at the surface and twitch in the same way, without swimming. A little girl I know said that it looked like he was having a seizure, and I have to agree with her. Is something wrong with him? Or is this normal for guppies? The other two (which are possibly his sons) aren't acting funny, once in a while one of them will sort of twitch like him, but not as much.

Thanks.

 

[Ny82]

It could be swimbladder disease. That's the only thing I can think of when you say swimming vertically. Maybe try giving it some peas that should help. All the guppies I used to have who developed this disease didn't last the night
Maybe someone with more experience can come in and give more advice.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

Okay, well I've had him since Friday, so he's lasted a few nights! I will feed him a pea, I got some special for fish when I thought my Betta was constipated, it was really dropsy, so I should still have the peas! Thank you. I might take a video of him, and post it here, because it's a little hard to describe, calling it a seizure was the best description.

 

[Ny82]

Okay, well I've had him since Friday, so he's lasted a few nights! I will feed him a pea, I got some special for fish when I thought my Betta was constipated, it was really dropsy, so I should still have the peas! Thank you. I might take a video of him, and post it here, because it's a little hard to describe, calling it a seizure was the best description.

You're welcome. If you could post a video, that would be very helpful to confirm what's wrong.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

The twitching part sounds like he is displaying for the females... mine can be tilted a bit vertical (not completely) if the female moves above him too much. I'm just guessing you are describing the direction as being more than I am thinking... so it is possible he is both displaying for the ladies and may have a swim issue as well. The twitching is a normal male behavior though and some do it more prolifically than others.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

I did read that they do that to impress females, but I don't have any female guppies. I have three male guppies, and one male platy in that tank, which is why I'm concerned. I'm still trying to get the video, it's pretty crazy at my house today!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Oh they do it in male only tanks too. I have a male only tank and they do it to each other, just not as constantly as when there are females with them.

 

[Betta_Shark5678]

Oh, well he's pretty much been doing it non-stop since I got him. I might feed him a pea just to make sure, I mean it can't hurt.