But, are angelfish aggressive towards each other? While less aggressive than other cichlids, angels are not peaceful and love to pick at each other. Angelfish can become aggressive for several different reasons, such as the size of the tank, lack of hiding space, dominance issues, and current patterns among other things. 

While this is a rather short answer, it should give you an idea of why angels can be aggressive towards each other. Continue reading to learn all factors that can lead to aggression and what you can do to prevent and/or stop it.

Why Are Angelfish Aggressive Towards Each Other?

Angelfish aren’t so aggressive as other members of the cichlids family, but they can bully and fight with other angels in the aquarium. Most common reasons for this pesky behavior are:

1.  Establishing The “Pecking Order”

Like most cichlids, a male angelfish sees the aquarium as “his” space. When several angelfish are introduced together they usually establish a pecking order, with the dominant male and subordinates.

Depending on the temperament, the dominant male will tolerate the other angels, or become aggressive towards them.

When a single male angelfish is placed in the aquarium he usually establishes it as his own territory. Hence, when other angles are later introduced he may or may not tolerate them.

Dominant males usually tolerate female angels, but that may not always be the case. On the other hand, males are rarely tolerated as the dominant angel sees them as intruders into his own space.

In some cases, the aggression is simple bullying, like pushing and shoving, but it can also become very physical.

The subordinate angel may be killed outright, or it may be highly stressed or frightened. The latter usually leads to a subordinate’s death sooner or later.

When angelfish fight, it looks like they are kissing. However, kissing behavior is also part of a mating ritual. To tell the difference, we highly recommend reading our two following articles:

• What does it mean when angelfish kiss?
• Are my angelfish fighting or mating?

2. Same sex group

Angels tend to get aggressive if there are only two of them in the aquarium, especially if both of them are males.

They are less aggressive and thrive when they are in pairs or groups. Once in a group, a pecking order will be established and a dominant male may bully all other fish just a little bit.

Consequently, none of your angels will become stressed out, since a small amount of bullying is natural group behavior.  However, when there are only two males, the dominant has just one option, leaving the other fish stressed out and cowering in fear.

If you are not sure what gender you angelfish have, let us help you! Read our article on that here: Can angelfish change gender?

3. Lack Of Hiding Places

Angelfish tend to be quite shy and like to have a lot of hiding places that will protect them when being picked on by other tank members.

When there are no plants, driftwood, or decorations to break up their line of sight, angels can become aggressive and bully one another. Hence, it is essential to provide adequate space and an ideal environment to prevent bullying from occurring.

4. Lack Of Space

Angelfish can grow quite large and need a big enough tank in order to stay happy and thrive.

Generally, anything smaller than a 10-gallon tank isn’t a good option for a single angelfish. However, if you have two angels you will need at least a 30-gallon tank so they can have enough room to pair and live comfortably once they reach their adult size.

When crammed in a small tank, angels can become aggressive and will bully one another for the extra space and territory.

Keep in mind that the tank should be tall, and not long, so that all of your angels have enough room to move around without having to fight one another for extra space.

Choosing the right tank size, but also choosing the right tank shape is crucial when keeping angelfish. Any mistakes here could cause problems for you and your angelfish. Read our article on choosing the right tank size and shape for angelfish here!

5. Spawning

It’s not uncommon for a pair of angelfish to fight and chase one another before and after spawning.

In this case, you will notice that your angels are locking lips, flicking their fins to look bigger, chasing, and nipping each other.

Once they are ready to spawn, angels select, clean, and defend a relatively flat surface to deposit the eggs. Furthermore, after the breeding, angelfish will guard and defend their eggs and will be aggressive towards other fish, including other angels.

How To Stop Angelfish From Fighting?

Even when kept in ideal conditions your angels can get into occasional fights. But this is nothing to worry about, and your angelfish will soon enough hash it out among each other.

However, there are things you can do to minimize aggressive behavior and to ensure that your angels have an ideal living environment to be comfortable in and thrive.

1. Introduce The Angelfish Properly

Angels are very territorial and tend to be aggressive if you decide to add newcomers to their tank.

So if you think that having just one angelfish won’t be enough, you should get a pair (male and female) or a group straight away. This way, you will give them a chance to establish a pecking order and form a group right from the start.

However, if you already have one angel and want to add another to the tank, it is best to take the dominant one out of the tank and place it in another for a couple of days. During that time, rearrange the décor and put the bully back in with the new fish to avoid any fighting.

2. Design Private Areas

Angels thrive in environments with a lot of plants and caves that can serve as hiding places, otherwise, they will fight and bully one another for territory.

To stop the fighting, use tall plants, driftwood, rocks, glass, and decoration to design hiding places and private areas for your angels.

Besides helping your angels to get along, these accessories will also make your tank aesthetically more appealing and mimic the angels’ natural environment.

3. Get A Larger Tank

Aggression is more common among adult angelfish, and when in cramped space this bickering can lead to death. Sometimes, even a 90-gallon tank isn’t enough when you have two male angels fighting for territory.

So, providing the right size tank for your angelfish is essential if you want to prevent fighting and to keep them content. Generally, a 20-gallon tank is enough for one angel, but that number rises as you add more fish to the group.

4. Don’t Change The Water Often

Angelfish communicate their social status through urine and bile that they release into the water. While keeping the tanks clean is important, changing the water often will disrupt chemical signals from the water.

Hence, making the angels blind to their social hierarchy and more aggressive towards each other. However, the attacks will stop once the chemical signals are back to normal which usually happens during the next day.

5. Keep The Current To A Minimum

A good filtration system is a must if you want to keep your aquarium clean. However, you will have to look for one that doesn’t create excessive currents in the water.

This is mainly because angelfish aren’t the most agile swimmers and a strong current can make them stressed out and more aggressive towards each other.

The post Are Angelfish Aggressive Towards Each Other? appeared first on Water World Craze.

Are angelfish aggressive with other fish? The angelfish are not any more aggressive than any other fish – they are just bigger. On a scale from completely docile to predator they land in the middle, they are more opportunist than vicious. Any aggressive tendency in your angelfish has a reason and can be negated with a little observation and accommodation.

Fish might seem like a simple pet to care for, but each breed comes from all over the world in various bodies of water with different habitats. To get the best experience out of owning a fish tank you need to know the basics for keeping each of your fish happy.

Part of that is learning how they like to live and what types of fish cohabitate well together. Read further to learn more about your angelfish, how they display aggression and what to do about it.

How and when they display aggression

The freshwater angelfish aren’t necessarily aggressive, they are just a larger common fish so their hostility is due in part from people not understanding them. Larger fish will eat smaller fish if they can do so.

Their mentality is if food is around I might as well take part. So it’s more of an opportunistic behavior rather than aggression. To decrease the antagonism in the tank you ultimately need to understand the angelfish so that you can negate any primal actions.

Sometimes these behaviors don’t manifest right away. When you first get an angelfish you might be deceived into believing that they have a good relationship with everyone, but then they age. One day you will go to your tank and wonder what happened to your guppies.

They will eat anything smaller than themselves. In part due to their instinct in any fish food comes and goes so you better get it now. Even when you feed them regularly that idea will never leave them.

This is a common fish trait and not exclusive to the angelfish unless the fish in question has a special diet or their mouths are inapt at eating other fish.

Angelfish will show aggression towards fish their size as well to set up dominance in their school, your tank. The reasons why they would show this aggressive range from tank size of the number of fish, which is discussed later.

Sometimes it’s obvious that the angelfish is fighting with other fish, while others you can find in the subtle behavior of the other fish. This is done by:

• Fighting with their mouths
• Using their tails to beat the other fish
• Chemical signals in their waste to show social status

There are a few reasons why the angelfish would show aggression towards those that are their size, breeding or territorial aggression. It’s better to have angelfish in at least a pair so they won’t pick on your other fish during spawning time.

A warning if you want to keep the angelfish fry: While in the wild the freshwater angelfish is a very attentive parent their years in captivity have decreased these instincts. They will eat their young if they happen to spawn.

If you want to keep the baby angelfish, put them in another tank while they are eggs. Your angelfish will not miss them and this way they have a chance to live.

Here are a few of our articles we highly recommend reading if your angelfish are laying eggs or if you plan to breed angelfish:

Some types are more aggressive than others

They also don’t have a particular diet that prevents them from snatching up one of your other smaller fish and their mounts don’t limit them to a certain specific food group.

All Angelfish are omnivores, with the more common freshwater angelfish being the more carnivorous of the two. The marine angelfish is a completely distinct species even though they look similar and similar personalities.

The marine angelfish are in the family Pomacanthidae and come in a range of 86 diverse species. The saltwater angelfish will grow larger, the largest species coming in at around 24 inches high, while the average size is from 8 to 12 inches.

The larger the angelfish is the more aggressive it will be, for the marine angelfish the larger one is best to keep together with those of the same species. If you have a variety of saltwater angelfish together they will pick on the one that is most different from the others.

The average-sized marine angelfish, 8-12 inches, do better with other types of fish as long as they are of equivalent size.

The freshwater angelfish is under the family Pterophyllum and has three distinct species.

• Pterophyllum scalare
• Pterophyllum altum
• Pterophyllum leopoldi

The P. scalare species is the most common type of angelfish sold, so the odds are that you will have this type of fish. They are also the most docile of the freshwater angelfish, while the P. leopoldi is rarely available due to their overly aggressive nature.

If you are new to fish make sure you are getting the p. scalare species. Having an easier going fish will help with the inevitable mistakes that come along with trying something new.

If you are a more advanced owner then try out the p. leopoldi, but this species might best be kept in a tank with their species.

How to decrease aggression

As noted above they use their waste to communicate their social status. A way that you can prevent aggression is to clean their tank less often. When their social status urine is eliminated from the tank then the angelfish will go on the defensive to bring back their status.

Some people recommended not introducing angelfish to other types of fish at all.

This will prevent you from losing other fish in your tank, but they will still show aggression towards each other and will even eat their spawn if the need arrives which occurs due to generations of inbreeding.

Another method for those who want a variety of fish is to place them in the tank at the same time so there are no territorial issues. With a tank of angelfish the more you have the better the aggression will be.

Tank size also contributes to the angelfish’s aggression. You need at least a 20-gallon tank for one angelfish and an additional 10-gallons with each additional angelfish.

They are a shoaling type fish, so socially they do better with many members of their species.

It might sound contradictory, but having more angelfish to a tank will calm down the aggression that they display to each other. In the wild the freshwater angelfish is a shoaling species, meaning they stay together for social reasons.

This is different than a schooling type of fish that swim together in a coordinated way. Getting them in even numbers male and female help when they display aggression during spawning. Angelfish mate for life.

The current in the water will lead your angelfish to anger. They originate in the lakes and ponds of South America where the angelfish cruised around looking for food.

They are not accustomed to the high currents that happen in rivers and the ocean so your tank needs to reflect that.

Even though they are a fish, they aren’t the best of swimmers and with a high current caused by your filtration system, they will become disoriented and then attack those who are around.

If they are hoovering in one place in your tank and not swimming around, when not beating everyone else, then adjust your filter. You need to accommodate the type of fish that you have instead of any standard.

Lack of food will also make them aggressive.

Common tank mates

While a lot of people recommend that you just keep a tank of angelfish you can tank them with other species. You will just have to consider each fish that you add to your tank. They can live peacefully with other fish you will just have to consider size and breed.

It is easier if all of the fish that you intend to get are introduced to each other at the same time. Not an easy task for someone who likes to collect fish. If you know that you will be frequently adding fish to your tank try to wait until the newer fish hits maturity.

If you add a smaller fish in a tank with angelfish they will just end up eating the new addition. Patience here will help you enjoy your new fish for longer than a few days.

Freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum, are a member of the family Cichlidae species. It’s safe to stick with other cichlids, just stick to the ones that are comparatively the same size as the angelfish. The larger ones will become territorial and pick on the angelfish.

Other great tank mates for the angelfish:

• Corydoras catfish
• Bolivian Rams
• German Rams
• Platies
• Gourami
• We show you 12 bottom-dwelling fish that do well with angelfish in this article – Read it here!

The Corydoras catfish is a schooling fish that mostly inhabits the bottom part of the tank since they scavenge for food. They have a good relationship with the angelfish simply because they never interact since the angelfish stays in the middle part of the tank.

Though these rams are smaller fish they live well with the angelfish for the same reason that the Corydoras catfish does.

Platies are a colorful fish that has a good relationship with angelfish. They prefer a higher current than the angelfish does so make sure to provide enough flow for one while not endangering the other.

The angelfish does have a habit of eating young platies fry, so if you want babies make sure to pull them out before the angelfish spots them.

Gourami like the snakeskin or dwarf both work well with the angelfish. These types of Gourami are peaceful and won’t pick up a fight with the angelfish. Sometimes the angelfish will pick on the gourami, but if you have enough angelfish it shouldn’t be an issue.

Tetras and angelfish are rarely a good match

Fish to avoid:

• Tetras
• Harlequin Rasboras
• Larger cichlids
• Predators
• Sharks

There are a lot of tetra breeds that are simply too small to live with the angelfish. Talk with your breeder about what tetras go well with angelfish.

Harlequin Rasboras have the same issue that the tetras have, they are simply too small. It’s best to avoid any fish that will be much smaller than a full-grown angelfish or they will become food.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have larger cichlids, predators, and sharks. Any heavily aggressive fish will pick on the angelfish since it is now on the smaller side.

Overall you want to look for fish that are either bottom dwellers or those that are the same size and peaceful. It’s easier to keep peace in a community tank if each fish has plenty of their species. The odd man out typically will get picked on.

Angelfish have a reputation for being a little difficult. While that isn’t completely true, they have their moments, but there are a few reasons to explain this reputation.

They are one of the more popular larger fish out there, even for beginners, who might not understand the nature of fish.

For those who are used to domesticated animals that might fight, but rarely kill each other it might be a shock to the system and we blame the aggressor for their nature.

But stick to the above tips and your angelfish will be happy and you won’t have to mourn another poor baby that got snatched up.

The post Are Angelfish Aggressive With Other Fish? appeared first on Water World Craze.

You really do not have much to worry about as the causes of this behavior can be a good thing and a bad thing (even if it is a bad thing, it is not the worst-case scenario) So why do koi fishes jump?

Koi fishes jump in their pond for a number of reasons. It can be due to poor water quality, lack of oxygen, they are being chased around, or they simply just want to jump. You do not have to be alarmed when this happens occasionally as there are quick solutions that you can do.

So now that you might have calmed down a bit as you know there is not much to worry about, we should state that if this jumping behavior happens more often than it should, then there is definitely something wrong in their pond.

With that said, just keep on reading to know the different ways you can handle this situation.

Why Do Koi Fish Jump: The Reasons

Let us go right down to business so that it will be easier for you to determine the solution that you can do. Keep in mind that when you see one or two koi fishes jump in their pond, it does not necessarily mean that it is one of these causes.

Once it happens periodically wherein there are a lot of koi fishes involved, then that is the time to know that there is something wrong with their enclosure. In such a case where you see a couple of fishes jump in their pond, let us say at least once or twice every two weeks, then all is fine.

With that said, it is still best to check their pond to see if everything is A-okay just to be on the safe side. You should never leave the health of your koi fishes to chance, right?

1. Quality Of The Water

As koi fishes thrive in a natural environment, just like your outdoor pond, you might think that the water conditions will always be right and nature will find its way to correct any imbalances.

However, the truth is, you really have to get your hands dirty and see for yourself if the quality of the water is good in your pond.

First off, it is apparent that the water in your pond may contain both chlorine and chloramine. These two chemicals are toxic to your koi fishes. Even if you treat the water that you use in your pond beforehand, there will always be some trace of these chemicals.

In fact, even if there is a low concentration of these chemicals, your koi fishes will still be able to detect their toxicity by the use of their gills. Therefore, if there is a high concentration of these chemicals, they can burn your koi fishes.

In turn, they will keep on jumping in their pond in order to prevent distress. The same goes for the build-up of carbon monoxide and ammonia in the water.

These two chemicals are produced in the water due to the waste of your koi fishes as well as the everyday processes of other live organisms in the pond.

2. Lack Of Oxygen

This is one of the leading causes as to why your koi fish are trying to jump out of their pond. Of course, if there is not enough oxygen, they will try their hardest to go up the surface of the water to get some of it.

This can be caused by the build-up of chemicals in the water or faulty filtration systems.

We have already discussed the carbon monoxide and ammonia issues and what it does to your koi fishes, but now you see that it does not only affect the quality of the water, but it also hinders the proper supplementation of oxygen.

In addition, having a faulty filtration system can cause the nitrate levels in your pond to spike. Nitrate is the result of the nitrification process of the ammonia of the filter system. This chemical is still dangerous but it is slightly less toxic compared to ammonia.

However, your filtration system should be able to get rid of the nitrate. If there is too much of it, it can also lessen the oxygen in your pond. The existence of this chemical also hinders the absorption of carbon dioxide from the plants.

In turn, the plants will not effectively release oxygen, which will then further urge your koi fishes to look for a different source of oxygen.

3. Overall Health Of The Koi Fish

You should ask these questions if the two causes that we previously discussed are not the problems:

• Are your koi fish generally healthy?
• Did they suffer from a viral infection, bacterial infection, or parasites?
• Did you add new koi fishes to the pond?

Any of those three questions can explain why your koi fishes are jumping in their pond. First off, if they are healthy then everything is well. You can just blame their jumping behavior to overexcitement.

On the other hand, if you know that one or two of your koi fishes are sick and you suddenly see other fishes jumping in the pond, they are simply acknowledging the fact that one or more of their pond mates are sick.

It is interesting to note that koi fishes value their survival to a T, to even a point that they will try and evade from other koi fishes that are sick.

Lastly, if you added new koi fishes in the pond, you might notice that your koi fishes will jump in their pond. This is natural behavior as they are simply surprised by the burst in their population.

Although they cannot recognize new additions to the tank, they somehow know that that specific koi fish is not part of their “old population.”

4. Natural Behavior

Hopefully, this is the cause of your koi fish jumping dilemma as this cause is obviously harmless. When your koi fishes are chasing one another, there will be times that they will jump in the pond.

Further, if it is the mating season, they can behave in an erratic way which may cause them to jump as they bash against one another. Also, as they love to eat natural food like bugs and flies, they will occasionally jump in order to catch those insects.

More than that, they will just jump for no reason at all. So in this case, you have to be mindful that they still land in the water, as it can be dangerous if your beloved koi fish fell to the ground.

What To Do

Take a look at the different things that you can do in order to curb these jumping behaviors of your koi fishes.

Do A Water Treatment

You should do a water treatment every once in a while as you can never be sure that the water is free from chemicals. In fact, the Japanese do not experience this problem as they use mountain spring water for their koi fish ponds.

Obviously, this water is as pure and as clean as they come.

It is great if you have an ongoing supply of freshwater that trickles down to your pond as this will ensure that there is always new and clean water coming in.

Test For Ammonia And Nitrate

There are a lot of testing kits that you can purchase in the pet store and online stores to see if the levels of nitrate and ammonia are low. Of course, if you see that they are high, then that means that the level of oxygen in your pond is low. Therefore, you need to do a deep cleaning.

Check Your Filtration Systems

If you have been treating your water and making sure that the chemical levels in your pond are in check, but you keep on having problems, then there might be a problem with your filter. Make sure that the pumps are working fine and that there are no clogs.

We also recommend reading our following articles for further explanation:

Separate Ill Fishes

In such a case that you have a sick fish, be sure to separate him or her from the rest of your koi fishes. It is best to treat your sick koi fish separately in a tank so that he or she will not infect the other fishes.

More than that, the recovery of the koi fish will be faster as you are keeping a close eye on him or her.

Provide A Netting Or A Barricade

This is done in order to prevent any koi fishes from falling to the ground and hurting themselves. If they manage to jump out of their pond, at least there is something that can catch them and can immediately alert you to put them back in the water.

The post 4 Reasons Why Koi Fish Jump And What You Should Do appeared first on Water World Craze.

Female guppies attacking their male counterparts is a form of defense mechanism against their constant bullying. However, there are instances where female attacks are caused by stimuli caused by other females. There is also a physiological explanation in such a case where the female has a defect.

This attacking behavior from female guppies does not occur often, which is why when this happens, you should be on alert as it may lead to the death of not only your male guppies but also the females. If this is happening in your aquarium, then keep on reading to know what you can do!

Why Is My Female Guppy Attacking My Male Guppy: The Reasons

Before we discuss the steps you can take in order to prevent your female guppies from attacking your male guppies, let us first go over some of the reasons why this behavior is happening. The surprising thing is that not a lot of studies have been done about this as they rarely happen.

The reasons that we are going to discuss are based on theories of researchers as well as breeders who have experienced this behavior.  Definitely, these reasons are valid as they coincide with the solutions that other breeders have done.

With that in mind, this is not an exhaustive list as there are still other reasons for this behavior. So just be always on the lookout for other behavioral changes in your tank.

Survival Instinct

This is in relation to the fact that male guppies constantly chase the female guppies. Needless to say, the constant chasing of males can be detrimental to the survival of females. Female guppies end up stressed and tired.

Further, once they were successfully mated by the male, they will now carry the burden of giving birth to fry. Therefore, the female will attack the male when she feels that the chasing is being too much.

Case in point is the fact that the female can no longer eat or forage as she is always trying to evade the male. Additionally, she might not even have had a good rest due to the badgering of the male.

In turn, the female will try to fight back so as to see if this can stop the male from chasing her.

Pregnant Guppy

Pregnant guppies are usually the ones that attack the male guppies. In fact, the ratio of pregnant guppies and non-pregnant guppies that attack males is three is to one.

The biggest explanation for this is the fact that male guppies almost always chase after the pregnant guppies. This can be extremely stressful to pregnant guppies as they can no longer do the things that they used to do, plus they also have to protect the babies that they are carrying.

It is still unsure if they are just trying to protect their unborn babies, but researchers somehow conclude that it is more about them trying to survive.

Stressed pregnant guppies may get weak and eventually die, so even before this happens, they try to stop the annoying males from chasing them.

Further, there are other breeders that reported that immediately after the pregnant guppy attacks the males, she will abort the fry or give birth early. This is an indication that the attacking behavior is only brought about by too much stress.

Alienation Of Females

This is a very unique theory in such a way that it adds irony in the current “chasing behavior” of guppies. Let us break it down to the basics.

It is a fact that male guppies chase female guppies as some sort of mating behavior. The same goes for pregnant guppies that are being chased by males.

One would think that the females are so tired of the constant chasing of the males, that when they do decide to stop chasing them, the females will be relieved.

Apparently, that is not the case. There are certain instances when the female will attack the male just because she is no longer being chased. This is especially the case if one or two females are already pregnant and the males are fawning over the pregnant ones.

As peculiar as this sounds, this actually happens. The attack of the female is not about hurting the male, but it is simply a call for attention, that they should be chased too. Ironic, right?

Researchers are still looking into this, but one explanation is the fact that the females are also calling out to breed. They are not protecting the other females, rather they are signaling the males that they can be mates too.

Defect

The attack from female guppies can also be caused by physiological issues. In this case, there is something wrong with the brain of the female that leads her to attack the males for no apparent reason.

This can be brought about by birth defects or a disease that they were not able to overcome. The good thing about this is that there is still no evidence that whatever is wrong with one female guppy will be transferred to another female, except if it is caused by a birth defect.

Lacking Needs

When the attack of the females is in the form of chasing the males away from food or even nipping them during feeding time, then it is a clear indication that some of their needs are not properly met. This can be a lack of food or problems in the condition of the water.

If you missed feeding your guppies, then the females might be hungrier than usual. Further, if the conditions in the tank are not balanced, this may cause your female guppies to want more food.

So if you have a lot of females in the tank as compared to males, they will compete against the males so that the females will have more to eat. The same goes if they are competing for space.

What Can You Do?

Let us now take a look at some of the things that you can do to prevent this behavior.

Increase Feeding

If the problem stems from the lack of food, then simply try feeding your guppies more. Make sure that you do not overfeed them as some of the uneaten food will create excess waste in the tank.

We also highly recommend reading these articles:

Check The Conditions Of The Tank

If there is something wrong with the water, it is time to check its conditions. Probably, the waste and the presence of other parasites is disrupting the ecosystem in the tank.

You might need to add more water or you can temper the water conditions. It can also be a case where the females do not have enough hiding spaces, so you can add live plants and caves.

Separate Pregnant Guppies

It is best to have a breeder box once you see that you have a gravid female guppy. In this way, she will not get chased by the males and the possibility that she will fight back will be eradicated.

Moreover, the other females will not attack the males to call attention to themselves. Using a breeder box kills two birds with one stone, as both of the male and female guppies will be protected. Moreover, the fry is also protected from their cannibalistic behavior.

Change Up The Ratio Of Guppies

It is advisable to house more female guppies than males in one tank. The ideal ratio is three is to one. However, if this is causing problems, you can try adding more males in the tank.

For example, you can add another male in a tank where there are four female guppies, so you will be left with two males and four females. Just make sure that the gap between males and females is at least one and a half guppies.

Why is there a half? We are simply accounting for the size of other guppies, ie. the bigger ones.

The post Why Is My Female Guppy Attacking My Male Guppy? appeared first on Water World Craze.

One thing that many people notice is that these fish are aggressive eaters, but they may also display aggressive behavior toward each other. But angelfish are notorious for having rather violent mating rituals, too. So this might cause people to wonder: are my angelfish fighting or mating?

If you know the sex of your angelfish, it will be easier to determine. Behaviors such as locking lips and following one another are typically signs of mating. But if you notice that they’re chasing each other, nipping one another, or flicking each other with their tails, this might be signs of fighting.

It might be difficult to distinguish between whether your angelfish are mating or fighting, so we will discuss some ways that will allow you to tell the difference, as well as what typical mating and fighting behaviors are.

Angelfish Mating Behavior

It is actually a bit difficult to be able to notice whether your angelfish are male or female. This is not something that many people- including breeders- realize until their angelfish start to lay eggs.

In general, you can use these guidelines to see what the sex of your angelfish is.

Female

By nature, female angelfish are less territorial than male fish. They have a wider sexual organ, which is known as the papilla. You will be able to see the eggs that are in the papilla if you watch your fish closely throughout the day.

It is also possible for you to see the female fish lay her eggs. She and the male fish decide upon a place in the tank for the eggs to be laid, which is where she will lay the eggs in perfect, straight lines.

Male

A male fish is naturally going to be more territorial and you might also notice that it has a tiny bump on its nose. The sexual organ- the papilla- has a pointier shape and you will not be able to see it at any time other than when the male is preparing to fertilize the eggs.

Males work to fertilize the eggs that the females laid, so if you see your fish doing this, then you know that you have a male on your hands.

So if you find that you have male and female angelfish, you might notice strange behaviors that will resemble mating. Note that female angelfish find a place in the tank to lay eggs, and then they do so in perfect lines.

The male angelfish follows close behind, fertilizing these eggs as they go.

You might notice that your female angelfish’s belly has gotten larger and that she has become more aggressive. It is also possible to see that your angelfish are grooming each other and flashing their fins.

One thing that many fish owners tend to notice as well is that their angelfish will twist around while locking their mouths together. This is not anything to worry about and is completely normal behavior for these fish.

And finally, once a female and male angelfish have gotten close to one another, they will choose a spot in the tank for their mating site and begin to clean it. This is where the female will lay eggs.

Angelfish Fighting Behavior

The main reason why angelfish fight is over territory. This is especially the case if you have more than one fish of the same sex in the tank. Just like many other animals, these fish want to establish their dominance, especially among members of the opposite sex.

They do not want the other fish to “invade” their space and “steal” their mate- although angelfish do not keep the same mate for life.

If you have two angelfish that are mating, they might also become territorial for the same reason- because they do not want the other fish to invade their private space.

Here are some different behaviors that your angelfish might exhibit if they are fighting with each other.

• Hitting each other with their tails
• Chasing each other around the tank
• Nipping each other’s finds
• Staring each other down

Many owners note that their angelfish tend to get very violent. If you’re worried about the safety of your fish, you could always try to separate them. It isn’t recommended that you keep too many angelfish together in the same tank at once because of their territorial nature.

But usually, these fights are over quickly and they don’t happen too often. Be sure to monitor the behavior of your fish if you’re worried about what might happen.

But they don’t usually kill or severely maim each other; the entire purpose is to make sure that the other fish knows its place. The video below shows two males fighting.

How to Know the Difference

Again, angelfish have rather aggressive mating rituals that are similar to the way they fight. This is definitely a cause of worry among many people because you obviously don’t want your angelfish to hurt each other.

So what’s the best way to tell the difference between these behaviors? Here is some of the best advice that fish owners have given.

Monitor their behavior closely for long periods of time

It is important to make sure that you keep an eye on your fish. Even though angelfish don’t tend to severely hurt one another, it’s always a possibility and you want to make sure that doesn’t happen. And keeping an eye on the fish will let you know for sure what’s going on.

If the fish are fighting, they will tend to leave each other alone, but if they’re mating, you will typically see them together or with their eggs. Fertilized eggs are clear and unfertilized eggs are white in color.

Determine the sex of your fish

This might be a bit difficult because sometimes, even the most experienced breeders have trouble determining the sex of their fish. We mentioned in a previous section some of the ways in which you can try to tell.

This will make things easier in trying to decide whether they’re fighting or mating. Fish of the opposite sex will be mating, and fish of the same sex will fight for dominance.

We show you here how you can tell whether your angelfish is male or female, and we answer the question if angelfish are able to change gender.

Related Questions

Is it possible to keep more than one angelfish?

It is typically fine if you have more than one angelfish, and it does not matter what sex they are. The most important thing is that you make sure the tank is large enough to be able to accommodate them.

Why are my angelfish chasing one another?

Angelfish are territorial fish and they may be chasing each other away to get the other fish out of their territory. This is especially the case if the fish are of the same sex, because they want to ensure that the other fish doesn’t steal their mate and also so that their genes will get passed on.

Do angelfish have the same mate for life?

No. Every mating season, an angelfish will find the other fish it wants to mate with and it will stick with that fish for the season. But it is normal to see two different angelfish with each other during the next season. They do not have the same mate unless there is a lack of options.

The post Are Your Angelfish Mating Or Fighting? The Differences appeared first on Water World Craze.

In turn, there are many examples when a female angel turns to be a male or vice versa which can be confusing, to say the least.

But, can angelfish change gender? The short answer is no – freshwater angelfish aren’t known for changing gender. What confuses many people is that there are two types of angelfish: freshwater and saltwater. Furthermore, there are many different types of saltwater angelfish and some of them can change gender.

I know this is a short answer to an interesting subject, but it will satisfy your curiosity for now. Continue reading if you want to learn how to sex angelfish and what is the best age to distinguish males and females.

Swapping gender is a fairly common thing in the fish world, especially for saltwater species. There are cases of freshwater fish (livebearers) that can change gender, but it’s rare.

The gender-changing thing usually happens when one member of the breeding pair is lost and is more of a marine fish thing.

Freshwater angelfish seldom if ever change their gender. So chances are you won’t witness any gender-swapping in your tank any time soon.

Since female and male angels look the same until maturity, many aquarists make a mistake thinking that they have a male when in fact they have a female or vice versa.

So once a female lays eggs for the first time, gender change is the first thing that comes to mind. When in fact, your angel was always a female and you are stuck with calling her Nemo!

How To Tell The Sex Of An Angelfish?

Telling a difference between a male and female angelfish is much more complicated for novice aquarists. However, even experienced aquarists sometimes have trouble guessing the sex of their angels.

So how can you tell if you got male or female angelfish? Here are some clues that can help:

1. Look For Their Breeding Tubes

Looking at the breeding tubes (papilla) is the simplest method to determine the sex of a freshwater angelfish.

The breeding tube is found on the bottom of every angelfish, just behind the “feeler” fins on their bellies. However, these tubes are very small, so you will have to look closely to even notice them in the first place.

Note, you may have better luck if you catch your angels and place them in the smaller tank for observation.

Once you have located the tube and can observe it properly, pay attention to its size and shape. Male angelfish have pointy and narrow breeding tubes that look a lot like the tip of a sharpened pencil.

Females, on the other hand, have rounder breeding tubes that have a cylindrical shape. At some point, the female angels will lay eggs and need a wider tube to manage the entire process.

Determining the sex of your angelfish will be a lot easier if you look at two or more angelfish at the same time.

2. Check Out Their Appearance

Besides the breeding tube, there are other signs that can help you identify the gender of your angelfish. Your angel’s physical appearance can be very helpful in this regard.

Male angelfish have a high, noticeable crown on the front of their heads. This trait makes the forehead area rounder and more pronounced than in females.

They also grow faster, have fatter bodies, and forked ventral fins. And although males tend to be more robust than female angelfish, this trait might be more prominent in maturity.

On the other hand, female angelfish don’t have a bump on their foreheads and might have rounder bodies than males. Their bodies are generally smaller and their frontal fins are smoother.

Sometimes, you might be able to spot the differences in female angels when they swim towards you. From this angle, you might see that the shape of their bellies is a bit wider and bigger than in males.

Male Angelfish (Look at the “Crown”)

3. Observe Breeding Behavior

Another method that can help you sex your angelfish is observing their behavior. The best time to do it is when they are spawning.

Male angelfish are generally much more territorial and aggressive during breeding. You will probably observe an angel attacking other males and even chasing other species around the tank.

On the other hand, females only become aggressive when they have to protect the fry, but otherwise, they aren’t any more territorial than before.

You can also distinguish males and females by observing their mating rituals.

For example, male angels will fan their fins and shake them slightly in order to attract a mate. The interested female will check out the male, and if she finds him worthy, shake her fins at him in return.

Their mating behavior is actually very similar to fighting behavior. Many people have lost some of their fish because they did not know the differences. That’s why we have created the following articles- we highly recommend reading them!

Your angelfish swimming style can also offer some clues regarding their gender.

Males usually swim keeping their bodies horizontally from mouth to tail. On the other hand, females swim holding their mouths slightly higher than their tails.

Female Angelfish (No “crown” and smooth fins)

What Is The Best Age To Distinguish Male And Female Angelfish?

Before we get your hopes up, you should know that you won’t be able to tell the gender of your angelfish while they are young. At this point, all angels look pretty much the same!

The best time to spot the differences between the genders is when all of your angels are mature. At this time, their bodies are completely developed, thus making the distinguishing traits easier to observe.

Freshwater angelfish become mature when they are ready to mate. This usually happens when they are five to seven months old.

At this time their breeding tubes are also fully developed, making this an ideal time for gender identification.

However, angelfish need to have enough space and be properly taken care of in order to reach maturity. And sometimes, even with the proper care and adequate living environment, it might take a longer time for an angel to mature.

Things can be way simpler if you buy your angelfish once they are already mature. This way you don’t have to wait to tell the difference. As an added bonus, the people at the pet store will be able to tell you the gender of the angels you are going to take home.

Tips For Breeding Angelfish

Once your angels are mature, you will know their genders for sure. If it turns out that you have both males and females, you might want to breed them!

Here are a few breeding tips:

• Don’t Pick Mates: Angelfish are very picky when it comes to mating and can refuse a mate you picked for them. Thus, place several males and females together and let your angels pick their mates. This way, you will significantly increase the chances of breeding.
• Separate The Breeding Pair: Most angelfish like to be alone during mating. Thus, when you see they are ready, take them out and place them in a breeding tank. Not only will this make the angels more comfortable it will also prevent other fish from eating the fry or injuring the angels.
• Be Patient: If you want for a certain pair of angelfish to mate, be patient. This is very important since it might take a few tries and a lot of time to get the angles in the mood to mate with one another. Keep in mind that your plan might fail in the end even if you are very patient.
• Create Hiding Places: Angelfish like to have many different hiding places during breeding, so create as many as you can. Small caves and lots of plants make an ideal environment for spawning. It is best to have a breeding tank completely set up in advance so it contains everything your angels will need for successful mating.
• Optimal Water Conditions: Your angels will need exceptionally clean water for breeding. So, do the water changes regularly and ensure that the filter is in peak condition. Furthermore, keep the water temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for the breeding to happen.
• Keep The Light To A Minimum: You might want to cover the top of the tank or keep it in a low light environment during this period. Angelfish are more at ease in darker environments during breeding and the lack of light won’t affect them in any negative way.

Saltwater Angelfish That Can Change Gender

The process of gender change in saltwater angelfish is called hermaphroditism and always happens for a specific reason. This means that while they have the ability, no angel will change the gender because it simply wishes to become a female or a male.

Let’s look at some examples:

Rusty Angelfish (Centropyge Ferrugata)

The Rusty Angelfish is known for its beautiful coloration and mostly peaceful personality. Although a saltwater species, this angelfish can thrive in a well-run aquarium and coexist with other angelfish species.

To prove that these angelfish have the ability to change genders, scientists conducted an experiment with two pairs that lived together.

The smaller male that has lost the contest and become a subordinate started to perform female-specific breeding rituals. And over some time, he completely changed his gender to a female.

The transformation was so complete, that even the male-specific coloration on the dorsal fin changed into female-specific coloration.

Once the gender change was complete, this angel started mating with the dominant male, like all angelfish normally do.

Ultimately, this experiment showed that Rusty Angelfish can swap genders when the situation requires it.

Blackspot Angelfish ( Genicanthus Melanospilos)

The Blackspot Angelfish live in groups of one male and four females. The male angelfish is blue and has black stripes and all the females are yellow.

The male angelfish is the largest and strongest member of the group and acts as a protector and looks after the female angels. However, when the male dies in the line of duty, the group needs a new guardian.

When this happens, the largest and strongest female angelfish in the group starts changing its appearance. First, she starts to grow larger and after a week she starts changing color from yellow to blue.

In time, her behavior towards other females starts to change. She begins acting like a male and protecting the rest of the group.

After two weeks the female gets black stripes over her body which marks the end of change and signifies that the angel is truly a male.

Although they have the ability, the Blackspot Angelfish also go through a gender change only in specific situations.

The post Can Angelfish Change Gender? appeared first on Water World Craze.

Why Are My Guppies Staying At The Top Of The Tank?

If your guppies stay at the top of the tank, you need to act immediately, as there are various reasons why they show this behavior. Reasons include a lack of oxygen, water that is the wrong pH, wrong temperature, or contain high levels of ammonia and/or nitrites and nitrates. These can all harm or even kill your fish.

There are some steps that you can take to get the tank’s water at the correct levels for your guppies. Some of these steps are quite involved but can save your guppies’ lives. We’re going to look at how to solve all these problems one by one.

The first step you should take before starting one or more of the steps below is to test the water for:

• Oxygen
• Temperature
• pH
• Ammonia
• Nitrites/nitrates

How To Treat A Lack Of Oxygen In A Tank With Guppies

Guppies breathe oxygen which is dissolved in the water and the level of oxygen is higher closer to the surface of the tank. However, you might also notice that your guppies linger close to air stones or any bubble-producing décor that you may have in the tank.

If this is the case, there may be various reasons why there is a lack of oxygen in the water. These include:

• Overpopulation
• No air stone or device that delivers air (and therefore oxygen) to the tank water
• Lack of surface area

Let’s look at each of these in turn.

Overpopulation And Overcrowding

Even though guppies are quite small fish, you shouldn’t make the mistake of getting a tank that is too small for your fish. Rather get a tank that is too big than too small. (Otherwise your fish will start to feel like you do when stuck in an elevator full of people!)

You should have at least one gallon of water per one inch of adult fish when it comes to freshwater fish like guppies. For example, don’t go smaller than a fifteen-gallon aquarium for your guppies if you have 4 or 5 guppies.

We explain in detail how many guppies you should have in your tank and what might happen if you have too many guppies in this article – Read it here!

No Air Stone Or Device That Aerates The Water

Because your aquarium is not the same environment of moving water than the natural environment of guppies are, you need to ensure that the water is artificially moved and aerated. This is why filters, elements like air stones and even bubble producing décor is so important.

Lack Of Surface Area

When choosing which aquarium you’re going to get for your guppies, it’s important not to choose the tank simply for its volume, but for its surface area (that is to say, one where more of the water have contact with the air).

This will ensure that the tank has higher oxygen levels because there is more water surface where the oxygen can dissolve into the water.

How to Treat Water That Is The Wrong Temperature

The temperature of the water in your aquarium also has an influence on the amount of oxygen that’s dissolved in the water.

Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water does, so it’s important to keep an eye on the water temperature during summer and winter (as you also don’t want to keep your guppies in frigid water!).

You can quite easily remedy the temperature of the water by adding a fish tank heater or chiller to the aquarium to keep the water at a temperature of 75-82 F.

It’s important not to add cold or warm water to the tank to correct the temperature as you can shock your guppies with the sudden temperature change.

How To Treat Water That Has The Wrong pH In A Tank With Guppies

The ideal pH for the water in your guppies’ aquarium is 7.0-7.2. However, guppies can tolerate a pH of 5.5-8.5. Be careful not to change the pH of the water too quickly, however, as this can also shock your fish.

When you bring your fish home or switch them from one aquarium to another, you need to match the pH as closely as possible to ensure that you don’t shock the fish with a significant change in pH.

If you test the water in your aquarium and find that the pH is very wrong, you can make changes to the pH. If your water tests as 6.8, for example, you need not make any changes and only keep an eye on the pH.

How To Change The pH of the Aquarium’s Water

However, if there are big changes in the pH when you measure it every two weeks or so, you will need to find out what the source of the imbalance is. You will also need to intervene if your guppies are in distress.

The water’s pH will change when you do partial water changes (30-50% of the water) at frequent intervals. You can also vacuum the gravel and check that your biological filter is working correctly to keep acidity in check.

Commercial Products

Pet stores sell certain commercial products to change water’s pH, but it’s best to first try changing some of the water or vacuuming the gravel — especially if you are new to keeping guppies and are not used to working with the different chemicals.

How To Treat High Levels Of Ammonia and Nitrites In A Tank With Guppies

Guppies, like other fish, can get poisoned by high levels of ammonia and nitrites. If you test your aquarium’s water and find that there are high levels of ammonia and nitrites in the water, you will also need to make certain changes to lower these levels.

Ammonia Poisoning

High levels of ammonia can actually burn the fish and can cause their gills to swell. When this happens, they will swim to the surface of the water and look as if they are gasping for air.

Red spots can also appear on your guppy’s body – this is actually blood and shows that you need to act very quickly so as not to lose your fish.

Adding Fish To The Aquarium

Ammonia levels can rise quite suddenly if you add more fish (guppies or their tank mates) to the aquarium.

When you do plan on adding more fish to the aquarium, it’s imperative that you make sure that you not only acclimatize the new fish to the water temperature, etc. but also don’t add a bunch of ammonia or nitrites to the water when you add them.

It’s therefore very important to test the water in your aquarium before and after adding fish.

A New Aquarium

If it’s a new aquarium, you will also need to “cycle” the tank before adding the fish. This is to ensure that the bacteria that is necessary for the nitrogen cycle is present in the levels they should be and that the ammonia levels and pH of the water is at the correct levels for your guppies.

Lowering The Levels Of Ammonia In The Tank’s Water

In order to lower the tank’s ammonia levels, you will need to change some of the water in the tank, replacing it with de-chlorinated water that contains no ammonia. This will ensure that you lower the water without hurting your fish.

Depending on the ammonia levels, you will need to change up to 75% of the water (in acute circumstances when your guppies are in obvious distress or is showing signs of poisoning), although usually changing 30-50% of the water should do the trick.

Be sure to test the water consistently to ensure that the levels of ammonia and nitrates/nitrites even out and stay consistent and at the right levels.

Making Sure That Your Guppies Aren’t Sick

Finally, if you see that, after testing the tank’s water and correcting the different levels, your guppies’ behavior doesn’t return to normal — which can take a few hours — you will need to figure out if they may be sick.

These are different signs of distress or illness that you can look out for:

• Still gasping at the air or swimming at the top of the tank (can be a sign of swollen gills)
• Keeping their fins close to their bodies, not moving them as they usually do
• Seeming to float at the top of the tank (but still breathing, even gasping, with a distended body, your fish could be suffering from dropsy. Dropsy can be prevented to a large extent by keeping the aquariums water at the correct levels and by feeding your guppies quality food
• White spots on their body (called Ich)
• “Yellow dust” on their body (called Velvet)
• Fins that look torn (caused by fungus)

As you can see, there are a lot of different reasons why your guppies may be staying at the top of the tank, however, by educating yourself as much as possible, you can ensure that your guppies stay happy and healthy.

The post Why Your Guppies Are Staying At The Top Of The Tank appeared first on Water World Craze.

But some people might have noticed that their goldfish are starting to hide all of a sudden, which naturally is something to worry about. Why are your goldfish doing this?

There are many different reasons why your goldfish might have started hiding, including the behaviors of the other fish, changes in their environment, poor tank conditions, and even illness. It is important to monitor your fish’s behavior for some time to get a better picture.

Some fish might just be more skittish than others, which is fine. But in this article, we will provide you with some reasons as to why your goldfish are hiding, what to look out for, and what you can do to make your fish feel more comfortable.

Reasons Why Your Goldfish Are Hiding

Once again, there is a multitude of different reasons why your goldfish have started to hide suddenly. Here are some of the most common reasons.

1. You just purchased the fish

Any new animal is bound to feel a little bit stressed when they enter a new home, which is completely normal. If you got your fish from the pet store, it might just feel uncomfortable in its new and unusual environment.

You might even notice that some of your other fish have started to hide if you introduce a new fish to the tank because they aren’t sure yet of what to make of the situation. All you need to do in this case is wait a few days. Your fish will quickly get used to each other’s presence.

2. The fish is feeling lonely

Goldfish and many other species are used to being around many other fish at once. If you only have one or two fish, your fish could simply be hiding because they’re feeling lonely and thus, less protected.

Isolation can cause your fish to feel scared and threatened because they aren’t being protected by the presence of all the other fish. If this is the case, perhaps consider getting more goldfish or similar species so everyone feels comfortable and less vulnerable.

Do fish even have feelings?

Yes! While we mostly thought of fish as being incapable of having feelings, this isn’t actually the case. According to several scientific studies, fish have the ability to feel pain, stress, and different emotions. They also have intelligence and the need to socialize.

Goldfish can even recognize their owners! We show you how you can get your goldfish to recognize you here!

3. On the other hand, there are too many fish in the tank

With that being said, having too many fish in the same tank could cause issues, too. Goldfish aren’t particularly territorial or aggressive, but overcrowding can really cause changes in the overall behavior of your fish.

It may start to hide so that the other fish don’t pay attention to it or see it. If this is the case, you can either purchase a new and larger tank, or take some of the fish out of this tank and put them in another tank of the appropriate size.

4. The other fish are bullying your Goldfish

Once again, goldfish aren’t an aggressive species nor are they territorial, so it’s not likely that other goldfish are tormenting your fish. However, if you have your goldfish living with other fish species, it’s possible that those species are causing your goldfish some trouble.

This could especially be the case if you have another species that is known for being rather aggressive, such as cichlids and betta fish. Your goldfish is hiding so that it can avoid a confrontation with the more aggressive tank mate.

If this is the case, then there are several things you can do. For one, you can get separate tanks and keep the fish separate. Or, you can simply rearrange everything in the tank to give all of the fish some more space to cohabitate.

5. You don’t have enough plants and decor in the tank

One of the most important things you can do when getting a fish tank is making sure that it has all the proper decor. Most pet stores will encourage you to get some sort of toys, plants, and other decors so your fish will have something to play with.

Fish love to exercise and feel like they’re safe. If you have too much open space in your tank, your goldfish will naturally start to feel vulnerable. They want to have somewhere that they can retreat for safety, but if there’s a lack of decor, then your fish are naturally going to hide.

Including some safety retreats will give your fish the confidence to swim out in the open.

6. There have been changes in the tank’s conditions

The water conditions are extremely critical when it comes to the health and behavior of your fish, no matter what species it is.

If you have suddenly changed all the water in the tank, if the temperature has fluctuated, if the pH is off, chemical changes, filter problems, or anything of the sort, this will surely cause your fish to act strangely and want to hide.

Make sure that you test the water regularly and avoid making drastic changes all at once. Clean the tank on a regular basis, too, to make sure that your fish aren’t swimming in their own waste.

If something is off and you go to fix it, you will notice that your goldfish will start to gain confidence and swim out in the open again.

Another behavior that your fish might display if this is the case is frantic swimming. Your fish could simply be exercising, but frantic swimming could also be a sign of stress.

The most common culprit for this is a decrease in water quality. You will want to check the ammonia, nitrate, and temperature levels.

7. Your fish is/are sick

Another reason why your goldfish might be hiding is that your fish is feeling ill. That’s usually not a good sign, especially not for the other fish. You might want to check the tank conditions to see if any changes or imbalances have caused your fish to get sick.

Poor water conditions can definitely be the main cause. It is indeed possible to heal a sick fish, but you will want to make sure that this is the case first. Examine the hidden fish regularly, especially when you go to feed the others.

Its eating habits can give you a clue as to what’s going on. And, of course, you also want to prevent the other fish from getting sick, too.

8. Your fish is/are feeling threatened by something

And of course, goldfish generally hide because they are feeling threatened. It could be something as simple as you or your family members making sudden movements, or it could be because people are tapping on the tank.

Fish will generally retreat and hide in a corner where they are not feeling so vulnerable. Encourage those around you to stop tormenting the fish. If the problem comes from within the tank, you will want to examine the situation first.

What You Can Do

We have listed many solutions as far as what you can do to make sure that your fish is feeling confident.

The most common reason why fish of any species might start to act strangely is due to abnormal changes in the water, especially when it comes to the amount of ammonia or waste there is. You will want to check on this regularly. Some fish are simply timider than others.

One of the best things you can do is to make sure that there are enough hiding spaces. While this might sound counterproductive, your fish will know that there are places they can always hide in a hurry, which will give the confidence to come out of their comfort zone and explore.

You don’t want to tap on the glass and make sure that anyone else you’re living with doesn’t try to scare the fish too much.

If you find that your fish are stressed, it is indeed possible for them to recover.

Depending on what the culprit is, making sure that the water and food are of the highest quality, that you help your fish acclimate to their new environment properly, and that you have a good tank can help your fish recover.

Otherwise, be sure to monitor everything that’s going on in the tank to see what you can do about a fish that has started hiding suddenly.

Making sure that your goldfish feel as comfortable and safe is the best thing you can do for them as their owner. Be sure to monitor their behavior, as well as the activities that are taking place in the tank, the water conditions, and more to be sure that everything is going smoothly.

These are the most common reasons why your fish might be acting strangely, including hiding. As long as you keep an eye on your fish and make sure that everything is working as it should, you and your fish should not experience any problems.

The post 8 Reasons Why Your Goldfish Are Hiding All Of A Sudden appeared first on Water World Craze.

But is this something you should actually be concerned about?

The answer is no. Their teeth are too far down their throats to actually bite you. The most they will do is mistake your fingers for food and grasp onto them- but will quickly let go. However, koi fish could bite each other during the mating season, so you should keep an eye on them.

In all, biting is not an issue you should worry about. But, we will give you some information about your koi ‘biting’ you and about them potentially biting the other fish.

When Your Koi Fish Bite You

If you don’t know too much about koi fish, the first thing you must know is that these pets are loyal to their owners. They have the ability to recognize and distinguish the person who feeds them.

They’re one of the few fish that will actually enjoy being fed by hand, so when you approach the koi pond or tank, it’s not unusual for your fish to come up and snatch their food from your hand in a similar way that another animal might.

Frequently Asked Questions Related To Biting

Do koi fish have teeth?

Most people tend to believe that koi fish don’t have teeth, but that actually isn’t the case. Koi fish, in reality, have a lot of teeth. With that being said, however, their teeth are far down their throat.

This makes it virtually impossible for a koi fish to actually chomp down on your fingers. These teeth are used to chew up their food. A koi fish will grab its food through its mouth and chew the food up in its throat.

So, even if your entire finger were to end up in a koi’s mouth, it would not be able to bite you with its teeth. You may also notice that there are some teeth floating around in the water that look relatively similar to human molars.

Koi fish tend to lose their teeth on a regular basis, but then their teeth grow back again quickly.

Should I worry about my koi fish biting my finger?

Once again, koi fish are loyal to their owners and will frequently begin to associate them with feeding time. It’s likely that this was the case and your fish simply got caught up in the moment and mistook your finger for food.

It might seem like your fish actually bit you because of how powerful their mouths are. This is naturally bound to startle you the first time it happens. Koi fish are known for having large and muscular mouths, but this isn’t something to be afraid of.

Again, a koi fish’s teeth are in the back of its throat, so it’s impossible for the fish to actually bite you. Even if you were to completely extend your finger, it wouldn’t be likely that you could actually reach the spot where their teeth are.

They have a powerful grip with their mouths, but this won’t be painful and it should never have the ability to draw blood. Once your fish realize that your finger isn’t a part of their meal, they will quickly let go!

They taste all their food before swallowing it, and, of course, we can’t imagine that our fingers would make for a tasty snack. So, you shouldn’t worry about this whatsoever. The video below shows what we mean.

Are koi fish dangerous to humans?

Once again, the answer is no. There is no need to worry about any potential aggression that a koi fish might show towards a human.

And as far as diseases and illnesses go, koi fish and humans come from very different species and it is not possible for a koi fish to pass disease or parasites on to a human.

Do koi fish like to be pet?

Koi are friendly fish and they even have the ability to recognize their owner. Thus, it is not unlikely or unheard of for koi fish to swim to the surface of the tank when they see their owners approach for a light petting or a pat on the head.

Are koi fish intelligent?

Yes! Koi fish are among the most intelligent fish species. They are known for having great memories and the ability to recognize their owners. In addition, they are loyal to their owners and have very unique personalities.

In this article, we show you how smart koi fish actually are and 3 tricks you can teach them!

Will Koi Fish Bite Other Fish?

Once again, koi are on the more docile side. But that doesn’t mean that it will never bite the other fish in your tank.

The most common reason why this will occur is that it is their mating season. When koi fish breed, the male fish will start to torment its female counterpart in an attempt to get her to mate with him.

This results in the male fish biting and nipping the female fish. However, you typically will not see koi fish biting each other outside of their mating season. They tend to live together in harmony and don’t express any sort of aggression towards one another.

According to one study that examined aggression in koi fish, the most common type that they display towards one another is chasing, whereas the least common is biting. So it doesn’t seem like this should be a major concern.

If you have small fish in the tank or pond, however, this could prove to be a little dangerous. You will want to make sure that you have done proper research on what species of fish can live with koi fish and which ones can’t.

For example, fancy goldfish should not be placed in the same tank as koi fish. It is very common to see koi fish displaying aggression and biting behaviors towards this species of fish and other smaller species.

Even though koi fish do not have teeth in the front of their mouths, they do have powerful muscles. While this might not be painful to you- it simply feels like they’re sucking on your finger- it is easy to imagine the kind of pressure this has the potential to put on a much smaller fish.

Asserting dominance

One behavior that your koi fish might exhibit toward the other fish, however, is dominance. There are some koi that have a more dominating personality than others. They want to be in charge and they want to show the smaller fish in the tank who’s boss.

So, some people noticed that their koi fish would chase around the smaller fish, nip their tails and fins, and other behaviors in order to assert their dominance. This is not terribly common, however, so the chances of this happening in your tank or pond aren’t necessarily high.

Can Koi Fish Eat Other Fish?

This is another common question that gets asked rather frequently by people who are thinking about purchasing koi fish. In all, koi fish are not a dangerous species and they don’t particularly go out of their way to torment other fish.

You are not going to notice your koi fish actively hunting down other fish and causing them terror.

With that being said, a hungry koi fish will generally try to eat anything small that comes in its path. This includes fish eggs, tadpoles, snails, and other similar creatures.

They also love to eat insects. But it’s rather unlikely that a koi fish will try to eat a small fish, and they definitely aren’t going to eat any of the larger fish you have in the tank.

The only things you should be aware of are making sure that you don’t place your koi fish with another species that it is incompatible with and understanding that koi fish might nip at other fish.

Many people like to keep their koi fish with minnows in a pond. We explain here what you should know about that!

What are some other species that can live with koi?

While koi tend to be rather calm for fish, there are some species that are better suited for being placed in the same tank or pond than others. Some of these include larger goldfish, sturgeons, barbel, barbs, and catfish. You can also place small koi with large koi.

We have created an article here to show you what fish can live with koi fish in a tank. Read it here!

Conclusion

In all, a koi fish’s bite is not something that you need to worry about. It’s possible that the fish will lightly suck on your finger because it mistook your finger for food, but once it realizes the mistake, it will quickly let go.

A koi fish’s teeth are in the back of its throat, so it isn’t going to bite you anyways. It may prove to be an issue for the other fish in the tank, especially if they come from smaller species because koi fish want to be able to assert their dominance.

With that being said, a koi fish won’t eat or kill another fish. So, you can safely include koi fish in your home pond or tank.

The post Do Koi Fish Bite? Do They Bite Humans? Other Fish? appeared first on Water World Craze.

They are active and social but sometimes have strange behaviors. One common bizarre guppy action is hanging around the filter. If your guppies spend too much time by the filter, you may question if this is normal behavior.

Why are my guppies hanging around the filter? There is a long list of reasons as to why your guppies spend an excessive amount of time around the filter. It can be related to your guppies’ environment, health, or social standings among other fish. Unfortunately, to pinpoint the reason, you’ll have to spend some time observing your aquarium.

The good news? There’s always a way to fix it.

But before you can fix this odd filter behavior, you need to know what you’re looking for. Continue reading below to get all the helpful information you need.

1. Your tank has poor water quality

If all of your guppies seem to be spending all their time around the filter, your water quality may be to blame. A filter is necessary for cleaning the water in your tank. It sucks up debris and rids the water of toxic ammonia.

Also, filters help add oxygen to the water, helping your guppies breathe.

If you have poor water quality in the tank, guppies will flock to the filter. This is because they are trying to get as close to the best quality water as they can. If the water quality has been substandard for an extended period, your fish may be hiding by the filter because they are sick.

An excess of ammonia can poison your guppies.

If water quality is the issue, do a major water change of at least 50% with dechlorinated water. Also, get rid of as much debris as you can. Guppy waste and old food quickly rots and turns into ammonia. Use a vacuum to suck up the debris.

Staying on top of water quality is important, and easy to do if checked frequently. Purchase an ammonia test kit to ensure your water quality is fine.

2. Your pump is too strong

Current flow in an aquarium is important to maintaining a stable environment. It’s important to have a good quality pump, but not one that is too powerful. An excessively strong pump causes an excessively strong current in the tank.

This means your guppies will struggle to swim and might be blown around the tank by the strong flow.

If this is the case, guppies usually gather by the filter. The areas surrounding the filter are often a dead spot. The water is much calmer and easier for your guppies to inhabit. It gives them an area to rest.

It’s easy to spot this issue. Most guppies will take refuge by the filter. The ones swimming freely will appear to struggle or be blown around. If this is your issue, correct it as soon as possible by providing an appropriate filter.

Guppies living in a strong current quickly become stressed and can die.

3. Your guppy is pregnant

If you notice one of your female guppies hanging out alone by the filter, it may be pregnant. Guppies about to give birth like to hide by the filter because it has a lot of coverage. It offers a safe space to have her babies.. It is vital to have a safe spot since other guppies eat the newborn fry.

Not sure if your filter loving guppy is pregnant? It’s easy to tell from a little observation. The biggest indicator is locating a dark patch on your guppy’s stomach near her tail.

This spot becomes darker and more swollen as the pregnancy progresses. Additionally, pregnant guppies can have a change in appetite, fading colors, and a change in behavior.

If your guppy is pregnant, it is best to isolate her until she has her fry. This prevents the vulnerable mother and babies from getting harassed by other fish.

After she gives birth, you should move her to another separate area to recover for a day or two. We created a complete article on isolating the pregnant guppy here.

Keep the fry separate. Mother fish are also guilty of eating their babies in some cases. We explain more about guppies that eat their babies in this article!

4. Your guppy is hiding

Have you ever had a day where you want to hide from the world in a safe space? That feeling is not unique to humans. Like most living creatures, guppies also like to have a hiding spot. If there aren’t many hiding spots available, the filter is the go-to spot.

Guppies hiding for a short time is normal. Often, a hiding guppy wants some time away from the other fish. However, guppies tend to hide for long periods if they are stressed. This can be caused by a bully fish or an aquarium in a high traffic area.

Additionally, guppies placed in an unfamiliar environment tend to take cover. A new home can be both scary and stressful. Your new guppy may want to hide until it feels safe.

As previously mentioned, if there’s nowhere to hide, guppies gravitate towards the filter for cover. It’s essential to have lots of hiding spots for your fish.

Plants, rocks, and ceramic decorations make great options. It not only gives your fish a place to hide but makes your tank more beautiful.

5. You have a bully in your aquarium

It may surprise you to learn that each guppy has its own unique personality. It can run the spectrum from shy to aggressive. Some of those aggressive guppies take it the extra mile- they act like real bullies. How rude.

Similarly to those cliche school bullies stealing lunch money, they prey on the small and weak. But unlike the movies, the bullied guppies probably won’t have some big, underdog triumph over its aggressor. They are going to hide somewhere secluded and safe, like by the filter.

It can be difficult to determine the reason for bullying, but there are some steps you can take to help mellow out your bully guppies and protect your bullied guppies. First, it helps to determine the gender ratio in your tank.

If you have way more males than females, it can be the root cause of bullying.

A shortage of females means that male fish have to compete more intensely to win over a female. Fish often do this by asserting dominance over other males, sending scared males into hiding. Balance out the equation by adding more female guppies to your tank.

If evening out the gender ratio doesn’t help, you can put your bully in “time out”. It may seem silly, but many fish owners claim that segregation successfully leads to a permanent attitude adjustment. Catch your bully fish and leave it in a breeder’s net alone for 24 hours.

Wrap Up

There are a variety of reasons that can cause your guppies to hang out around the filter. Whatever the cause may be, it’s important to take notice and understand why your guppy is displaying this behavior.

Despite the reason, take action to get your guppy out of hiding. They are at their best when swimming happily around the tank, and it’s best for us- we get to see more of their natural beauty.

The post 5 Reasons Why Your Guppies Hanging Around The Filter appeared first on Water World Craze.