I have 4 gold fish sitting at the bottom of the tank but are not dead.?

Question

I have a 55 gallon aquarium with 6 gold fish, 4 of some other type of aquarium fish that are gray in color and 2 sucker fish (that clean the glass). I've had all these fish for around 8 - 9 months.  
Yesterday they were all doing fine and swimming around like normal, then at about 9pm I walked by the tank and saw 4 of the fish on the bottom of the tank side by side as if they went there on purpose. They were sitting right side up and breathing as if just taking a break.
The four gray aquarium fish were hovering above them as if guarding them.  The 4 fish were swimming like a school and moving in sync with each other.  The tank is pretty big and they just stayed nearby these 'sitting fish'.  This morning when I woke up I checked on them and 2 of them are swimming around normally.  The other two still sitting on the bottom but in a different location. The gray fish swimming around normally. I passed by them again a few hours later and the 1st two back on the bottom and the other two swimming around.  The gray fish acting normal. Just now (4 hours later) all four gold fish back sitting on the bottom, but together and behind a big rock.  I have 2 other gold fish that are not acting this way.
Any ideas why they are acting this way?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

You are mixing Tropical by the sounds of it and cold water fish and your very over stocked.
Your problem is your water parameters

branum · Answer

There are small nets you are able to purchase that you mount to the great of your fish tank. The babys can nevertheless swim freely this may shop the bigger fish away. you want to purchase a stress coat on your fish. Your community fish shop will understand what you're speaking about. make constructive the mum is ingesting nicely too. the internet is the significant ingredient you want to purchase for the babys.

Kylie Anne · Answer

your tank is majorly overstocked... it may not look it, however goldfish get huge and are EXTREMELY dirty. not even knowing what type of fish the others are means it could be really really over stocked. assuming the goldfish are fancy goldfish (smaller type than commons actually) they alone would need a 70gallon tank with heavy filtration. 

anyway... do you perform water changes? if so how often and how much water do you change? 
have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate?

Maureen · Answer

Do you have a heater in your tank? My fish where acting the same way till I got a heater. It could be the waters too cold. They're cold blooded animals so the warmer the water the more active.

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I have 4 gold fish sitting at the bottom of the tank but are not dead.?

4 Answers