Fish always seem awake! Do they even sleep? And how do fish sleep? That's what you'll learn in this article, because... they just sleep differently than you think.
Fish don't sleep with their eyes closed, but with half of their brain going to sleep. Motor functions remain active, but the fish becomes somewhat sluggish. Any small shock or light can startle the fish awake. The fish swim lower and more calmly when they go to sleep.
This is how fish sleep
Fish sleep by leaving a part of their brain dormant. They don't close their eyes but are in standby mode. This is how the fish rest.
They'll breathe and swim more slowly. Their entire functioning slows down when they're asleep. They might also just swim slowly, jerking, and change color. A fish will almost never fall asleep on the bottom like a dolphin. Certain frog species can fall asleep, usually during the day.
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How long and when do fish sleep?
Most fish sleep at night. They then go into standby mode. They do this as long as it's dark, though they can be awakened by certain bumps or jolts. Some fish species, like the betta, take several power naps during the day. They rest on a large piece of leaf or decoration.
What not to do when your fish are sleeping?
When your fish are in standby mode (sleeping), you absolutely mustn't suddenly turn on the light or bang on the glass. This will often wake the fish, who are stressed. It's best to maintain and rearrange the aquarium even when the light is on. Do your fish get frightened by the light coming on? To prevent this, you can buy special dimmer bulbs. These bulbs turn on and off gradually, so they won't suddenly startle your aquarium fish.
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It's way too late for me now, so I'm wrapping up this article! Thanks for reading, and I'm going to sleep now too...
