Do Betta Fish Sleep?
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Yes, they do sleep. All living animals must sleep to survive. Many Fish will slow down, float or hover in one spot. But Bettas seem to lounge. Many of them will lay down in a “L-Shaped” position (head up, body to the side). Some will look like they are dead. And others will just stay at the top of the water.
Marine Fish, sleep in the day and hunt at night. Their nocturnal predators instinct takes over. But Tropical Fish, tend to be on the same sleep cycle as humans. Sleeping at night. They move around more rapidly in the daylight and slow down considerably at night.
Note: You can actually see a Betta yawn at night. They open their mouth and make the same yawning motions as you would.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Thanks for posting this information. I just got my fish yesterday and went to go check on him at night and saw him floating at the top of his fish bowl. I thought he had died, but i tapped the glass and he began to swim. Not knowing fish sleep, I thought he was sick or something.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Can fish yawn? I have two girl fish and they seem to get along they dont bang their heads aginst the glass they lay bext to eachother (between the glass) and just act normal does this mean that if i removed the divider they would be alright? Like, not kill eachother?
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I thought my Betta Fish was dead so i got the fish net and tapped him he swam away! I was relieved! But know i now he was sleeping. I feel bad for waking him up because I now that I dont like to be woken up when I’m sleeping.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
My little Maxi has stopped at the bottom of the tank and not moved for a while, so yea I think they do sleep.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:09 am
I was panicking over and over because my betta got ich and I was medicating him with malachite green. I thought he was allergic to it or something b/c i would constantly find him burying his head in the stone and lying there. Even when I tapped the tank he wouldn’t budge. He did this probably 5 times today. The first time I thought he was dead so I tried to get him in the net but he freaked out, much like I do when I get woken up, and started swimming around normally again. Good to know he’s just sleeping. I hope I get rid of this ich, I seriously just got him.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Wow i knew betta fish sleep but i didn’t know they yawn!!!!!thats so interesting!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I am very sure that fish can yawn.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
this fish looks exactly like mine!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I got a my fish a month ago and everything was great until it started burying his head under his stones. i was so nerous because ithought he was sick. Thank You So Much for the information. Now I can relax and look out for his yawing.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Thanxs so much! I though my poor fish was dead! He would go to the top of the tank and start to turn on his side when I tapped the glass he would start swimming again. Now it’s great to know that he was just sleeping!!!!!!! : )
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June 21st, 2008 at 3:07 am
I was making fun of my wife when she told me that our Betta (aka son) was sleeping. She called me out of the bathroom one day and to my surprise, I saw the fish sleeping. Not only did I become a believer, I also wondered if they drink water.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
my fish sleeps with its eyes open
July 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
now its sleepping with its eyes closed
July 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I Love Bubbles and Klaus (there names)
Mine are always so hyper then at night they either float at the top or at the side of the tank or watch movies with me