Please Help, Can Fish Sleep??

Question

My Leapord Printed Bottom Feeder

Is Laying On His Side At The Bottom Of The Fish Tank

Is This Normal...Or Is He Dead??

My Mom Said He Was Sleeping And That Fish Could Sleep

Cause He Isn't Floating To The Top

Help??

Answer 1

Yes Fish do sleep. It's not the kind of settling down to a film with a cup of cocoa kind of sleep, its a relaxation technique used by fish. Obviously fish can't close their eyes becuase they have no eyelids, but they rest like humans do and they sleep like most other types of animal. You can test if a fish is sleeping by watching it for a period of time; usually about 2-5 minutes. If the fish moves slowly, or is motionless it means that the fish is asleep. If the fish is motionless at the top of the water, the fish my be deceased.