It is natural that some pet parents notice their fish being asleep and think they are sick since these creatures sleep with their eyes open!At the same time, isn’t it important to know whether your marine friend is OK? It definitely is!Betta fish are particularly famous since they are adorable and reasonably hardy. However, they do have some funky habits that cause pet parents some level of anxiety. Since betta fish, like many other marine animals, do not have eyelids, they seem to be sleeping with their eyes open. Hence, it becomes very problematic to understand what is acceptable and what is not.While it could just as well be from boredom, betta often also sleep on their sides purely because it is second nature to them. Read ahead to understand when to sound caution and when to leave your pet alone for a little nap-time! You should also be aware that not more than one male betta can be kept in a single tank. Bettas come up to the surface for a quick dip or a bite of food. The health and growth of betta fish are also dependent on the food that you feed them.If you enjoy this article, why not also check out how long can a fish live out of water and how long can fish go without food?When do betta fish sleep?Like humans, even fish require some rest after the entire day of swimming around the aquarium. However, since human beings are not well versed with the idea of fish sleeping during the daytime or even at night, they are often baffled at the sight of a betta fish sleeping in their domestic aquarium.Some owners are also alarmed by the fact that when betta fish sleep, they end up either almost floating at the surface of the water, or they nap by laying at the bottom of the aquarium. Seeing a betta fish laying at the bottom of the tank while it is absolutely motionless often gives pet parents a scare since their first assumption is that their dearest pet may have been dead. Although, this is not the case. Since a betta’s sleep cycle is not the same as humans, it takes a nap or two during the daytime and at night. This allows the fish to maintain its health and in showing normal behavior when it is up again!At the same time, it is understandable that pet owners should be so anxious about their betta fish lying at the bottom - either on their stomach or on their sides - since they assume that the animal may be sick or even dead. Resting is an essential part of any animal’s life cycle, and hence, it is no surprise that even betta fish would do so. However, caution is raised often when the creature sleeps on its side and refuses to budge even after a lot of tapping on the aquarium walls.If you do notice something that may seem a little out of place for you, and if you feel like the behavior is not normal, feel free to seek help or maybe isolate the fish. In most cases, it is a good idea to wait for a couple of hours and see if the fish is resting. Once the fish is awake and active again, you may heave a sigh of relief and go on with your day. Similarly, there are a few signs that can help you in identifying if your betta is fine. If you suspect that your fish is asleep but still want to make sure, watch the mouth of the creature and see if it is moving. If the gills and mouth of the creature seem to be moving, be assured that your pet is fine.How long do betta fish sleep per day?Unless you have been obsessed with watching your sleeping betta fish and cannot take your eyes off the creature, there would hardly be anyone who can predict the exact number of hours that bettas sleep for. This is also because the sleeping routine of betta fish always changes in accordance with the lights in their aquarium, the functioning of the heater, sufficient darkness during the naps and the overall health of the betta fish. At the same time, bettas also take more frequent naps when they are bored, and hence, it could even be during the day that they end up needing some distraction or a method to just pass time.The first thing to accept in such situations is that betta fish are completely different creatures as compared to human beings, and can hardly function in the same fashion. As you may have noticed, these fish spend their entire day swimming or looking for food. Hence, wanting some rest after an active day is not unreasonable at all!While there is no relevant research that can tell us the exact number of hours for which a betta fish sleeps on a daily basis, it is assumed that they can sleep for around 12 hours if there is sufficient darkness in the aquarium. These creatures also tend to be sleeping more if they find a cozy hiding spot among the plants at the bottom of the aquarium, or if they happen to have a leaf that they like the most and use as a pillow!Do betta fish stop moving when they sleep?One of the main factors that contribute to the anxiety that pet parents feel for their betta fish is the fact that these creatures lay completely motionless when they are asleep.Since betta fish are so tiny, it becomes next to impossible for any pet parent to know if the fish is healthy or if there might be an issue that requires looking into. Fish use this technique of slowing their body down to a state where the body is completely motionless. This allows them to be able to relieve stress and be lazy around the tanks that they inhabit. Hence, this scary habit is nothing but a rather clever tactic that is used by fish so that they wake up feeling fresh and energized for the next swim around their home! The most important thing to understand here would be that as long as the animal is active when awake and has been showing healthy behavior patterns, there is nothing wrong with short naps. In fact, they are completely normal!How To Tell If A Fish Is SleepingBettas nap during the day if they are bored. They would stop all movement while sleeping and sleep on leaves or rocks at the bottom of the tank.If you have been noticing that your betta fish has been lying near the plants all day and hasn’t been moving, instead of tapping the aquarium and trying to awaken the fish, the best idea would be to look closely and observe the gills and mouth of the creature. If the betta fish seems to be breathing, chances are that it is only taking a lazy afternoon nap!On the other hand, some betta fish enthusiasts also suggest that the color of the betta fish changes to a more pale shade of blue or red when it is asleep. However, there is no data that would back this assumption or theory. We do know that the color of a betta’s body and fins changes during the spawning season, and hence, the chances of this theory being true cannot be totally negated either.Do bettas need darkness to sleep?Bettas sleep well only when the water temperature is right and the lights have been turned off. Betta fish cannot sleep with the lights on, and hence, they often suffer when lights are not turned off for the night.In order to allow your betta fish the time to sleep, turn down the lights at night. It is also useful to not use a heavy-duty light source in the tank since that often causes stress and could hinder the betta’s sleep. Turning off the lights at night time will ensure that your pet gets around 12 hours of sleep after an active day in the tank!If the betta fish is not given a dark space to live in, you will begin to notice that it starts to look sick and bored. This can negatively affect your pet’s health and well-being. Hence, building a sleep schedule for your marine pets that would include a night-time routine, as well as accommodate the naps that the betta fish might want to take is absolutely essential!Since there is no normal time span for which a betta fish should sleep, it also becomes exceedingly impossible to predict or tell if your pet has been sleeping for too long. One of the tell-tale signs that everything is fine is that your pet should be active and energetic in the tank during the day. If the temperature is maintained and if there is a plant or two near which your friend could be floating or napping, it is only natural that the animal would make use of all the luxuries for resting and rejuvenation. Although, if you do notice that your pet has been hiding behind or near the heater and has been seeking light, it could be a sign that the water is too cold or that the filter hasn’t been functioning properly. If a sign or two does show up, make sure to check the water for any temperature-related trouble so that the creature is saved from a temperature shock. If the water temperature is too low in the tank, betta fish often go into a state of temperature shock. In such cases, the temperature should be increased gradually and not in one go.Do betta fish sleep on their sides?The sight of a sleeping betta fish can often be alarming since bettas sleep on their sides and mimic being dead!Yes, bettas do rest on their sides much like humans do, but since such behavior is only shown by a couple of marine creatures, pet owners are often scared for the health of their fish. This fashion of taking rest is normal for bettas and isn’t a bad sign that you should be looking out for.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do betta fish sleep then why not take a look at how long can goldfish live or pumpkin sunfish facts.
It is natural that some pet parents notice their fish being asleep and think they are sick since these creatures sleep with their eyes open!
