do fish ever sleep?

Answer 1

I think this is a great question!

One of my ADF frogs "sleeps" on his back. It scared the daylights out of me the first time I saw this too, lol.

Question: Is it true that fish do not sleep?
Tom M Dechand
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99047.htm

Answer: Most all fish spend time in an energy-saving state that can be called rest", and we might even call their behavior "sleep", though it is probably different than "sleep" in most land animals. Many fish, like Bass and perch, rest on or under logs at night. Coral reef fish active in the day, hide and rest in crevices and cracks in the reef to avoid being eaten at night.
The resting behavior of fish is very different from their behavior the rest of the day. Many minnows, for example, which are very active in schools during the day, scatter and remain motionless in shallow water at night. Many fish "rest" or "sleep" during the day and are active at night instead, but almost all fish sleep.
There are some animals that never stop swimming, like many species of shark, however, they HAVE to keep moving to push water through their mouths in order to breathe, and they may still sleep while moving, we just don't know yet. Write in again soon!
Tom F Ihde

ANOTHER WEBSITE SAYS:

Sleep means different things to different forms of animal life. The Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary sums it up pretty well: A period of rest during which volition and consciousness are in partial or complete abeyance and the bodily functions partially suspended; a behavioral state marked by characteristic immobile posture and diminished but readily reversible sensitivity to external stimuli.

Most animals have some daily pattern of rest and activity, and in many species these daily cycles are similar to people running around during the day then lying down at night and doing nothing or sleeping. It is believed that fish are no different, although it is a controversial subject. Some fish keep very still, experiencing a quiet period (quiescence) that you might call sleep. Scuba divers often handle reef fish in the middle of the night without startling them and can even lift some species out of the water before they awaken. Tropical freshwater fish in home aquaria appear to be resting immediately after turning the lights on in a room that has been darkened for several hours. Unfortunately, fish have no eyelids so it is difficult to tell whether they are asleep or not.(SNIP)
It's probable that fish do sleep in some form, whether slowing down or coming to a complete stop, whether hiding or doing it right in the open. But when they sleep the slightest ripple in the water will disturb them. Nevertheless, in some way they rest, just as we do. (SNIP)
Read Entire Article Here:
http://www.petplace.com/fish/do-fish-sleep/page1.aspx

Answer 2

Yes, fish do sleep but not the way human beings or a lot of animals do. Fish have no eyelids so they can't shut their eyes. Usually a fish may be sleeping if it is still and usually close to a rock or under a plant or some other protected area. They will often remain motionless for hours and this is when they are at rest or asleep.

Answer 3

A simple answer - yes!

We have a 250 gallon salt water aquarium in our formal living room (that's a very big tank!). We have overhead lighting that goes off when it's getting dark outside, and comes on when the sun rises. I have watched our fish right before the lights come on, and they are asleep - or at least, at rest. They sleep on a rock or in the moss. Their fins continue to move to allow for the intake of oxygen, but with no other movement.

By the way, while fish have no eyelids, they are able to tract, and retract the coverings over their eyes - that's how they keep their eyes clean. It's similar to us blinking our eyes.

Once the light comes on, you can see them 'wake up', shake it off, and start swimming again - it's soooo cool to see this!

Answer 4

definite fish sleep mine sleep at nighttime while i'm asleep if i arise contained in direction of the nighttime and turn on my lighting fixtures on the tank they are no the place to be considered they are interior the flowers and on the backside of my tank

Answer 5

Some fish do sleep. They will rest at the bottom.
Some constantly move to move water through their gills. (Sharks), but move very slowly to rest.

Answer 6

Yes.

Answer 7

Yes. They obviously cannot close their eyes. But they do sort of sink to the bottom and just "hover" in place to rest.

Answer 8

Yes, but they have no eyelids so they just stay in one spot, and it seems there in a trance but they are really sleeping.

2N!$H

Answer 9

Yes they do
But unfortunetlly for us they do not have eyelids so we cant tell that easlly
They dont swim as much when they are asleep they hover lol

Answer 10

yes, most fish swim as they sleep. exoskeleton sea creatures do not swim while they sleep.