General fish question

I know I could prooly look this up on the web...but i'm lazy today.

How do fish sleep?
Does it need to be dark for them to sleep?

I noticed one of my Mollies just sitting motionless on the bottom of the tank when I turned the lights on this morning. Shrimp walked over it, nothing. I was about ready to get the net when its tail twitched. Then it "yawned". Slowly started swimming for a sec then seemed like it was just fine. Was it asleep?

I dont think they sleep, like in the way we do, I think they just sorta, shut their brains down in way. Like, they see it's dark and naturally rest?

yeah, generally fish dont 'sleep' like we do. they can't. if they stop like we do they will die as the water moving over their gills will stop. This is why you see BN fanning their gills when they are sitting still.

What they do is slow down and drift and swim slowly. If you check the tank in the dead of night you can see the fish simply drifting gently in the water. They are still alert and will respond to movement but they are recharging their batteries.

That said, BN have been know to 'sleep'. its not uncommon to hea stories of BN lying on the back on th bottom having been dislodge from their spot in the night and waking up and freaking out.

Loaches, clowns & yoyos, often, sleep on their sides, looking dead lol, only to bolt once disturbed..lol many owners have been fooled by a sleeping loach lol hilarious...

Mooo wrote:

Loaches, clowns & yoyos, often, sleep on their sides, looking dead lol, only to bolt once disturbed..lol many owners have been fooled by a sleeping loach lol hilarious...

HAHA, thats how i got stabbed by my old clown loach thought he was but then he came at me with his eye spike and ouch!