One of the scariest things for pet parents is the worry of whether or not their pet is sick or in pain.
Unfortunately, it can be a bit difficult to tell whether your Betta Fish is A-Okay, but I would give a quick read on how to make sure betta fish is happy and the signs of whether or not your Betta is sick as well as the topmost common Betta illnesses and remedies.
The reason why I mention all of this is that the amount your Betta Fish gets may be a good sign of whether or not he or she is okay. If you’re not 100% sure how to tell whether or not your Betta Fish is sleeping or lethargic, check out this post.
It’s going to be very important that you learn what a day is usually like for your fish. Keeping a close eye and learning about their habits will give you a good insight on whether or not your Betta is acting abnormally.
Try to learn what your Betta’s sleep cycle is specifically, because if they’re doing a lot more of it, you may have to change a few things about their life.
When Do Bettas Usually Sleep?
Bettas are diurnal creatures, meaning that they like to be awake during the day. So, it’s going to be very important that you either turn your tank’s light on and off daily or grab a cheap mechanical outlet, which has really changed our fishkeeping lives!
We set our timer for 8-hour days, although different Bettas may like a little more or a little less. Try to figure out a good amount of time for them, but don’t worry, Bettas can still sleep with the lights on, even though it’s harder.
Do Bettas Sleep for Long Periods at a Time?
Dependant on your Betta. Unlike humans, Bettas take a bit longer to “fall into sleep.” Bettas don’t really sleep as much as they rest so, much like cats they’re “light sleepers”.
This is why you don’t want to tap on tanks or stress them out with loud noises as they might not get the sleep that they so desperately need.
How Can I Get My Betta to Sleep Less and Excercise More
Make sure that there are enough interesting objects in your fish tank. Things like the Zoo Med Floating Betta Log or Marimo Moss Balls.
There are also some toys you can get them such as mirrors. I hear a lot of great things about the mirrors, although I haven’t actually tried one just yet. I’ll let you know when I do!
Is It Important that my Fish Doesn’t Sleep all Day?
Absolutely, just like other living beings fish need exercise. If your fish becomes lethargic it may cause them to gain weight, develop health problems like constipation, cause them to stop eating, etc. You want to make sure that your fish experiences a balance of an active and restful life!
So… what you’re saying is there is no specific amount of time Bettas should sleep?
Pretty much. It’s hard to gauge how much time fish need to “sleep”, however as mentioned you’re going to want to make sure that they aren’t just spending the whole day sleeping. Make sure their tank is filled with stuff they can interact with.
Check-in on them every so often to say hello and if they seem to be “sleeping” more, that’s when you may have a problem!
Conclusion
While it’s important for bettas to sleep, just like it’s important for you or me, it’s important to ensure that your betta is not acting lethargic. Bettas should always be alert, aware and responsive.
If your betta isn’t coming out during feeding time, make sure to keep a closer eye on your betta to ensure that they are just taking a break and not sick.
This is my first time to own a fish and i own a betta fish, and i am a bit worried about my fish. I made a mistake with leaving the light on when i went sleep, so when i woke up this morning i found my betta was asleep, and now his been asleep for a long time, but now when i bang the tank he seems alive, but now how do i wake him, or should i not wake hi, up, please advice
Hey! I would advise leaving your betta alone for now. One night where the light was left on shouldn’t cause any problems, but your betta does need some rest especially if they were stressed out.
In general, it’s a good idea not to tap on the side of your fish tank, because that’s extremely stressful to a fish. In the future, other ways to wake up your betta include shaking your food container or by calling his name.
my betta appears to have white dandriff. he’s always had it but suddenly he’s sitting on the bottem of his bowl and not eating. what’s wrong?
Hey Isobel, white dandruff sounds like “Ick” which is a small white parasite which will latch onto your fish every few days. You can read more about it here and how you can get rid of it.