Goldfish are one of the fish that we keep at home for their beauty. But a question often arises among those of us who keep goldfish at home, which is, do goldfish really sleep?
Like other animals and us, goldfish also have a special need for sleep. When goldfish get enough sleep regularly, their immune system is greatly improved and they remain physically healthy. So like other animals, goldfish also sleep or rest regularly.
However, those of us who keep goldfish at home should know much more about goldfish sleep.
Do Goldfish Sleep?
Goldfish do not lie down with their eyes closed to sleep, like other animals. At a certain time of night, goldfish prefer to remain stationary in one place in the aquarium and their activity decreases significantly. At that time they move very little and their fins move very slowly.
Because goldfish do not have eyelids, goldfish usually sleep with their eyes open. Not only that, goldfish prefer to sleep on a specific surface of their choice.
The right environment for goldfish to sleep:
Goldfish need a proper sleeping environment, such as
- We should turn off the lights in our goldfish tank at a specific time every night and turn the lights back on at a specific time in the morning.
- Our aquarium should contain enough aquatic plants and small pebbles, which are ideal substrates for goldfish to sleep on.
- Our other pets, such as dogs and cats, should be kept away from the goldfish tank at night. This will reduce the chance of goldfish suddenly becoming shocked or scared at night.
- We should feed our goldfish a sufficient amount of food at a specific time every night and turn off the aquarium lights an hour after they have finished eating. However, it is especially important to know about a healthy diet for our goldfish.
- The correct water temperature in a goldfish tank is essential for their sleep. The correct water temperature in a goldfish tank should be 65° to 75° Fahrenheit.
How do I know if a goldfish is sleeping or sick?
We usually know that our goldfish is sleeping by seeing certain signals, such as:
- Goldfish lower their fronts slightly when they sleep.
- Goldfish prefer a specific spot in the tank, such as a surface of aquatic plants or small pebbles, before sleeping.
- Goldfish are very active most of the time. They only become a little quieter when they sleep.
- Goldfish prefer to sleep at night, but they also take naps for some time during the day.
However, if our goldfish are sick, we can understand if we observe them for some time.
- When our goldfish are sick, their body color becomes much paler.
- If our goldfish are sick, they will be lethargic for most of the day and their activity will decrease significantly.
- If our goldfish are sick, the first thing they will do is greatly reduce their food intake.
So what should we do in this case?
First of all, we need to carefully observe our goldfish to see if there are any wounds or infected areas on their bodies.
We need to monitor the water in our goldfish tank carefully. Check whether the water temperature, TDS, and ammonia levels in the goldfish tank are correct.
If we see any kind of problem in the water, we have to solve it immediately.
How long do goldfish sleep for?
How long a goldfish sleeps depends entirely on its environment. Typically a goldfish sleeps for 8 to 12 hours. Most prefer to sleep after the aquarium lights are turned off or at night, but they will also take short naps during the day.
However, goldfish sleep depends on the right environment, so if there is a problem with the water temperature, their chances of sleeping are greatly reduced.
Also, adequate food is especially important for goldfish to sleep. If we don’t feed our goldfish enough food, their tendency to sleep will decrease significantly.
What can happen if our goldfish doesn’t get enough sleep?
Sleep is just as important for goldfish as it is for us. If our goldfish does not get enough sleep, our goldfish’s immunity will continue to decline. As a result, our goldfish will likely become sick very quickly.
Not only that, due to lack of sleep, our goldfish’s activity will decrease significantly and they will remain stationary in a specific place in the aquarium most of the time.
Therefore, the lack of adequate sleep will greatly reduce the chances of our goldfish having a long life.
Is turning off the lights in a goldfish tank necessary for them to sleep?
There is no need to turn off the aquarium lights for goldfish to sleep, but turning off the aquarium lights after a certain time at night greatly improves the aquarium environment.
Goldfish usually sleep with their eyes open, but there is no point in keeping the lights on in the goldfish tank all the time.
We can keep other fish and some aquatic plants with goldfish, for which it may be necessary to turn off the lights after a certain time at night.
That’s why it’s always said that the lights in a goldfish tank should be on for a maximum of 10 hours and the rest of the time the lights should be off.
Welcome to our website Aquarium Fish Zone. My name is Sagar Ghosh and I live in Kolkata. I am a science graduate.
I have kept fish in aquariums since I was very young. I loved seeing the colorful fish in the aquarium.
I have always tried to maintain and care for the fish properly. So me and my team members have created this website. As a result, we can provide you with accurate information about how aquarium fish are kept.