How Do Fish Sleep (and Why It's So Weird)?

Fish sleep just like we do, but it’s super weird because they don’t close their eyes or stop moving.

Imagine you're wearing a big, heavy suitcase and trying to fall asleep. You can still move your legs and arms inside the suitcase, right? That's kind of how fish sleep. They stay in one place, like they’re sitting on the bottom of the ocean, but their body is still moving a little bit. It’s like being in a cozy bed that doesn’t let you go anywhere.

Fish don't have eyelids, so they can't shut their eyes like we do. Some fish just stop moving completely and look like they're floating, it's as if they're sleeping in a bubble! Others keep swimming gently, almost like they’re doing a slow dance while they rest.

It’s strange because we think of sleep as being still and quiet, but for fish, sleep can be happening right under our noses, even though they might look like they’re just hanging out. Fish sleep just like we do, but it’s super weird because they don’t close their eyes or stop moving.