Are you never seeing your cory catfish asleep? Are they getting enough rest or should you be concerned about the lack of sleep? In this article, we’ll dive into the topic of sleep and whether or not your cory catfish are sleeping.
Do Cory Catfish Sleep? Yes. Cory catfish sleep in a unique diurnal cycle that allows for short periods of rest totaling 5 minutes or less. They are resting when their reaction times have halted. They’ll sleep or rest motionless together or alone on many surfaces in your tank.
What Happens When Cory Catfish Sleep?
You will notice that your cory catfish doesn’t react to their surrounding stimuli when they are asleep or resting deeply. Their metabolic functions decrease during this time. Sometimes you may notice that they aren’t fully asleep, but this form of rest qualifies as enough for their physiological needs.
When you can’t see eyelids closing because your cory catfish don’t have them, you may doubt that they are actually asleep. Look for them to congregate together on rocks, leaves, the substrate and give up their hunt for food. A motionless cory catfish is usually asleep.
How Do I Get My Cory Catfish To Sleep?
Your cory catfish are scavenging at the bottom of your tank throughout the day because their instincts tell them to keep searching for food. One way to counteract this instinct is to feed them a snack to calm this urge down.
A well-fed cory catfish is not going to be motivated to keep hunting for food all day long. They will stop the search and look for a spot to rest. Don’t be surprised if this rest period only last 5 minutes or so.
Are Cory Catfish Nocturnal?
Cory catfish are not classified as being a nocturnal species, but they display nocturnal tendencies. They are active at night and like to feed at later hours compared to other fish in your tank.
They will definitely find opportunities to have “catnaps” throughout the day or night totaling 5-10 minutes without being disturbed. This means we can’t say that they are fully nocturnal. Some species of cory catfish are more nocturnal in their behavior than others including:
- Panda
- Julii
- Sterbai
You may feel that your type of cory catfish should also be included and we welcome your feedback. These three particular types tend to be more active at night than others, but we can’t say that any cory catfish is 100% nocturnal.
Why Are Cory Catfish More Active At Night?
It is believed that cory catfish like the darkness to carry on with their hunting duties without being disturbed. They are sensitive fish and would like to rest or remain on their own or within their group when other fish are active.
They also act sensitive around humans roaming around the room near them during daylight hours. They can get more comfort out of being left alone to do their scavenging when they can’t see other fish or people around.
This is why we shouldn’t disturb a resting cory catfish during the day. They may move slightly every few minutes, but they are more likely to get startled by active tankmates or human interference during the day when they are looking for opportunities to catch quick naps.
How Do I Know That My Cory Catfish Is Asleep?
Look for the following signs to notice if your cory catfish are asleep:
- Floating motionless
- Lying on the bottom of the tank
- Tilted on its side
- Not reacting to its surroundings
- Nestled tightly with a group
- Hanging out in shaded areas
Floating
Cory catfish will let go of their muscles and relax completely when they are asleep. This floating will not last too long. Don’t be alarmed at first. It’s common for many people who keep cory catfish to think they are dead or playing dead. Give them a few minutes and watch them snap out of this slumber.
Lying the Bottom
The bottom of the tank is their favorite location. They love to clean the substrate and hunt down there. Eventually, they’ll grow tired of the constant searching and take a break at the bottom. This is a great time to rest or sleep.
Tilted
A tilted body of a cory catfish shouldn’t be a cause for concern if it’s only for a few minutes. This position would be scary to see if it persists throughout the day, but a few minutes of tilting to their side is normal for a cory catfish who is resting.
Not Reacting
A fish darts by or bubbles flow near your cory catfish who doesn’t move a muscle. This cory catfish is asleep and doesn’t notice what’s going on. This is an important to time allow for them to rest. Anyone who taps the glass at this point would be startling your cory catfish and causing them stress.
Nestled In A Group
Cory catfish enjoy their strength in numbers. It gives them comfort to know that they don’t have to fend for themselves. The group adds security and lets them drop their guard so they can rest together peacefully. If you want your cory catfish to sleep more, add more of them to your tank and let them find peace together.
Shady Spots
Cory catfish don’t prefer lights. Your tank requires light for your other fish, but if you can keep your aquarium darker for your cory catfish, they will appreciate it. Otherwise, add more shaded areas like caves or floating plants that are real or fake and watch how your cory catfish congregate under the shade they provide.
Conclusion
Although cory catfish are not considered nocturnal, they are more active at night compared to other fish in your tank. They like the peace and quiet and prefer to be fed later in the evening. Cory catfish will sleep for short periods throughout the day and it’s best not to startle them during these moments of rest.
We wish your cories all the rest they deserve and need throughout the day or night. Have a good night and we look forward to the next time you arrive at our site for another cory catfish article.
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