Do Ants Ever Sleep? The Surprising Sleep Secrets of Little Creatures Sleep

APR 29, 2025

1936 views , 6 mins read

At Newentor, we’re passionate about perfect sleep—for you and the planet’s tiniest residents. While our hybrid mattresses deliver human-friendly comfort, we can’t help but wonder: How do nature’s creatures snooze?

Do ants sleep? Can snails really sleep for years? Why do spiders tuck their legs in like fuzzy sleep pods? From buzzing bees to deep-diving whales, every critter has a bedtime story worth telling.

In this article

1. Frequently Asked Questions about Critter Sleep

2. Meet Newentor - Make You Sleep in Comfort Like a Bug

Frequently Asked Questions about Critter Sleep

1.1 Can Ants Sleep?

Ants have one of the most bizarre sleep schedules in the animal kingdom. Research shows that worker ants take about 250 micro-naps per day, each lasting just 1-2 minutes. That's like you taking a coffee break every 6 minutes at work!

Queen ants, however, live the royal life - they enjoy longer sleep sessions of up to 9 minutes at a time, totaling about 90 minutes of sleep per day. This hierarchy in rest periods helps explain why queen ants can live for years while workers typically only survive a few months.

The most fascinating part? Ants have sleep cycles similar to humans, experiencing both deep sleep and REM-like states. During deep sleep, their antennae droop and they become less responsive. Some species even have designated "sleep rooms" in their nests!

1.2 Do Snails Sleep? How Long Do Snails Sleep?

Snails take laziness to Olympic levels. These slow-moving creatures sleep 13-15 hours at a time, followed by about 30 hours of activity. But that's nothing compared to their hibernation abilities!

When conditions get tough, snails can:

Seal themselves in their shells with a mucus membrane.

Slow their metabolism to nearly zero.

Survive without food or water for up to 3 years.

Some garden snails have been observed in hibernation for 4 years straight and woke up perfectly healthy! Their secret? A special type of glucose that acts as natural antifreeze. Take that, insomnia!

1.3 Do Flies Sleep? Where Do Flies Sleep?

Flies absolutely sleep, and they have some weird habits:

They prefer sleeping on ceilings or undersides of leaves.

They experience deep sleep where they're harder to wake.

Young flies need more sleep than adults.

Sleep-deprived flies show poor coordination and memory (just like humans!)

The most surprising discovery? Fruit flies have sleep patterns remarkably similar to humans, making them important subjects for sleep research. Scientists have even identified genes in flies that correspond to human sleep disorders!

1.4 Do Spiders Sleep?

While spiders don't have eyelids, they absolutely rest. Studies show:

They enter periods of reduced activity and responsiveness
Some species show leg twitching that resembles REM sleep
Web-building spiders often rest at the center of their webs
Jumping spiders experience sleep-like states with rapid eye movements

The most incredible finding? Some spiders adjust their web tension before resting, creating a sort of "bed" that vibrates when prey is caught. Talk about a smart alarm system!

1.5 Do Bees Sleep?

Bees have complex sleep behaviors:

Worker bees take short naps (30 seconds to 30 minutes) throughout the day.
They often sleep holding onto each other with their legs or mandibles.
Older bees sleep less than younger bees.
Sleep helps consolidate their memory of flower locations.

The most adorable fact? Bees sometimes fall asleep inside flowers, their little bodies tucked into petals like nature's sleeping bags. If you see a motionless bee in a flower, it might just be catching some Z's!

1.6 Do Fish Sleep?

Fish sleep is fascinatingly different:

They enter a restful state but remain somewhat alert to danger
Some species change color while sleeping (nature's pajamas!)
Parrotfish secrete a mucus sleeping bag for protection
Sharks must keep swimming to breathe, so they sleep with half their brain awake

The most bizarre sleeper? The Mexican cavefish - blind populations have evolved to sleep much less than their sighted relatives, proving sleep needs can change dramatically with environment.

1.7 Do Sharks Sleep?

Sharks face unique sleep challenges:

Most must keep moving to push oxygen-rich water over their gills
They experience periods of restful swimming where brain activity slows
Some species like nurse sharks can pump water while stationary
Great whites may sleep by riding ocean currents

The most extreme adaptation? The Greenland shark - it swims so slowly (0.3 mph) that scientists debate whether it's always half-asleep!

1.8 How Do Whales Sleep?

Whales have mastered the art of sleeping in water:

They sleep vertically or horizontally near the surface
Most species sleep for short periods (10-15 minutes)
They practice unihemispheric sleep - keeping half the brain awake
Sperm whales have been recorded sleeping in large, motionless groups

The record holder? Cuvier's beaked whales can hold their breath for over 3 hours while sleeping!

1.9 How Long Do Koalas Sleep?

Koalas are the undisputed sleep champions:

Sleep 18-22 hours daily due to their low-energy eucalyptus diet
Their digestive system needs lots of rest to break down tough leaves
They wedge themselves in tree forks for secure sleeping spots
Baby koalas sleep even more - up to 23 hours a day!

The funniest fact? Koalas sometimes sleep so soundly they fall out of trees - proving even expert sleepers can have bad nights!

Meet Newentor - Make You Sleep in Comfort Like a Bug

If you also want to achieve sleep as good as an ant queen or a koala, then an ergonomic mattress is crucial! Do you often wake up with a sore back and restless nights? Try the Newentor Hybrid Mattress Pro, and sink into our scientifically engineered sleep system featuring temperature-regulating fabrics, body-cradling memory foam, and responsive pocket springs that adapt to your every move.

You're covered by our 120-night sleep trial - that's four full months to transform your nights.

Final Thoughts

From ants’ micro-naps to whales’ half-brain snoozes, the animal kingdom proves great sleep comes in countless forms. But here’s the best part: with Newentor’s hybrid mattress, you don’t need to hibernate like a snail or doze vertically like a shark to wake up refreshed.

Our scientifically engineered design combines the coziest elements of nature’s sleep champions – the support of a web-slinging spider, the temperature control of a burrowing bee, and the deep rest of a eucalyptus-fueled koala. Sweet dreams start at Newentor AU.

Comments