Manatees are active day and night.
They spend six to eight hours a day feeding on vegetation, and another six to ten hours resting. Although they may appear slow moving, they can swim as fast as 15 miles an hour. They are creatures of habit and often follow established travel routes and prefer channels which are at least 6 feet deep. They usually swim three to nine feet below the surface and can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. They use their tails to move forward and steer through the water.