Behavior Behavior Eating and sleeping are the two major activities for the manatee. The manatee will eat up to 150 lb of food for six to eight hours each day. The manatee will spend up to 12 hours a day resting.
Social behavior is semi-social.
The only recognized social group is the calf and its mother. Besides this unit manatees will congregate in groups and take part in playful activities such as follow the leader and body surfing.