Are Hamsters Afraid of the Dark?

by

Hamsters, with all their adorableness, are common pets. Being so small, you may worry about scaring your tiny companion and avoiding potential stress causes. Some people are afraid of the dark, but are hamsters the same way?

Hamsters aren’t afraid of the dark. They are crepuscular mammals and are at their most alert in the early morning and late evening. This impacts how and when you can interact with your pet.

A hamster’s dawn and dusk rhythms are due to their evolutionary history, so it’s essential to mimic their species’ natural schedule. Keep reading to learn more about how this atypical sleep schedule affects these cute critters and what it means to care for one as a pet.  

Do Hamsters Like the Dark?

Unlike diurnal animals, such as humans in general, hamsters are at their most active during the night. They like the dark because it makes them feel safer when they leave their shelter and look for food. 

These small animals will sleep most of the day and do their best on a natural 12-hour light-dark schedule. 

Why Are Most Hamsters Crepuscular?

Hamsters are prey animals that originate from Asia and Europe, and by being most active in the low light of dawn or dusk, they can avoid predators. In fact, a hamster’s vision is at its best when there are low light levels, as opposed to a bright day or pitch-black night. 

During the day, hamsters burrow to stay safe, and the food they collect when they do leave their homes is brought back to these holes. They store food like this so they can comfortably eat at any time. 

It’s much like what we do at the grocery store. We buy food and bring it back to our homes so that we can eat it later without going out for a meal all the time.

What Does Having a Crepuscular Pet Mean?

While you may see hamsters active during the day in pet stores, most of the time, they are sleeping, curled up into adorable balls. You need to realize, however, that the animal’s sleeping pattern means that the times you can interact with your pet will be early morning and late evening.

There are more challenges to having a pet whose schedule may differ from yours. During the day, hamsters need a quiet, safe place to sleep. At night, you might wake up by their eating, exercising, and other activities. 

You also want to avoid having any artificial lights on at night that might bother your pet. 

Can You Make a Hamster Diurnal?

Theoretically, it’s possible to “trick” a hamster into a more diurnal sleep pattern. However, this is not a good idea and can seriously impact your small mammal’s health. Trying to force a hamster to wake up during the day will make them grumpy, which can lead to you being bit. 

Instead, let your hamster stay its regular, crepuscular self. 

Whether or not you can meet your potential pet’s needs, including sleep schedules, is an important factor to consider before buying or adopting any animal, including hamsters.

Are Some Hamsters Naturally More Awake During the Day?

Just because hamsters are at their most active during dawn and dusk doesn’t mean that they will sleep through the whole day. A hamster may wake up for short periods of time to eat or drink, but it’ll go back to sleep afterward. 

In addition, each hamster is an individual, so their sleeping patterns may include more or less awake time during the day. Learning when your hamster typically falls asleep and wakes up will help you pick up on any changes to their schedule that could indicate they aren’t feeling well.

There are also some differences between species. Some hamsters, like Robo hamsters, have a higher chance of being active during the day. 

Others, like Syrian hamsters, are rarely awake when the sun’s out.    

Which Small Mammals Are Diurnal?

If, after reading the above, you started to realize that a hamster may not be the best pet for you, that doesn’t mean there are no small diurnal mammals that would make a good pet for your family. Rabbits and gerbils are crepuscular like hamsters, and mice and rats are nocturnal, though the latter can sometimes adjust to a more diurnal schedule.

That leaves gerbils, which still fall closer to the crepuscular schedule, and guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are diurnal, so they’ll be awake when you are. 

Conclusion

Hamsters, as animals on a crepusculum schedule, aren’t afraid of the dark. Due to being prey animals in the wild, they have evolved to be most active in the low light levels of dawn and dusk. It’s essential to respect your pet’s natural and individual sleeping patterns and accept that means that you may not be able to spend time with your hamster on your schedule.

Sources