When it comes to rodents like rats, there’s a common belief that they like to hide in the dark, usually in unvisited corners. So with hamsters also being rodents, is it safe to assume that they also enjoy being in the dark?
Being nocturnal animals, dwarf hamsters like being in the dark. In fact, they’re usually asleep throughout the day and active at night. The changes in natural lighting also signal their sleep-wake cycle, so it’s best not to put artificial lighting in their cage, as it could disrupt this rhythm.
If you have the energy to stay up late at night, you can observe your hamster doing all sorts of activities in the dark. You may even hear lots of happy noises. To better understand how hamsters behave in the dark, let’s talk about whether hamsters are sensitive to light, how active they are at night, and more in the rest of this article.
Are Dwarf Hamsters Sensitive to Light?
Like all hamsters, dwarf hamsters are sensitive to light. The presence of light triggers a hamster’s body clock and signals that it’s bedtime. Unlike humans, hamsters are naturally nocturnal; therefore, it’s best to keep them away from unnatural light sources at night when they expect it to be dark.
Even though hamsters can be sensitive to light, you shouldn’t keep them locked away in darkness all the time. They need light, as most living creatures do. If you have to put your hamster in a room that doesn’t get sunlight, you can install artificial cage lights to help mimic lighting conditions in the wild.
Make sure, though, that the lights aren’t too bright, as that can be just as damaging. They can cause hamsters stress–especially when they are constantly on! Never forget to turn off the lights when it’s time to do so.
Are Dwarf Hamsters Active at Night?
Dwarf hamsters are active at night because they’re nocturnal. The onset of darkness in the evening signals a hamster’s body clock that it’s time to wake up, eat, and get busy playing.
To help your hamster maintain a regular daily pattern, make sure that if you use artificial lights, you can turn them on and off at regular times during the day. Lights play a vital role in helping hamsters maintain their normal biological rhythm.
Also, at night, you may hear different hamster sounds that vary from happy to worrisome. If your hamster is happy and content, it will sound like it’s purring by bruxing or clicking its teeth together. However, if your hamster is stressed, anxious, or even hungry, it may make crying noises that can sound like sharp, prolonged squealing or hissing.
It’s essential to pay attention to your hamster’s behavior and sounds during its waking hours to understand what it’s feeling. Hamsters may not be able to communicate with us by speaking, but it’s pretty easy to read them by observing the sounds they make in different contexts.
What Do Dwarf Hamsters Do at Night?
Dwarf hamsters do all sorts of activities at night, such as eating, playing, burrowing, and even exploring when they can. However, hamsters need total darkness to understand that it is indeed time to wake up.
To keep your pet occupied and happy, give it toys or install tunnels and hanging ropes in its cage. You may not be able to witness all the fun, but your hamster will surely have tons of it.
And if you’re worried that they won’t be able to see their surroundings if there’s no light, don’t worry. One of the things that hamsters can do because of their nocturnal nature is navigate quite well in the dark.
Hamsters may have poor eyesight, but they can use all their other senses, particularly their sense of hearing, to navigate their surroundings. They rely less on their vision than their hearing when figuring out where to go or find things.
Does Light Scare Hamsters?
Being so tiny, hamsters are also quite vulnerable. Because of this, they scare easily.
An exceptionally bright light can scare hamsters. They can also be frightened by loud sounds, humans, large animals, and unfamiliar environments or objects.
If you have to use artificial lighting for your hamster’s cage, remember to turn it off and on at the same time each day. Changing light patterns can disrupt a hamster’s sleeping pattern and make them unable to rest.
Also, refrain from using bright artificial lighting, as turning really bright lights on suddenly can make your hamster jumpy and stressed.
Conclusion
Hamsters are nocturnal creatures that love being in the dark. Darkness signals that it’s time for them to wake up and get busy. And true enough, if you try to observe your hamster at lights out, you’ll see a tiny ball bursting with energy that’s never without something to do.