If you’ve ever wondered why your pet hamster’s eyes are wide open during the night, it’s because it’s a nocturnal animal that is active at night and asleep during the day. So if you come across your hamster with its eyes open in the night, it might not be asleep at all!
Hamsters usually sleep with their eyes closed, unlike other prey animals. However, there are occasions when hamsters will open their eyes while sleeping, like when they hear something strange. A hamster that keeps sleeping with its eyes open could be sick.
So while a hamster can sleep with its eyes open, it rarely happens. Most hamsters enjoy a good shut-eye when they rest, especially in a deep sleep in the middle of the day. I’ll explain a hamster’s sleeping habits in the rest of this article.
Reasons Why Hamsters Sleep With Eyes Open
Most hamsters hide in their nests or cages when they sleep, making it almost impossible to observe them asleep. But when you do get a glimpse of them, you’ll find their bodies are almost always curled into a ball and their eyes completely shut.
However, there are instances when they’ll open their eyes in the middle of a good night’s rest.
1. Hamsters Use Their “Third Eyelid” While Sleeping
While it’s more common for hamsters to sleep with their eyes closed, they sometimes sleep with their eyes. Their eyes have a “third eyelid,” called the nictitating membrane, which protects them from dust and debris. It also keeps their eyes moist.
When this third eyelid is down, it may still look like the eye is open. However, hamsters rarely keep this position for an entire nap.
This third eyelid is very helpful for a prey animal like a hamster, especially in the wild, when predators could be everywhere. Hamsters are tiny and vulnerable to many predators. Thus, their third eyelid allows them to keep an eye out for danger while sleeping.
The third eyelid should only be visible when your hamster is sleeping or feeling threatened. If you suspect your hamster feels unsafe, you should adjust its environment to make it more comfortable.
2. The Hamsters Are Watching Out for Predators
Wild hamsters may sleep with their eyes open if they’re watching out for potential dangers. Hamsters are exceptional at finding tiny burrows, holes, and other safe hideouts that predators can’t reach.
In the wild, hamsters were vulnerable to many predators, like snakes or cats. These animals could even reach into the hamster’s burrow, which made it necessary for the hamster to learn how to wake up at the slightest sound.
These instincts are present even in domesticated hamsters.
You might be wondering, though, why a hamster that’s safe in your home would still do this. The reason could simply be that it does not feel completely comfortable in your house yet, making it crack its eyes open while it sleeps.
Also, even though a hamster is domesticated, it does not shed its instincts or habits. So even when they’re safe inside the cage, prey animals like hamsters continue their habits of protecting themselves against threats.
Eventually, when your hamster becomes more comfortable in its environment and develops a bond with you, it will become more relaxed during bedtime. You might even find it sleeping in the open — not hidden in its nest or some tunnel.
If it sleeps in the open, it means that your hamster feels completely safe!
3. Something Is Bothering The Hamsters
If your hamster cracks its eyes open while sleeping, it could also mean something is bothering it. It could be a strange new sound, smell, or object. If you have a large pet at home, such as a dog or cat, it may be wary of this animal.
They may also sleep with their eyes open if they’re in an unfamiliar place or feel vulnerable. This insecurity may be because it’s in a new place or you’ve changed something about its environment.
For example, if you’ve moved to a new house, your hamster might take time to get used to the new surroundings. Or, if you’ve got a new pet or had a baby, the new sounds might be stressing out your hamster.
Unfortunately, hamsters are very susceptible to stress, and they can quickly become ill when their sleep is interrupted. Also, if their sleep gets interrupted by sudden movements or loud sounds, they may associate the negative feeling of having their sleep interrupted with you and become aggressive towards you.
Hamsters have very delicate hearts, so prolonged stress can cause multiple health issues.
It’s important to give your hamster a relaxed and safe environment to sleep so that it gets as much rest as it needs.
How Hamsters Sleep
Hamsters normally sleep by curling up in small, cozy hideouts. These hideouts can be a nest your hamster has made out of bits of paper, wood shavings, and other playthings.
They also sleep on their backs, with their feet curled and their ears folded.
This habit of hiding when they sleep is part of their natural instinct to keep hidden from predators. However, when a hamster feels completely safe and comfortable in its environment, it may sleep out in the open, away from its usual hiding spot.
A hamster that sleeps in the open is one that feels safe, so continue providing a safe and comfortable environment to encourage it.
How To Help Hamsters Sleep Well
A hamster needs around six to eight hours of sleep. However, they don’t get eight hours of sleep in one go as humans do. Instead, they normally wake during periods of low light, such as dawn, and then sleep again afterward. A hamster needs to be fully rested every day to be healthy and happy.
Here’s how you can help them get the rest that they need.
- Stick to a routine. Hamsters love routine. You can help them sleep at regular times of the day by creating a routine that they can follow. A routine will help them know when to wind down, sleep, and wake up.
- Lower the lights. Even very low light, such as the kind we get at dusk, signals to a hamster that it’s time to wake up. So to help it get ready for bed, keep the room dark and relaxed. Perfect for a good, long nap.
- Turn off loud music. Nothing bothers sleeping hamsters more than loud sounds. So if you want them to sleep properly, you’ll need to turn off your speakers and put your headphones on instead.
- Leave its nest alone. Hamsters like to sleep by hiding in their nest — whether it’s one they created or something installed in the cage. Leaving this familiar nest alone can help your hamster find a comfortable spot to curl up in.
- Keep large animals away. The last thing you want is for your hamster to feel scared of other large pets because this will make it very hard, if not impossible, for them to sleep. So keep larger animals at a safe distance so your hamster can relax.
Conclusion
Hamsters usually sleep with their eyes closed, although they may occasionally open them to check for danger. However, repeatedly opening their eyes while sleeping could indicate they don’t feel safe.
To ensure your hamster has a good sleep, keep their room relatively dark and quiet. Avoid making loud, sudden noises.