You are wondering if hamsters are nocturnal animals? This question may arise in the first weeks after adopting a first hamster. It is not uncommon (and surprising!) to observe that these little creatures sleep during the day and become particularly restless at night.
Are hamsters nocturnal?
Given their habits, you will probably be surprised to learn that hamsters are not, strictly speaking, nocturnal animals. In reality, they are classified as crepuscular animals, which means they are active during the dusk hours (at sunrise and sunset).
Crepuscular animals? What does that mean?
Before diving into the “Why?”, let’s first clarify what a crepuscular animal is. In this specific context, as you might imagine, it is a term that describes an animal active during the twilight hours: dawn and dusk.
And the answer to the question of why hamsters are crepuscular animals is relatively simple.
The ancestors of hamsters had to be active at dawn and dusk, as this helped them avoid potential predators. This becomes quite obvious when you start thinking about the animals that surrounded them at that time.
Take the case of the Syrian hamster in its natural desert habitat; its neighboring predatory species in this ecosystem were birds of prey, snakes, and large cats. All of these animals have excellent vision and are hyper-aware of the slightest movement.
As one might expect, these predatory species would make quick work of a group of hamsters out in the open. Thus, hamsters played to their strengths and began to hide during the day.
But they also had to contend with nocturnal predators such as owls; so, hamsters began to be active during the hours between day and night when no predators were out (at dusk and dawn).
After all, the dim light of twilight can hide many of their shortcomings as a species. For example, hamsters have notoriously poor vision, which would be a considerable problem during the day. But at twilight, their poor eyesight doesn’t matter as much, and they can rely on their keen sense of smell to survive. You can learn more about hamster senses here to understand how your little companion perceives the world.
Let’s also note that hamsters have an incredible sense of hearing, providing them with an advantage during twilight hours; this highly developed hearing allowed them to hear predators coming from afar.
They could certainly do this during the day as well, but they had nowhere to hide and were easy prey. However, at twilight or dawn, the dim light could protect them from those dangerous predators.
And since vegetation was very sparse, hamsters had to travel great distances to find food. They therefore needed something to conceal them from these predators during their desperate food quests.
Incredibly, it is known that hamsters can travel up to 7 kilometers in search of food. They knew they couldn’t move out in the open for long distances during the day or night; so they adapted and began to move during twilight hours when predators were less active.
For example, snakes cannot hunt at night because they need the sun to regulate their body temperature and keep warm. Thus, although twilight hours are not completely dark, it still affected a snake’s ability to hunt our adorable hamsters effectively.
However, the layers of fat and fur on a hamster would keep them warm during those cold desert nights. It’s minor differences like these that have allowed these little fur balls to survive as a species all these years.
Ultimately, if your hamster is running on its wheel at 6 a.m., it’s because it is following the natural instincts it developed in the wild to survive.
Can I make my hamster sleep at night?
If you keep your hamster in your bedroom, the noise of their wheels turning at night can be quite bothersome. You have probably wondered if you could train your hamster to sleep at night?
Well, you’re in luck because it is entirely possible to alter your hamster’s sleep cycle. However, it will require a lot of time and patience. With this four-step guide, you will have a method to adjust your hamster’s sleep to fit your habits:
1. Build a quality relationship with your pet
The first step in this process is to establish a trusting relationship with your hamster. You can develop this bond by feeding them often and playing with them daily. After a while, your hamster will begin to get used to you.
Once this happens, the hamster will start to anticipate your presence and enjoy spending time with you. Once this bond is formed, the next steps will be much less difficult and stressful for both of you.
2. Remove the light during the day
This step involves tricking your hamster into believing it is dusk or dawn when it is actually daylight. There are many ways to achieve this, such as using curtains or placing a blanket over the cage. Just ensure that it remains well-ventilated.
3. Be consistent with the new schedule
Attempting to drastically change your hamster’s sleep schedule will have the opposite effect of what you desire. Therefore, it is important to stick to a precise plan and follow it closely. For example, block the light for your hamster at the same time every day.
By doing so, you are gradually reprogramming your hamster to believe that night has just fallen. But if you do not adhere to the same schedule, you risk compromising all the progress you have made.
4. Be (ultra) patient
This process will not be completed in one or two weeks. It will most likely take you several months to change your hamster’s habits; keep following the previous three steps and allow your hamster to gradually adapt to your schedule.
You can try to speed up the process by giving your hamster treats or taking them out of their cage. Both actions will help strengthen the bond between you and your hamster.
Now that you have a better idea of whether or not hamsters are nocturnal, you understand your favorite pet better and why it acts the way it does!
Do hamsters need light at night?
Unlike humans, the fact that hamsters are active at night does not mean they need or want light. Honestly, it’s quite the opposite, as they thrive in darkness. As mentioned above, hamsters have very poor eyesight, which means that light would not be very useful to them anyway.
In fact, light will only confuse your hamster, as darkness signals to them that it’s party time. Therefore, keep the lights off and let them run on their wheels in the dark peacefully. We humans may need an audience for our athletic feats, but that’s not the case for your hamster.