I have 2 new male "teddy bear" hamsters that I adopted from Petland over the weekend and they seem to have adapted to their new home quite nicely. I currently have both in a single cage, but that will be changing as I am aware syrian hamsters are very territorial and will fight. I also have a labrador retriever puppy at home who is in love with them and watches them play but doesnt know her own strength. To keep my hamsters safe while I am at work, I keep them locked up in my bedroom all day and play with them when I get home at night.
So heres my question, my bedroom is in the basement and I dont have windows. Can hamsters live in complete darkness? The only time they are in the light is when I am in my room with them. I dont want thier bodies to get all out of whack so do they need natural sunlight to survive? Also, because its a little colder in the basement, I put a towel under the cage and around the cage...any other suggestions? Thanks!!
2006-10-02 08:03:28 · 12 answers · asked by iheartmybetta 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
To those making the assumption that I am a bad pet keeper, please keep your opinions to yourselves. I have had my hamsters for 2 days!! In those 2 days my hamsters have gotten equal parts sunlight and darkness. Obviously I am asking this question because I want to find out if it is OKAY, not to be criticised.
Thank you to all the constructive comments so far.
2006-10-02 09:25:35 · update #1
Thank you smart person! Thak you for saving me from having to give you a big lecture on how they are saposed to be seperated. lol.
The towel- not a good idea. If they chew it up the string can wrap around thier intestines and well- die. Keep the temperature 70*-80* Around there.
Hamsters are nocturnal, so i think they will actually like it. It won't kill them or stress them or anything, lights on off-whatever. they adapt pretty quick!
2006-10-03 14:40:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could you maybe put them somewhere else in the house, somewhere up high, out of reach of your puppy? A bookshelf?
Sunlight (NOT directs sunlight) is best for their health. However, if this is absolutely impossible, at least give them a nightlight. Yes, they are nocturnal, but I've noticed my rodents will get up occationally during the day to play or search for food. Besides, just like with us, sunlight is good for their overall health.
As for warm, leave the light near their cage (don't burn them or melt plastic!) or put a heating pad on a low setting under PART of the cage, so they have somewhere they can go to get warm. Good bedding is also very helpful.
A towel does practically nothing.
2006-10-02 15:26:37 · answer #2 · answered by Laurie Jennifer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just purchased two Siberian Dwarfs, and had a similar question.
Did a bunch of research on the net, and found the following:
Hamsters are noctural - they're naturally used to darkness.
While this doesn't mean they don't require sunlight/light every so often, I've found that having a soft red light bulb (low wattage) in their room when it's dark makes them more comfortable.
I hope this helps.
For further consideration, you might try the folks at www.hamsterific.com - they have an open forum dedicated to the care, upkeep and any questions on might have about hamsters and any other small pet like mice or rats.
Congrats on your new family members and good luck!
2006-10-02 22:04:37 · answer #3 · answered by pyrrhic_victories 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters are nocturnal creatures so while you are out in the day they will be sleeping anyway and not notice thier surroundings, and most hamsters wake in darkened hours. The darkness is probubly their prefered environment.
I would suggest that you seperate them immediatly though as hamsters mature at a remarkable rate, and once they hit maturity can kill another hamster for territorial reasons. I tried to breed mine once and the female viciously attacked the male in seconds. Breeding was unsuccesful :-)
2006-10-02 15:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by tillytiger4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it would be nice to the hamsters to at least have a night light. Is there any other place they can go and be safe? I would think they would get confused when it is day or night beacuse it's dark all the time. Try putting them in a lighter place.
2006-10-02 15:13:49 · answer #5 · answered by I ♥ my fjords! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To hamsters night is the active time while day time is their sleep time .if you work in day and put them in a dark room,try to let them under the light when you home.This is the circle for hamster.Put paper or tissue in the cage to let them play and make their own nest.Try not to put two or three adult hamster together,they will fight and even kill each other.
2006-10-02 21:17:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though hamsters are nocturnal they still need a little light.
So like someone said you can leave a night light on or like a really small light bulb will be fine.
Other tips
Hopefully you have a good cage.
Has your hamsters ever escaped before?
2006-10-07 16:50:33 · answer #7 · answered by lee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont need light. But it would be nice of you to put a night light in your bedroom. And for heat put a rag on top of there cage or something. A little light and heat will do them good! I hope i helped!
2006-10-02 16:13:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they need light, just like people do. Would you want to live in the basement with no light? Is there another room upstairs you can keep them in and just shut the door so the puppy can't see them?
I don't think you should have gotten these animals. They need light!
2006-10-02 15:23:10 · answer #9 · answered by Cat Lover 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I guess it is okay... after all hamsters ARE nocternal...... but try to give them some sunlight. Train your puppy!! JUst in case it gets to the hamsters while u r out 1 day.
2006-10-04 04:47:52 · answer #10 · answered by ... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋