How Long Do Hamsters Sleep? Ideal Hamster Sleep Cycle
Hamsters are rodents that belong to the family Cricetidae. These rodents exhibit many behaviors, including burrowing, hibernation, and nocturnal sleep patterns. But of all these behaviors, sleep has one of the largest impacts on hamsters’ physical and mental health, growth, and development. Now you might wonder, how long do hamsters sleep?
Well, hamsters require approximately 6 to 8 hours of sleep a day. However, they can sleep for 12 to 14 hours through multiple sleep cycles. Generally, they usually wake up in between for bathroom visits and to eat. And being nocturnal creatures, these pet rodents sleep during the day and are awake at night.
So then, do hamsters sleep with their eyes open like rabbits and other animals? Stay here to find out everything about hamsters’ sleep cycle, their sleep patterns, and factors that influence their sleep duration.
Key Notes About How Long Hamsters Sleep Table
Below is a quick look at the key facts about hamsters’ sleep cycles, durations, and patterns.
Required hours of sleep | 6 to 8 hours a day |
How long hamsters sleep | 12 to 14 hours a day or more |
Sleeping behavior | Nocturnal |
Waking time | Around dusk, between 6 pm and 8 pm |
Sleeping time | A few hours after dawn, between mid-morning and early afternoon |
Sleeping benefits | Optimal rest and recovery |
Stress reduction | |
Improves mental and physical health | |
Promotes healthy behavior | |
Factors that affect hamster’s sleep duration | Diet, environmental conditions, and age |
What Is The Ideal Hamster Sleep Cycle
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The ideal sleep cycle for hamsters is closely linked to their natural nocturnal behavior. But are hamsters nocturnal even in captivity? Yes, hamsters are primarily crepuscular animals. This means they are highly active during dawn and dusk. And typically, they require 6 to 8 hours of sleep but may sleep between 12 to 14 hours daily.
During the daytime, these animals retreat to their cage or tunnels to rest. Their sleep cycle comprises periods of deep sleep and intermittent periods of light sleep in the daybreak hours. The reason being they must wake up periodically to use the bathroom, change sleeping positions, or eat.
But what time do hamsters sleep and wake up? The exact time of the day may vary based on environmental conditions, hamster species, and individual preferences. But generally, most species usually sleep a few hours after dawn, from around mid-morning to early afternoon.
On the other hand, they typically wake up around dusk. This may range between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, depending on the specific hammy species. Here is an example of the common hamster species and how their sleep schedule varies:
Dwarf Hamsters
Like most species, the dwarf hamsters are most active in the evening and early mornings. They alternate a few hours of sleep with a few hours of being awake. Therefore, you can find them awake during the day.
Syrian Hamsters
The sleep cycle of the Syrian hamsters lasts approximately 10 to 12 minutes. You will find them most active early in the night and less active as the night passes.
Robo Hamsters
Similar to the dwarf species, Roborovski hamsters are twilight active. So, they are most active in the evening and early morning. However, some Robo hamsters may sleep for around 2 to 5 hours every night and still sleep throughout the day.
But can you change a hamster sleeping schedule? Yes, you can, but you must do it gradually to avoid stressing your hammy. You can adjust your hamster’s sleeping schedule by encouraging him to stay awake when you are. The best way to do this is by playing with your hamster during the day or turning the lights off at night.
While you can change your hammy’s sleeping schedule, it is not recommended. This is because it can be stressful for your pet and could cause unfriendly behavior or poor health. For example, the hamsters may be aggressive toward you.
Factors That Affect A Hamsters Sleep Duration
Several factors may influence a hamster’s sleep duration. Here are the most common ones.
1. Age
Generally, young hamsters sleep longer than their adult counterparts. They can sleep for 10 to 14 hours a day or more, while the adult hamsters sleep 6 to 8 hours.
But according to research conducted by E Naylor et al from the Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, and The Center for Circadian Biology and Medicine of Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill, it was found that aged or adult hamsters show small but significant increases in overall NREM sleep time. In other words, adult hamsters spend more time in the NREM sleep state than their young counterparts. Basically, NREM sleep is a sleep stage that acts as a transition between wakefulness and the deeper stages of sleep.
2. Environmental Conditions
For example, exposing these pets to bright light during the day can interrupt their sleep cycle. This is because they need a dark or dimly lit environment to sleep during the day.
Conversely, hamsters are highly-sensitive to noise. So, sudden and high-pitched noises or screams around the house during the day can lead to sleep disturbances.
Like light and sounds, these animals are also sensitive to temperature variations. Therefore, extreme temperatures above 75 degrees F or below 60 degrees F can make it difficult for these pets to sleep comfortably for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Diet
The diet of your hammy may also have an impact on its sleep duration in various ways. For example, feeding your pet foods high in sugar or caffeine during the day can lead to restlessness and hyperactivity. This may potentially affect its ability to settle down and sleep.
In addition, an unbalanced or inappropriate diet may lead to digestive issues in hamsters. This may lead to discomfort throughout the day, affecting their sleep duration.
Abnormal Hamster Sleep Patterns and Healthy Sleeping Patterns
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Abnormal sleep patterns can be a sign of health issues, while healthy sleeping patterns may reflect hamsters’ natural sleep-wake cycle. These patterns include:
1. Sleeping in the Corner of the Cage
It is normal for your hammy to sleep in the corner of the cage. Sometimes, these rodents do this because it makes them feel relaxed and comfortable. But sometimes, your hamster sleeping in the corner of the cage could also be a sign of illness. Your hammy will do this to hide its symptoms.
Additionally, your pet may sleep in the corner of the cage when feeling scared, bored, or suffocated.
2. Making Noises When Sleeping
Hamsters are known to make squeaky sounds while sleeping. Some species may even occasionally scream, snort, chatter, huff, and snuffle in their sleep. All these noises are healthy sleeping patterns.
However, some loud noises like wheezing are abnormal hamster sleeping patterns. This is because they may signify respiratory illnesses or difficulty breathing.
3. Sleeping on the Wheel
It is pretty healthy for your hammy to sleep on its wheel. This happens when your hamster feels the bed has too much light, is too exposed, or is too hot. So, sleeping on the wheel makes these pets feel more comfortable and safer.
4. Sleeping Above the Bedding
Sometimes, hamsters may sleep above the bedding because they feel more secure and comfortable, which is not abnormal. Occasionally, they may sleep without bedding because they feel warm, anxious, or uncomfortable.
5. Sleeping in Tunnel
It is perfectly normal and healthy for these pet rodents to sleep in tunnels as it makes them feel safe. However, sometimes hamsters may sleep in tunnels because they are scared or shy, especially when in a new environment.
6. Sleeping with Their Eyes Open
If you are wondering, do hamsters sleep with their eyes open like some animals, the answer is no. However, these pets may sleep with their eyelids or one eye partially open, which is a healthy sleeping pattern. This mostly happens when they are in a new environment or feeling uncomfortable.
In this section, we will respond to commonly asked queries regarding are hamsters nocturnal or not. Read on.
Are hamsters heavy sleepers?
Yes. Hamsters are deep or heavy sleepers. As such, this can make it difficult to awaken them once they enter into a deep sleep.
Can I wake my hamster up?
Yes, you can. However, it is not always recommended unless you suspect that something could be wrong with him. This is because waking your hammy can stress him.
Can you touch a sleeping hamster?
No, it’s not advisable to touch your hammy while it’s sleeping or resting unless it’s utterly necessary. This is because you could startle the rodent, which may lead to a bite.
Conclusion
Generally, hamsters require 6 to 8 hours of sleep per day. Even so, these pet rodents may sometimes sleep for 12 to 14 hours or more. Their sleep duration varies based on age, diet, and environmental conditions. In addition to their sleeping duration, hamsters exhibit various healthy and abnormal sleeping patterns.
With that said, understanding and respecting hamsters’ sleep patterns is crucial for their well-being and overall health. This is because disrupting their sleep patterns may lead to stress and other behavioral issues such as aggression. In addition, respecting your pet rodents’ sleep patterns enables them to engage in their natural behaviors.
Apart from respecting hamsters’ sleep patterns, a clean-living environment plays a critical role in maintaining the health and happiness of your hammy. Adequate mental stimulation and a healthy diet may also help sustain the health of your pet rodent.