As a hamster owner, it's certainly hard to see hamsters out in the sun during the day, and these rodents are typically nocturnal animals that avoid bright, sunny days. When night falls, they become active, playing, foraging, mating, and doing other necessary activities. So, are you curious about whether this habit means that hamsters have good eyesight in the dark?
In fact, hamsters can't see very clearly in the dark. Their eyesight is quite limited, and they are only sensitive in low-light environments such as dawn and dusk. However, hamsters are able to move freely at night thanks to their keen sense of smell, hearing and touch. These senses allow them to perceive their surroundings and determine their location.
Hamsters can't see in the dark, and turning on the lights doesn't help much. Even in perfect low-light conditions, hamsters can only see a short distance in front of their faces. So hamsters sleep most of the day.
You may see hamsters happily burrowing in bedding or lying comfortably in their nest boxes. In order to maintain their natural routine, try to avoid setting up bright lights next to the cage. Of course, you don't have to worry too much about whether the cage is dark enough. Hamsters don't need to be in complete darkness to fall asleep.
The day is the time for the hamsters to rest, and the night is the stage for them to be active. As the sun sets, the hamsters become more active. For example, it is not uncommon for them to eat up to 100% of their meals at night.
Every hamster friend will be familiar with their nocturnal antics behavior. Running merrily on a running wheel, or playing around in bed and playing with toys – these familiar sounds almost always happen at night.
It is often mistaken that hamsters can see clearly in the dark because they are quite comfortable and agile in no light environment. However, this excellent ability to adapt is actually superior to the hamster's other senses. For example, their whiskers have a mechanosensory function that transmits signals to the brain at even the slightest touch. These signals help the hamster to orient itself.