Here’s a detailed analysis of hamster sleep duration:
I. Basic Sleep Data
- Average daily sleep: 12–18 hours, mostly during the day.
- Individual variations: Some may sleep up to 20 hours.
- Short sleep cycles: Each complete sleep cycle lasts about 11.5 minutes.
II. Circadian Rhythm Characteristics
- Typical nocturnal behavior: Peak activity between 1–3 a.m.
- Deep daytime sleep: May only wake briefly if touched.
- Nighttime intermittent feeding: Wakes briefly to eat.
III. Special Sleep Phenomena
- Predominantly light sleep: High alertness, easily startled.
- Fragmented sleep patterns: About 75 sleep cycles daily.
- Seasonal changes: Sleep time may increase in winter.
Care Recommendations
- Avoid forcing interaction during the day to respect natural rhythms.
- Keep the environment dark and quiet for quality sleep.
- Provide ample food at night to meet activity needs.