How much do hamsters sleep, do they hibernate

Nature is very wise, so she made sure that it was easier for animals to survive the winter. For example, bears hibernate, which allows the body to use energy sparingly, the animal’s life processes slow down, and subcutaneous fat is deposited. Many hamster breeders are interested in the question of whether hamsters hibernate and how much they sleep. Under natural conditions, the rodent hibernates, but it passes in a lightweight version.

What is numbness?

The body of a hamster is not adapted to hibernation like a bear, a condition characteristic of rodents is called torpor, it happens in winter. The difference between a typical hibernation is in duration.

Numbness is a short-term hibernation, during which all processes in the body of a little rascal slow down, the body temperature drops, it does not react to anything, “freezes”. These processes are affected by lowering the air temperature and the length of the day. In spring, the days become longer, it is warmer outside and the rodents stop getting stiff. Street hamsters hibernate (stupor), but does this happen to pets?!

Pet behavior

Domestic hamsters can also become numb. Do not be alarmed if one morning you see that the pet does not make noise, practically does not show signs of life. We hasten to reassure you, most likely he is alive. Take the baby in your arms, warm it, gently stroke it and life will return to it.

The torpor of hamsters is a kind of “waiting mode”, during which the rodent does not respond to external stimuli, outwardly it looks like it is sleeping.

Causes of torpor in domestic hamsters:

• low temperature in the apartment, not comfortable for the hamster;
• lack of food and malnutrition;
• insufficient lighting.

Despite the fur coat, animals do not tolerate hunger, because initially hamsters lived in the steppes. If you take care of rational nutrition, put a heating pad under the cage or put a small heater nearby, it will not become numb. A sleeping hamster quickly comes out of this state under comfortable conditions. After hibernation, the rodent should be fed soft food, such as unsalted oatmeal, boiled vegetables. At home, it is very important to provide the pet with a sufficient amount of daylight, feed it well.

Hamsters are small animals, but they require a lot of attention and a lot of love. If you provide your pet with care, he will not need to hibernate.

How to wake up a baby?

If a sleeping hamster has not prepared for hibernation, has not eaten a fatty layer, but has fallen into an “emergency stupor” in order to avoid exhaustion and dehydration of the body, it is still worth waking it up. By such actions, you will not harm the baby, but you yourself will be calm and save him from starvation.

To force the hamster out of hibernation, the owners go to tricks. For example, they wrap the cells with a warm blanket, rags and put sweets.

Interestingly, Syrian hamsters are more prone to hibernation, jungars fall into a stupor for several hours. In this state, the hamster can endure a lack of food, uncomfortable temperatures, and other adverse conditions.

Important: if the pet does not show signs of life, do not rush to bury it, perhaps the hamster is sleeping. Having drawn conclusions about his sudden death, the owner unwittingly brings this process closer. Check if the animal is breathing and start waking it up.

In a state of stupor, a dzhungarik or a hamster of another breed can stay for several hours or even days – it all depends on external factors, the comfort of the animal’s standard of living. In the wild, in order to become numb, it is enough for a hamster to come out of his own mink on a late winter evening. If the baby stays all day in an uncomfortable, low temperature, his body will begin to “save energy”.

If you decide to wake up a hamster, in no case should it be placed on radiators, heaters, or placed in a cage near an open fire. More valuable dry, soft heat and the ability to warm up gradually.

Why the hamster is sleeping, we have already figured out, but how to understand that he has come out of a state of stupor? The animal will begin to breathe more often, tremble, and move independently.

Habitual sleep pattern

Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so they stay awake at night and sleep during the day. It is difficult to say how much hamsters sleep, because it is individual. The animal can easily oversleep all day, and at night be active: spin the wheel, climb in labyrinths. Some owners are not satisfied with this state of affairs, and they want to wean the rodent from sleeping during daylight hours.

It is difficult to teach a hamster to walk during the day and sleep at night, even if you remove the wheel at night, wake the animal during the day to clean the cage and slip goodies. If you constantly do not let the hamster sleep when he wants it, it will unsettle him. Let your pet set its own routine, unless you really want to play with it.

Video: hamster hibernating