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Originally Posted by yasmin_the_hamster
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In this study, we showed that cages with at least 40 cm of bedding seemed to enhance the welfare of golden hamsters, although those in 80 cm bedding had more body fat compared with the other groups.
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She did a follow up research tracking activity time.
Follow Up Report
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Hamsters in deep bedding were significantly less synchronised to the light system, developed longer circadian rhythms tau (τ), had later activity onsets in the running wheel and a lower running wheel activity than hamsters in low bedding cages. Their activity onsets inside the bedding were later. Time differences between the onset of movements inside the bedding and the onset of running wheel activity were not significant. Thus, the later appearance of golden hamsters kept in deep bedding was not fully compensated by more activity inside the burrows.
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So lots of bedding means lower activity, which with similar food intake, means fatter hamsters.