"Daylight" bulb affecting hamster?

Imay · 08-30-2014, 12:13 PM

Is it possible for a "daylight" (SAD) bulb to affect a hamster?

Gino seems to sleep a lot (he's young, nothing wrong with him, when he's awake he's totally active) and I just realised this may be due to the daylight bulb making him think it's day all the time. My old hamster never seemed bothered by it, but this was in our old house, I had the attic room, and he was more in the shade. Gino's definitely a nervous hamster but was more active when I first got him - before I got the bulb (old one blew so I had a regular light bulb for awhile).

I've owned hamsters for over 10 years but I've only used SAD bulbs for a few years so this is new to me and has only just occured to me may be a problem. Should I try switching back to the yellow light?

**DrKMcK** · 08-30-2014, 12:16 PM

Hello Imay. I know plants react to full spectrum light, so it wouldn't surprise me that a SAD bulb might make a hammy think it is daylight. Try changing the bulb for a while and see if it changes anything.

Skeever · 08-30-2014, 12:18 PM

If the change of bulbs coincides with a sudden sleep change? I'd consider it. Those lights are designed to give a balance of light to counteract seasonal-affective effects, and who knows, it might be more noticeable to hams?

Or, he's just sleeping a lot more due to weather, growing older? Ziggy really chilled out around six months. I have given up on trying to figure out their sleep schedules. They seem to change them quite well without me interfering.

Imay · 08-30-2014, 12:29 PM

Thank you both! I'll give switching the bulb a try and see what it does. I can just shove it in a lamp if I need it for whatever reason (mostly using it for brightness currently).

Skeever - Well, when I say he's sleeping a lot I mean I don't see him at all half the time. I'm assuming he's coming out when I'm asleep, because the food is disappearing. Haha.

I'm not 100% sure if it definitely coincides with a bulb change, as I didn't think much of it at first, but with the assumption he's only coming out when I'm asleep, I just realised that may be because the lights are off then.

Of course, he is about 6 months at this point - he could just be getting lazy. My last hamster was pretty lazy, haha.

But I'll give the bulb a switch and if he starts showing his face more, that'll be pretty conclusive. Thank you!

Rainbow · 08-30-2014, 12:32 PM

Odin won't come out often when the lights on, some of them are just awkward I think. Ivy doesn't care!

Imay · 08-30-2014, 12:37 PM

Rainbow - That could be, too! All hamsters are different. I've never had a hamster react to artificial light (he's my 9th Syrian, so it wasn't something that crossed my mind as being an issue til now), but as it's a different kind of bulb, I'm worried it's disorienting him a bit. I'll be switching it over shortly and if he still doesn't come out after a few days I'll just assume he's awkward with light or being his nervous self. I'm switching him over to a vivarium when it comes, so that should block out the light a little bit if he is as it won't be able to get in all 4 sides.

Thanks!

cypher · 08-31-2014, 01:11 AM

I use full spectrum lights & always have while I've had hams & it doesn't seem to bother them, if they're not used to it they should adjust after a little while. I know when I first got them, before I had hams, it made me really hyper in the evenings but after about a week my brain figured it out & settled back down to normal!! Maybe it's the same for a ham!

Imay · 08-31-2014, 02:42 AM

Well, I've had the bulb a few months now, so I'd imagine he'd be used to it by now if he was going to get used to it haha. I feel you on the change in myself, though :P That happened to me too.

I'm starting to get a little worn out on the bulb myself to be honest, they're starting to do the opposite of what they're supposed to do for me, I'm getting tired of white light haha. So I'll be buying a new bulb today and shoving my SAD one in a lamp for if I need it during the winter months. We'll see if it makes a difference in Gino or not. If not, I'll just assume he's done the same as my last hamster - become lazy as he gets older. Haha. Thank you!

Imay · 08-31-2014, 11:57 AM

Update: I changed bulbs, this time yesterday he was still asleep and never came out of his nest, today he's awake and poking around and looks more alert. So I'll be sticking to the new lightbulb as I think it really was affecting him! It's nice to see him exploring again. Silly ham.

2LittlePuds · 08-31-2014, 12:15 PM

Thats great. I bet you missed watching him