(Day)light

[jenn2728]

I bought home my hamster around two weeks ago. Panini is a dwarf hamster (I believe winter white) of about 10 weeks old.
She lives in a tank Ödnis 80x40 cm and on top of the tank I have attached some led lights for the following reasons: 1. It is super cute since I can change colors for extra effect and 2. I live by myself and I am not always at home during the evenings and with this I want to create some light in my house.
I always put the led on the lowest setting since I do not want it to be too bright. I of course understand that your hamster needs to have a day/ night cycle and therefor this question!

I live in a studio which has his only windows directly on the street. Therefore I do not like to have my curtains open too much. Also because I live in an area in Amsterdam that might not be considered as super safe.
Now I am putting my curtains half open, but I have noticed that there isn't too much light coming in. I have read some articles that hamsters (obviously) need to have light so that it is clear when it's night and when it's day. It's not like it's completely dark in my room but it's also not bright. Opening my curtains all the way just does not feel safe and during the week I am not home between 8:30 and 18:30.

I have a timer on my led and now it always goes on around 18:30. I also like to have this for evenings that I am not at home, because I like to think that this is for my hamsters rhythm (does that make sense, or is this just me overthinking)
Now I am thinking about leaving the leds on the entire day to create a fake daylight - also because the days are getting more gray and thus darker. Do you guys think this makes sense or does this not help since it is not natural light. What would you do in this situation ?

Furthermore: is it necessary at all or am I just an over reacting new hamster owner?

Thank you guys for your advice!

[cypher]

Hams normally settle into their own routine & day/night cycle & adjust themselves to whatever we might do with lighting but they do naturally respond to changes in day length as well as temperature over the year so it's no just day & night.
I personally think it's good if they can get some sense of natural light.
If you can't open your curtains you could just get a full spectrum light bulb to use in the day, this is the same as daylight, they are very bright so you wouldn't need a strong one.
Hams see more at the blue end of the spectrum & don't see red light well so red lights are good to use at night or in the evening if you just want a low light.