Hamster care for kids · 3 min read
Why do hamsters sleep all day?
Potato sleeps when you are at school and wakes up when it gets dark. That is not lazy. That is a hamster.
Night animals
In the wild, hamsters live in hot, dry places. The day is too hot and hawks are watching.
So hamsters sleep underground in the day. At night it is cool and safe. That is when they run, dig and eat.
Your pet hamster still has that clock inside him.
Potato's clock
Potato wakes up when the sun goes down, about 7 in the evening. He runs and snacks until after midnight.
The best time to visit him is in the evening. He is awake, happy and curious.
On Potato Cam you can watch him all night, without waking him.
Never wake a hamster
Waking a hamster is like someone shouting in your ear at 3 in the morning.
A woken hamster is scared and grumpy. He may bite. And it is bad for his health.
If he is asleep, wait. He will come out when he is ready.
Keep day and night normal
- Lights off in the evening. Hamsters need real dark.
- No bright lamps on the home at night.
- Keep the room quiet in the day while he sleeps.
Potato's quick quiz
True or false? Tap to see the answer.
Hamsters are lazy because they sleep in the day.
Nope. They are night animals. Sleeping in the day is normal.
The best time to play with a hamster is the evening.
True! That is when he is awake and curious.
It is fine to wake a hamster for a photo.
Nope. Never wake a hamster. Wait for him.
Questions kids ask
Why does my hamster wake me up at night?
He is running on his wheel. Move the home to a room where nobody sleeps, or ask a grown-up for a quieter wheel.
Is my hamster ill if he sleeps all day?
No, that is normal. He should be awake and busy in the evening.
Can I keep the light on so I can see him?
No. Hamsters need real dark at night. The Potato Cam uses invisible night light.