Awake time

[4everyoung]

I was wondering the best way to "change" when Artemis sleeps. I am fully ok and aware of the fact that she will be awake for the most part at night.. I would just like her to be awake a little more in the evening as I work early in the mornings and don't get to enjoy her then if she happens to be up.

Also will she become acostom to the light being on and not sleeping. As it is she goes to bed just about as soon as I wake up and turn on the light. Maybe its just coincidence that that is when she is sleepy.

[Tsukiko]

Haha, I doubt that's coincidence. Suki comes out to play as soon as I turn the light out and she goes to bed when the light goes on. Sometimes I play a trick on her and turn the light off before I'm ready to go to bed and scoop her up to play with her :) She always is surprised and a little ticked when I do that. That being said, I don't think it would be a good idea to totally change Artemis' sleeping schedule. Getting her up to play with her for a little bit is fine and if you consistently do it at the same time (and give her nice treats) she'll probably start waking up on her own, just don't try and make her be awake during the day and asleep at night and she should be fine.

[freznow]

I know it is possible to change a nocturnal animals sleeping schedule, but it takes a lot of work and I think it would be very dangerous. My hog will go right back to bed if the light is on. Even if it's a tiny light, like a night light or a flashlight, it's still too much light...

[herbiesmom]

The nocturnal thing is one of the pitfalls of owning hedgies. Snow will wake up and snuggle with me if I wait until after 8 pm to wake him. Herbie does not like to be awakened and will hiss at first but he will play a little if I wait until after 9 pm.

[hemi_mygirl]

Hemi gets up at about 9pm, and goes to bed at about 6am. She cuddles with me from 9 to 10pm, and then I put her in her cage, with a black blanket over top. That way, she can play, and I can still have my light on. It's win/win.

I've never considered changing Hemi's schedule... it's what hedgehogs do, and her playing in the evening never bothered me.

If you take your hedgehog out at a certain time every night, she may get accustomed to that, and gradually become more awake at the time. That's what happened with Hemi. I didn't try to change it, she just started anticipating snuggletime at 9pm, so she's usually awake then.

[New kid]

My little girl has a completely random sleep schedule. She up during the day as often as at night. Doesn't matter how much sunligh is coming through the drapes or how many lights are on. Perhaps this is from her being in a glass aquarium for the 2 weeks at the pet store? They used a lamp for heat, so I'm guessing she had light on her 24/7.

[4everyoung]

The main reason I ask is Artemis seems to wake up at 12-1am and goes to bed when I turn on the light at about 730am. She will come out and play in the evening if I wake her up. Perhaps she will sleep at different times when I move and the room she will be in wont be as bright.

[herbiesmom]

When Snow and Herbie were only 16 weeks old or so, they slept on and off throughout the day and night. They would wake up to eat every few hours. Now, they sleep the majority of the day and are awake the majority of the night. They are 5 and 6 months old now.

[illinidairychic]

My hediges get up at 7:30 pm. They got set to that time last winter when I started using an automatic switch in their lights. In the summer I don't ues the light but I will have to go back to it soon. You can tweak their time here and there but an overhaul wouldn't be recommended.

[Kerrie]

The main reason I ask is Artemis seems to wake up at 12-1am and goes to bed when I turn on the light at about 730am. She will come out and play in the evening if I wake her up. Perhaps she will sleep at different times when I move and the room she will be in wont be as bright.
Just remember..
-Make sure your hedgie is getting at least 12-14 hours of light every day. Whether this is natural light coming through a window, or light from a bright lamp in a room- make sure your hog is getting at least 12-14 hours of it!

Taken from PrettyHate's "Tis the Season" thread.