What are nocturnal pets? A nocturnal pet or nocturnal animal is one that is most active during the late hours of the night. They sleep during the day, and come out when it's dark to take care of their animal business.
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Rats
Of course I have to include rats on the list. Rats make great pets and are highly intelligent and social animals. The like to come out at night and do their ratty business. My own pet rats are most active at night and I can hear them chewing, squabbling, squeaking, and eating a lot night. They do still like to come out during the day too and always welcome a daytime play session.
Hamsters
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| Photo via Tambako The Jaguar |
Like rats, these small rodents are also nocturnal animals. Having kept several hamsters as pets in the past, I will say that Hamsters seem very groggy and cranky if you wake them up while they are trying to sleep during the day. I can't blame them because I'd feel the same way. At night, hamsters like to make nests, run on their wheels, and collect food.
Hedgehogs
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| Photo via Justin Snow |
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is the species commonly kept as pets. These pets are nocturnal and active most at night. When hedgehogs stayed with us overnight at the vet clinic, they almost never woke up for anything during the day while we were there working.
Leopard Geckos
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| Photo via Steve Rainwater |
A nocturnal lizard? Yes! Leopard Geckos sleep in a safe and hidden spot during the day and come out to play when the moon rises. This means that Leopard Geckos do not have the same lighting requirements as other reptiles that are kept as pets. Something that is generally very important for most reptiles.
Sugar Gliders
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| Photo via Mike Liu |
While Sugar Gliders may be most active during the late hours of the night, they are still very social pets. Sugar Gliders form very close bonds with their humans and enjoy being carried in small purse-like pouches called "bonding pouches". They will sleep comfortably in these pouches during the day while their human carries them around. Sugar Gliders have big eyes to help them see better at night.
Cats
Some sources claim that cats are nocturnal, but truthfully they could technically be called crepuscular. Crepuscular animals are most active during twilight hours or dusk and dawn and are commonly misconceived as nocturnal. Either way, cats definitely know how to have a good time while their people are trying to get a little shut eye.
Super cute! My dad has a cat who is almost 8 years old and still doesnt understand that 4am is not the perfect time to start crying for more food. This definitely explains it. :)
ReplyDeleteSo cool!!! I have always loved mice and rats, but my hubby won't let me get any! BOL!
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Mine wouldn't either, but I finally convinced him and now he's a very good rat daddy!
DeleteCute they are indeed! We're not allowed to pawty all night. When it's lights out we go to bed and pretty much sleep through the night...house rules!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you kitties are not pawty animals ;)
DeleteMom says to tell you that you forgot gerbils. She had a ton of gerbils as a young girl and still just loves them. They are night active for sure...similar to rats, hamsters, etc.
ReplyDeleteYea, they are definitely nocturnal too. It's not a complete list and is just a few of them.
DeleteWe're not really allowed to pawty at night ; we sometimes break the rule, but not too often, or Mum would close the bedroom's door ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteI'dl ove to party all night with those guys :-)
ReplyDeleteshiner...amen ta de catz commint....bee sides...how else R we gonna catch a snax .... !!!! sorree rats, hamsters N lizardz.... { bad cat joke huh !! }
ReplyDelete:)♥
I'm very thankful golden retrievers aren't nocturnal. At least mine isn't. I have trouble staying up past 9 p.m. I'd never get to play with a nocturnal pet.
ReplyDeleteCats are the worse! That's why mom got me! Love Dolly
ReplyDeleteInteresting! We sleep most the night so we're probably not nocturnal. ;)
ReplyDeleteI first learned about Sugar Gliders from you. I was fascinated. I really thought my son would fall in love with them, but much to my surprise he said he thought he would actually be afraid of it (who knew?) I think I really wanted to see it in person myself. #ohwell Great post!
ReplyDeleteTell him that I'm kind of afraid of them too LOL
DeleteI want a sugar glider! I also had chinchillas which were nocturnal. Great blog post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and topic!
ReplyDeleteEven thought wild rats are completely nocturnal, I believe domestic pet rats can easily adapt to their human's schedule. This is one big advantage pet rats have over hamsters.
Oops....Typo!.....meant to type "Even though" not "Even thought"
ReplyDeleteThem critters are skwee!
ReplyDeleteAnd Bunnies Too spend a lot of time partying at night,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteMom says that she has always wanted a sugar glider. They are so super cute! We would love to have one too… to chase!!! heheheeeee
ReplyDeleteMy rodents (hamsters, mice and gerbils) were definitely most active at night. And that squeaky wheel, well it got the oil if it was used at night time and kept my parents up! I didn't know that leopard geckos were nocturnal. We had one and I just thought he just slept a lot!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about cats...that's very interesting! That explains why the dogs are usually up early....the cats must start moving around more and that's what wakes them.
ReplyDeleteWe're pretty much early to bed, early to rise here so we probably won't add any nocturnal animals to our crew....but aren't they all cute! Well, the gecko isn't really cute, but he's colorful! :)
thank you thank you thank you! I am always trying to correct people who say cats are nocturnal..
ReplyDeleteMOL - well I knew that if I didn't include crepuscular, I would never hear the end of it!
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