Are guinea pigs nocturnally active? Or do they just sleep during the day? These questions are frequently asked by new owners, but the truth is neither. Guinea pigs spend most of their time sleeping, taking short naps during the day, and avoiding predators by staying in dark, quiet areas. Here’s what you need to know to help them relax and sleep through the night.
Neither
You may be asking yourself whether guinea pigs are nocturnal. While guinea pigs are not nocturnal, they do get playful at certain times of the day. And because they are creatures of habit, you may also notice that they tend to sleep during the day when you’re out. And, while they are not nocturnal, they are likely most active during sunset and sunrise.
If you’re wondering whether guinea pigs are nocturnal, you might be surprised to learn that they are crepuscular – they are active at dawn and dusk. They can sleep with their eyes closed at any time, though, and can get into mischief at any time of day. And, like most pigs, guinea pigs can sleep with their eyes closed.
They take short naps
When your baby wakes up at the crack of dawn, you might feel like you’ve wasted an eternity. You’ve tried for hours to soothe him to sleep and only to find him up half an hour later. You’re frustrated that you didn’t get the quality sleep you wanted and have to spend time around the house and to yourself. So, you resort to putting him down for a short nap.
If your baby’s napping habits are out of whack, you might need to adjust the bedtime earlier. In the meantime, the older baby may be gearing up for the transition from a short nap to full daytime sleep. As a rule, babies consolidate to four naps at four months, three at six months, two at nine months, and one at fifteen to 18 months. However, infant development is a spectrum and some babies reach their milestones later than others.
They avoid predators
Large carnivores are primarily nocturnal, but the behaviors of some ungulate species are also influenced by human presence. In areas with high human population density, kob was found to be less active at night. Predators also increased their access to two of their prey species. These observations indicated that nocturnal ungulates avoided human predators more effectively than diurnal ungulates.
Most nocturnal animals, like bats, insects, and hamsters, rely on their keen senses to avoid being seen during the day. This helps them avoid being detected by predators because it is more difficult for them to move about during the day and ambush their prey. However, these animals have to avoid nocturnal predators to survive in a dark environment.
Another advantage to being nocturnal is improved eyesight. Unlike diurnal animals, nocturnal animals can take in more light, thanks to the reflective surface behind their retinas. While this may sound counterintuitive, scientists say that nocturnal animals can also benefit from increased sunlight during the day. The more light an animal can get during the day, the less likely it is to be attacked by predators.
They need a dark, quiet space to sleep
Creating an ideal sleep environment for your child can have a dramatic effect on their sleep. Previously, newborns were in total darkness for nine months. Now, light exposure is essential for telling them when it’s day or night. At around eight to twelve weeks of age, newborns begin to produce sleep hormones that help them rest well at night. However, a dark, quiet room is boring and may not be conducive to a good night’s sleep.
