Today's Random Question: Day/night Duration

[JCLee]

I've had many animals before these glorious new piggies, but predominately herps (reptiles and amphibians.) With herp care, you usually get a fairly specific guideline for the duration of daylight (i.e. 12 hours, 14 hours, etc.) Those guidelines are often based on what naturally occurs in the country of origin, breeding cycles, whether the animal is diurnal or nocturnal, and/or the need for UV-producing lights for a sustained period of time.

Anyway, I've got my piggies' a light on a timer, but I wasn't sure if there was a recommended day duration, so I've just set it for a 12-hour cycle. Of course, we're up more than 12 hours a day, so they kind of wake up with us and stay up until we go to bed. I've not found anything on this in the reading I've done, and I wondered if anyone had suggestions for how long their day should be, or whether it seems to matter at all to them and why.

 

[Wiebke]

I've had many animals before these glorious new piggies, but predominately herps (reptiles and amphibians.) With herp care, you usually get a fairly specific guideline for the duration of daylight (i.e. 12 hours, 14 hours, etc.) Those guidelines are often based on what naturally occurs in the country of origin, breeding cycles, whether the animal is diurnal or nocturnal, and/or the need for UV-producing lights for a sustained period of time.

Anyway, I've got my piggies' a light on a timer, but I wasn't sure if there was a recommended day duration, so I've just set it for a 12-hour cycle. Of course, we're up more than 12 hours a day, so they kind of wake up with us and stay up until we go to bed. I've not found anything on this in the reading I've done, and I wondered if anyone had suggestions for how long their day should be, or whether it seems to matter at all to them and why.

Guinea pigs are mammals; they do not rely on UV lights unlike reptiles, hence why you don't find much information.
Guinea pigs are usually most active and feeding in the mornings and evenings although they will browse at times during the day and the night.

 

[JCLee]

I know they don't need UV. I set up a lamp (with a regular bulb) because my husband is the one who's usually in the living room with them, and he doesn't like the overhead light. It's often a bit dark and gloomy downstairs, as a result.

How long of a day do yours tend to have?

 

[Wiebke]

I know they don't need UV. I set up a lamp (with a regular bulb) because my husband is the one who's usually in the living room with them, and he doesn't like the overhead light. It's often a bit dark and gloomy downstairs, as a result.

How long of a day do yours tend to have?

At the moment, we have rather short nights, as the UK is about as far north as Calgary or Edmonton in Canada! The last day light fades at 11pm and comes back before 4am. In winter, the days are correspondingly short...

 

[JCLee]

Fair enough. I'll stick with the 12 hour cycle unless their behavior tells me to do otherwise. Thanks.

 

[AuntyC]

What an interesting question! When fostering piggies I have found that yes, mornings and evenings they tend to be more active, but snooze between sessions of activity.

 

[JCLee]

As long as midday snoozing is fairly normal, rather than a sign that I'm keeping them up too late, I think we'll be just fine. :-)

 

[Gimz]

with mine it's breakfast time run around till around 10 then they settle down to a good chill out and snooze. Unless I get them out for a cuddle, or clean their cage or add in new hay, then they don't tend to do much until late afternoon. Even if in the run outside they will stay under their hidey house napping and nibbling until around 5. Thry only tend to explore further and run around a bit after that. They generally have lap time from 10 until 12 in the evening, where one will fall asleep in fleece blanket and the other won't sit still for long but will chill out. So in our house its around 15 hours but with lots of sleeping in between during the day, and around 8 hours at night

 

[Wigwig]

interesting, archie is most active during the day, though it depends what hes been doing. If he hasnt gone outside at all, he will be much more active at night, even with the lights off. But if hes had alot of time outside, or had to have a bath or car drives, then he will be very tired and sleep almost 8 hours straight. Of course he will nap during the day if he gets abit tired, but overall he tends to do most of his sleeping at night, with just a few short wakings to go to the toilet and have some food.