From:
Roger Vaughn
Date: 2002-01-04 18:40:00 UTC
Subject: Photoperiodism and sleeping quarters
I have read a few references recently about how simulating a natural -
and naturally changing - photoperiod can be beneficial to a ferret's
health. I'm curious to see if anyone can answer a question I have
about our ferrets' (and our) habits and photoperiodism.
Our ferrets have free roam of the house, minus a room or two. We keep
much of it lit late at night. This *definitely* violates the natural
photoperiod. The ferrets, however, don't sleep in an exposed cage -
instead they sleep in the dark confines of our furniture (in a safe
spot). No light (or maybe the tiniest glimmer) gets into their
sleeping hole. As a result, they spend most of their day in total
darkness, with only the few hours they spend out for play in the light.
How would this affect them as far as simulating a normal photoperiod
go? My thought is that they aren't exposed to light constantly
throughout the day, so their bodies may not notice the light patterns
anyway.
Any thoughts?
Roger
Digger and Bear