From:
sukiec@optonline.com
Date: 2003-02-27 19:43:35 UTC
Subject: RE: Lights on-or-off for ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4521471.1046375015382.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Be sure to have soem black or very dark bedding in there, too. On studies of natural melatonin production (which is what darkness allows for -- though it may provide more that isn't yet known) even small levels of light or intermittent ones reduced melatonin production by the body by a good deal. Melatonin production is important for mammals in general it appears, and if it is so important for humans who are descended from outdoor living diurnal ancestors imagine the possible need of darkness of critters descended from ancestors who had crepuscular (dawn and dusk) activity peaks, and lived incommandeered borrows and other very dark places.
For some applications darkness is one of those "hypothetical but a lot of very intriguing evidence" groupings...