Message Number: SG7653 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Ladyrochebug@aol.com
Date: 2004-01-30 20:49:11 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] 14 hours of darkness? (Adrenal)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1152907.1075505549430.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>

I have read in books and been told by a vet in this group and my own personal
vet that 14 hours of real darkness is ideal, and that they need natural
day/night cycles. I have an area in the cage that is completely dark, but they
prefer their hammocks and my new little guys just sleep anywhere (right out in
the
open). I would need to make their entire cage completely dark.
I find it hard to believe that they do not need any sunlight, if anything for
their mental well being. I was under the impression that ferrets were not
nocturnal considering they produce melatonin when it's dark, I could be wrong.
I
would cover their cage after my husband and I go to bed, but I am worried that
will make it very stuffy and stinky in their cage. Could that be a problem?
And how in the world can hammocks and other ferret beds cause harm as long
as
they have a dark place to retreat to?

>From the mailbox of Rochelle Carson