No.
Hamsters should not be exposed to the sun. The main reasons are as follows:
1. Eye Adaptability
Hamsters are nocturnal animals. Their eyes are adapted to dim environments and they have strong night vision. Direct exposure to strong light, especially sunlight, may irritate their eyes, leading to keratitis and even blindness.
2. Living Habits
Wild hamsters usually hide from the sun in underground burrows and rarely come out during the day to avoid predators. Domesticated hamsters have retained this habit. They prefer to be active at night or during dusk rather than in the daytime.
3. Body Temperature Regulation
Hamsters are very sensitive to temperature. They are adapted to an environmental temperature of approximately 20-30°C. In summer, direct sunlight may cause their body temperature to rise rapidly, making them prone to heatstroke. Heatstroke can be fatal for hamsters because they lack effective physiological mechanisms to cool down.
4. Risk of Dehydration
Hamsters like a cool living environment. If the temperature is high and the sunlight is intense, directly exposing them to the sun may cause small hamsters to become dehydrated and even lose their lives.
5. Impact on Normal Sleep Patterns
Hamsters have their own sleep patterns. If they are taken out to be exposed to the sun during the day, these little fellows won't be able to sleep and rest well. At night, they won't be lively either. Disrupting the hamster's sleep pattern is very harmful to its health.
6. Alternative Methods for Disinfection and Calcium Supplementation
Although sun exposure helps disinfect the body surface of small animals and promotes calcium absorption, not all small animals are suitable for sunbathing. If you want to disinfect your hamster, as long as the owner changes the bedding frequently, keeps the cage clean and dry, and gives the hamster more baths with bath sand, the little one can still stay clean. If you want to supplement calcium for your hamster, you can feed it more animal-based feed, such as small pieces of dried meat, mealworms, etc., which can also enhance the nutrition of the little hamster.
In conclusion, hamsters are not suitable for sun exposure. Owners should avoid exposing hamsters to the sun to ensure their health and comfort.