Most preferred light color of female Syrian hamster during day and night

The light regulation within laboratory environments is critical for ensuring the wellbeing and accurate study of nocturnal animals like Syrian hamsters. This study evaluated the instinctual light color preferences of 18 adult female Syrian hamsters under controlled conditions. The experiment exposed hamsters to four different light colors - blue, red, green, and yellow - under identical irradiance during both day and night phases. The time spent in each light zone was recorded and analyzed using chi-square and mixed model type III analysis. Results showed a significant preference for blue light during the day and red light at night. These preferences align with the physiological needs of hamsters, confirming that previously established light conditions in laboratory settings inadvertently matched their natural inclinations. This study contributes to optimizing light protocols in animal research to improve both welfare and experimental accuracy.