Do Rats Need Natural Light?

Rats do not require natural light. Although they do benefit from the vitamin D and bone health that sunlight provides, rats do not require the bright light of sunlight to survive. In fact, they can thrive in an area that is dimly lit. They will still benefit from the protection of light, though. But they shouldn’t be exposed to bright light 24/7!

Rats are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active in the dark. If you want to keep your pet rat from having a stressful experience at night, you can switch off the light. Rats prefer darkness because it helps them feel safe. You can also leave the light on during the day, but not at night.

A recent study compared rats in two light and dark groups. Rats in the natural light group were less stressed, but still showed an increase in defecation. Rats in the light group had lower levels of social interaction, which may be an indicator of stress. This study found that dim lighting and long nights can calm stressed rats.

The light also increased predators’ visual acuity, and therefore reduced the activity of prey. This may explain why rats have reduced activity in artificial or moonlit areas. This is due to predators avoiding these areas.