Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I always feel bad because I usually feed and water them just before dark and just before dusk, as is my schedule.
I feel bad as I feed them, then have to turn out the lights, as I leave and can't leave the lights on. (Condo.)
For the most part they don't seem surprised when I turn the lights on from total darkness, but when I walk in they see me moving and it gets their attention.
It's also strange that sometimes when I check up on them at night using my flashlight rather than regular lights that the superbright flashlight I use doesn't seem to startle them. I know they're not just being stoic, as I have one rat that shreiks at the slightest provocation when she's in heat, eating, or just wants to be alone. Even she doesn't seem surprised at the bright lights. Right now she's extremely pregnant and just obese. Seriously, I have never seen a rat this big. She shreiks when she thinks anything is wrong, or about to go wrong. She does not want to be picked up, touched, or even looked at. Even she doesn't mind the bright lights.

...is when I feed them, and I ususally handle a random one until they want to go back once a day, and clean them at night.
I don't even go in there during the day.

Rats vision basically ranges from poor to blind. They are not visual animals and rely on all their other senses far more. They are nocturnal too.....light is not a big deal to them except when it is too bright. We have a couple young hairless rats at work right now.....they have full cataracts and operate just fine. Not really something they need.
-----
Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Huh, I sorta figured they had adapted to some way advanced method of dealing with low light conditions.
Never figured they were anywhere near as blind as dwarf hamsters.