Hamster heating?

SunshineHeaton · 03-28-2016, 11:02 AM

I have a close friend who is starting a new business where she goes into schools and teaches youngish kids about animal care and stuff like that, she is now buying some hamsters so she can teach the children about hamsters and stuff like that, she is buying a group of 4 dwarfs so she can let them do hamster ball races and stuff like that, she is also buying a Syrian hamster to allow the older kids to carefully handle and stuff like that, I've already expressed how important it is for her to keep them in large cages so she is making large cages for all of the hamsters, her only problem is that she is not allowed to keep them inside her house because her granddad won't let her, so she is going to be keeping them inside her garage (not cars or electrical items that release fumes are used in there) and she wants to buy them a heat mat for when it gets cold at night.

What watt heat mat does everyone recommend? She said that the options are 8.5, 13 and 22.

Rsclio197 · 03-28-2016, 11:09 AM

If that's the case I would strongly say she should cancel the project. That would be extremely unfair on the lives of 5 little animals in my opinion. Not to mention the fact they shouldn't really be awake running around in balls during school hours.

Hamsters are a big commitment, especially 5 of them. They shouldn't be used in this way.

I'd advise your friend books an evening slot at your local p@h store and take the kids there. I've seen our local schools In there handling the small pets under expert guidance and the kids loved it.

I'd strongly advise against what she is doing in summary, even if she could keep them in her grand dad's house. If she does go ahead with it I'd tell her to do some extensive research on the hams.

Rsclio197 · 03-28-2016, 11:11 AM

Unless of course she is doing these classes in the evening. Even still imagine the stress the hamsters would go through with all of that travelling? To be frank I totally don't agree with her business plan. It's not fair on the poor little guys.

Sorry about going off topic but I don't know much about the heating pads... what is her plan for keeping the temperature cool in the summer and preventing drafts in the garage? Hamster's hate drafts I've heard!

cypher · 03-28-2016, 10:51 PM

Apart from the outdoor situation not really being suitable, heat mats can over heat the ham & they ideally need to be in a room with the correct ambient temperature, around 18-20C.
Does she know anything about keeping dwarf hams in groups? It's quite a challenge to keep a pair let alone four & they may well fall out then she will need an extra three cages.
Hamster balls are not safe for dwarf hamsters so I think she should forget all about hamster races, if she wants to go ahead with this kind of project maybe try to convince her teaching kids about proper animal care rather than having fun at the expense of the hams would be more appropriate.
Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh but I'm not sure your friend has really thought it through & I am a bit concerned about the hams!

humfry · 03-29-2016, 02:57 PM

What an appalling plan! Not one aspect of this shows care or respect for the poor hamsters & teaches children the most dreadful lesson that animals are some sort of toy for amusement. An unheated garage is not suitable for housing hamsters & heat pads are not the answer to keeping them at a suitable temperature. They will either freeze or fry. Tell her to forget it. And if she goes ahead I hope she gets reported to the RSPCA!

Rsclio197 · 03-29-2016, 03:27 PM

In my honest opinion she's doing it only for her self with no respect for the hamsters.

I hope you show her these comments and she reconsiders sunshine.

**zak** · 03-29-2016, 03:41 PM

Tell your friend to get some of these: Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster (Mr Squiggles, Num Nums, Pipsqueak or Chunk): Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

M3gan · 03-29-2016, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak

Tell your friend to get some of these: Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster (Mr Squiggles, Num Nums, Pipsqueak or Chunk): Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

Good idea zak. It is a terrible idea to use real hamsters.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-29-2016, 04:08 PM

Does she know that hamsters sleep during the day obviously & therefore are not to be entertaining loud children in unsafe balls.

Then keeping hammies in a garage is animal cruelty. They are tiny, fragile animals. At the rate she's going the animals will die, keeping 4 of them together unsupervised in a crazy climate is really, really bad news!