Do hamsters get high?

[Lilbet]

I have gas radiators for heating in my apartment, the big silver hunks of metal on the ground that get pretty hot. I've always suspected they must put off some sort of fumes, since I can't keep a plant, mostly ferns, orchids, more fragile plants, alive in winter to save my life. They get sickly and die, not for any reason I could pin down except that it coincided with being in a room with a heater. Anyways, Lavender has taken to stopping her ball in front of the outflow spigot on the radiator and sitting there. She will stay there until I move her and when she starts to move on her own, she wobbles all over like she's drunk. She then will, given the chance, make her way back to the same spot. Could she be huffing? Or is it the heat? I only think it could be fumes since she moves so funny afterwards and if she was craving heat, she would be paying equal attention to the space heater in the middle of the room.

Note: When I realized/thought this was happening I removed her from her ball for fresh air in another room. I've also started to block her access to that spot when she is out.

I also have CO detectors and no one else, myself or the cats have any issues. Of course we don't sit next to the spigot and breathe in deeply. I thought it was a weird, curious thing she was doing and was wondering what you all thought. Trust me, she wont be getting near it again, even if she wasn't high. I didn't like how she got all quiet and weaved all over afterwards.

[souffle]

Hamsters do tend to gravitate towards places when they can feel a draught. They do this in the cage where there might be a small hole or water bottle tube hole. I think the airflow attracts them. I wouldn't let her near that outlet as it is not worth the risk. Their lungs are very tiny and fragile and small amounts of any noxious gas could be fatal to them where as it may not affect you or larger animals.

[BrainGirl]

It's not fumes killing your plants, it's probably that the air is too dry around the radiators. Try getting a deep tray, filling it with largish stones, and then adding water to not quite the top of the stones. Then set your plant on top. The humidity will help immensely though you'll have to keep topping up the water in the trays.

Alternatively, check around the windows (radiators are almost always under windows) and make sure there aren't any leaks. Cold drafts can do damage too, but it's most likely just the aridity.

[Lilbet]

Thanks! I freaked out a little when I thought she was sniffing something harmful.

I don't think it's because my apartment is too dry, since I have constant battles with mold on the walls...downside of no central heat or air. I had cacti too that got mold in their roots and rotted. Kind of horrifying to watch. The other plants start turning yellow on their leaves and it spreads until they are dry, dead husks. I usually do a plant autopsy, lol and the roots seem fine. I gave up having live plants :(

[Gatsby]

Aye, I can only add my experience with putting out bowls of water when the heaters/ radiators are being used. For some reason the dry air and heat used to agitate my athsma so we would put bowls out, other than that no idea what your hammy was doing lol

[Shannonmcn]

I got a fairly cheap (about £10) humidity and temp monitor from Halfords (a general motoring/hardware store in the UK, sorry I don't know the equivalent for the us) that I used to use for research but now sits beside the ham cage, it's really useful for when you're not sure if the temp or humidity might be unsuitable. We have problems with damp too.

I also used it to prove to my terrible landlords that the fridge was ridiculously broken so it might have multiple uses and maybe it's a decent investment ;)

[Lilbet]

Ha ha, yeah, my fridge is a giant beast of crap too. It died over the summer and the landlord tried to blame me for it, saying I wasn't keeping enough stuff in the freezer. I had to bite my tongue since the thing is so loud and shakes...he paid to have it fixed and when I suggested he buy a new one I got the whole lecture on how it works fine. The cats and I get terrible allergies every winter. I can only assume it's the mold in the bathroom. Lavender doesn't' get exposed to it as much, since the bathroom is also the coldest room in the house. I miss the humid air back in Georgia :) None of this five to six months of winter deal. lol