Keeping them cool?

Shmoo · 06-06-2011, 04:25 PM

I don't have air conditioning, and it's like at least 90 degrees lately. I've looked up a few things online, and it mentioned freezing a water bottle and putting it in the cage. I put 3 water bottles(2 hamsters and a mouse) in the freezer, so I haven't actually put them in the cage yet. What I'm worried about is the excess water dripping onto them. Is that something I should worry about? The things that I looked up said put a sock over the water bottle, and put in the cage. I think I'm going to make some sort of contraption so they'll hang from the sides. Should I be worried about the sweat from the bottle getting onto them? Does anyone have any other ideas?

stellanova1 · 06-06-2011, 05:02 PM

I've used really small plates or mugs/cups put them in the fridge for a while and then put in cage for ham to sit on if needed. You could try this? Not sure about the water bottle though....

SnickersTheFirst · 06-06-2011, 11:48 PM

I use a glass jar or mug and put them in the fridge for a while, I used to use tiles but they were a bit big.

Fidgetthefirst · 06-07-2011, 08:32 AM

Do you mean freezing the water bottle with water in? Like their drinking bottle?
Water/ice expands when its frozen doesn't it? Couldn't this cause the bottle to crack?
I intend to use a cup once it gets warmer, although its very hot right now >.<

purple_x · 06-07-2011, 08:36 AM

You could use a ceramic/terracotta tile cooled down in the fridge or freezer.

Or you can freeze a tin can (with the contents still inside) when it's frozen pop it into a thick sock and this way the animal wont get soggy if they lean against it!

SnickersTheFirst · 06-07-2011, 09:48 AM

I'd worry about putting a sock in their cage because of the material?

Forgot to add, I wouldn't recommend freezing a bottle; the pressure could crack it, it may be too cold and it will take quite some time to defrost. Cold water from a tap is fine.

Debbie · 06-07-2011, 10:08 AM

The trick with freezing water in a bottle is not to fill the bottle to the top so the water can expand, we do this for ourselves if we are going on a car journey and it's hot, means we have cold water to drink for a while - once it's defrosted a little! Lots of people with guinea pigs also do this but to be honest I'm not sure I'd want to do it with a little ham - just in case, especially as they are awake when we are asleep most of the time so we wouldn't know if something happened! Tiles are supposed to work well and you can get the small ones that would work for hams, but I have never found my hamsters get too hot anyway so have never needed to find a way to cool them down.

Lucinda · 06-07-2011, 11:22 AM

I just make sure they're under shady parts of my room so direct sunlight won't hit them at any part of the day, and making sure their drinking water is nice and fresh from the cold tap. Putting a tile in a fridge doesn't sound like a bad idea though!

Smysha · 06-07-2011, 11:41 AM

A frozen pea is a nice, cool treat!

Shmoo · 06-07-2011, 11:51 PM

Thanks everyone! I tried out the bottle idea today, and it appeared to work great! I just froze some water in water bottles(not their drinking water) and put them in their cages inside socks. They snuggled up near them, and it seems to have solved my problem. They weren't too happy when I took them out to put them back in the freezer over night. lol.

My hamsters never tend to really destroy anything when it's put in their cages, so I'm not worried about that. The socks weren't even chewed on a little bit.