How cold can hamsters handle?

[Erin.R]

I know it has been asked before but I don't remember what was said, I think because it was in celsius. My furnace went out yesterday evening. I have space heaters for a few of the rooms but not enough for the hamster room. I did move the older ones into my room where I obviously have a heater. But that leaves 9 of them in their room, 2 Robo's 1 russian and 2 Sh, 4 Lh Syrians under a year old. It was 68 degrees when I went ti bed but it is now around 62, Is this too cold for them? I can move everyone into my room, it may be a little packed but it would only be for a day since I ordered them a heater last night from Amazon so it should come quickly. Any thoughts please? Oh and I did check on them, everyone looks fine this morning. I just wonder if they are warm because they are running on their wheels and when they go for to bed this morning I don't want them to freeze,

[Pygmypuff]

Hi there Erin!

Well, currently where I live it is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and my hamster is doing just fine. However, I live in the UK, so I would suppose that my hamster would be naturally hardier than your hamsters. What is the normal temperature for where you live? I'd say if it was massively below the average temperature, try and get your hamsters into a heated room. If it's not, they'll just snuggle up for longer to try and keep warm. They might not even notice. Hope I could help!

[cypher]

As far as I remember from when we discussed this recently 62f is about as low as you really want it to get but hams don't normally go into hibernation unless the temp goes down to about 40, obviously you don't want it to get anywhere near that cold if you can avoid it, as long as it doesn't get much colder than it is they should be ok until your heater arrives.

[NiceCrocs]

It's been in the low 20s here all week, and my bedroom hovers between 58 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit most of the day, but more around 67-68 when I'm there at night to supervise the heater

Neither of my girls (a syrian and a robo) have shown any signs of distress or sickness from these temperatures. The only change I've noticed is that the syrian is sleeping a bit more, which isn't concerning to me

[Erin.R]

Wow you guys must be able to handle cold better than me lol. We keep the thermostat at about 72 all the time. I was able to heat up my room, keeping the door shut helped it remain warm, so I put the heater in there to warm it up a bit. Since their door is always shut, due to having a cat, it should stay warm in there most of the day. Everyone has made gigantic mounds with the extra tissue I gave them and they are not even poking their heads out when I come in there like they usually do so I think they are keeping warm. I will be glad to get the heater fixed. We had a big storm here a couple summers ago and lost power for a week, I must say I would rather have it cold in here than very very hot!

[Erin.R]

Well, I don't know if it had anything to do with it being cold, I really hope not, but I found Bruce in his forever sleep in his nest tonight. Our thermostat is reading 65, and I put the heater in there several times today but I feel really guilty. I am moving everyone into my room tonight I cannot have something like this happen again and worry that it was just too cold.
Bruce was so very sweet, he was almost exactly a year old. He got up early every day to come out and play before anyone else, he will be greatly missed Sleep tight Brucie.

[Thin Lizzy]

So sorry to hear about Bruce - what type of hamster was he?
I can't honestly say for sure if it was the cold but, it does seem a bit strange that your heating breaks down and Bruce is found in a forever sleep.
Whatever is the cause, you mustn't feel guilty.
Sending you some hugs for your loss xx

[Erin.R]

Bruce was a LH syrian. It feels a but suspicious that it happened when it was so cold but he had been looking a little thin but had been to the vet and he has always been very peppy. I thought maybe he had started to hibernate because he is not stiff yet but I see no signs of breathing or twitches.
Thank you for your thoughts.

[Shannonmcn]

I'm so sorry to hear about Bruce 65 doesn't seem cold enough to harm a ham normally but a lot of ill or older animals, and even people, tend to pass away when the seasons start to turn cold. I don't think there's any real scientific reason for it, just a correlation. Maybe it was just his time. I originally thought my little syrian was feeling the cold at about 65 F and concentrated on keeping her warm but it turned out to be something completely different and unpreventable.

Sorry again for your loss Erin.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

I hope Bruce wasn't hibernating cause I had three Hams go into it just this past week when the temps outside dipped below 20 degrees F and the three were two young pups from a rescue litter and the third was my newest ED Black male Ieon. I lost one of the young pups but the other two after vigorous rubbing in front of my wall heater(which is gas run) and wrapping in a warmed towel the other two made it back from what looked like death. Ieon was stiff and dehydrated when found. I could still move his hind legs but his front paws were unmovable. After a few minutes being held in my hands in front of the Heater he started to chew with his mouth, and about 15 minutes after that he was drinking pedialyte warmed up using hot water. 1 hour later he was running about in his bin and gathering food and TP. The pup was not as far into Hibernating so recovered even faster. My house is at 70 degrees but The three Hamsters which went into Hibernation were on the lower shelf of my shelf unit where the heat is least. Both hibernators are now housed above my Guinea Pigs C & C cage which is right next to the heater and have shown no more signs of hibernating.

I've found those Hamsters which hibernate are usually those who are older or youngest, and are pet store oriented. I had 3 home bred Hamsters on the same shelf who were just fine and had built huge mountains of a nest and were just fine. Two years ago I lost 6 to hibernation who were all related and found out after their deaths that their Sire had died because of Hibernating too. It happens and not much you can do except keep them warm whatever way you can, and realize it may have just been his time.
Hugs to you on your loss. May Bruce and little Black pup find each other at the Rainbow bridge, and may the new heater arrive quickly.