Keeping your hamster cool

[FluffyHamsterButts]

First off, I am aware that there is a similar thread to this, but I wanted to go over things or share some new ideas

1. A frozen waterbottle near their bed.
I don't recommend using this tip for wild chewers. (From the plastic) But this is a good way to keep them cool while they sleep. Don't put it too close to them as it might scare them.

2. Ice cubes in their waterbottle!
I do this all the time when its hot. However, its hard to fit the icecubes in, so I break them up and put them in. It should stay frozen for a couple of hours. Make sure no icecubes are too big, if they are it shouldn't be to much of a problem but its not great to swallow them, since they are so small.

3. A cool-off zone
I use like a ceramic toy or bowl, you can use clean rocks/stones for this but I don't, anyway, to get the ceramic cool, I put it in the freezer for a couple of hours, then put it in the cage and they can sit/lay on the cold ceramic or stone. If you use stone, its great to cut-down their nails!

4. Refreshing waterbottle everyday
Some people do this all the time anyway, but I tend to only do it once or twice a week. Anyway, when the weather is hot, I empty and refill everyday to keep it fresh and cold.

5. A cool sand bath
For their sand bath, I put It in the fridge for a few hours. Meaning when they roll around, its nice and cool. Too make sure its not too cold, leave it out in the shade for about 15-30 minutes, but that's mainly if you feel its really cold.

That's all I have, feel free to share more ideas in the comments.

[Almi]

I keep my hamsters in our basement and use ceramic tiles and bricks in my habitats, so I go with the "cool-off zone." Sand baths are great too!

Another thing is to make sure there is good air circulation during hot weather. A fan and a wet towel can go a long way!

[Sazzle]

Hello everyone,

It's another one of those rare times of year in the UK where the temperature pushes 30 degrees. I've been reading the tips on here about how to keep the room cool, but I'm struggling to bring the temp down and am worried about my little man. It's currently 28 in the room that he's in and hotter in the other rooms - I live in a flat - I can't move him anywhere better. I've got some ice in front of a fan at the moment but it doesn't seem to be making much difference. I've also given him some ice in a bowl but he seems so hot poor thing. He's gone back to sleep now after some cucumber, but I'm really worried about going to work all day tomorrow and leaving him as it's set to be even hotter! I'll try and get some air into the room first thing before I go, and then shut the blinds for the day. I just hope the temp isn't too much fror him.

If I put a cool box block under his cage, do you think that'd be okay? I don't know what to do for the best.

Thank you all for any help. Xx��

[cypher]

Sounds like you're doing all you can, if you can open the windows early that should help keep the temp down while you're out during the day, I have put ice blocks on a shelf under my cages (on a shelf, not touching the cage) when it's really hot but try not to put it right under his nesting area so he can choose if he wants to go into the cooler spot, does he have sand in his cage? Sand can help them to keep cooler if they lie in it or just go in the sand bath for a short while now & then.

[Sazzle]

Thank you for your advice.

I've given him some fresh bedding and left the doors open. The fan is in the bedroom with me now. Hopefully the temp will drop a bit overnight. I do have a sand bath for him. I don't normally leave it in all the time, just when I'm watching him. Would it be okay to leave it in with him overnight?

�� X

[Rads]

Hi All,
Re the cool blocks idea of Sazzle, here is something a little left field.
In our Peterborough PoundWorld they have in their camping section some rather useful "coolsheets" they are mini cool packs configured into a sheet approx. 320mm square,this makes them very flexible, these could be put under a hammies cage to create a cool area as the substrate and cage will provide insulation and chill your furry friend out too much.
Hope this helps folks.

[FelicityAnn]

Here in Spain 30º is normal in June, and hotter in July & August! I have three terracotta glazed tiles that I keep in the freezer, and lay one on the top of Esmeralda's wooden house when the temp passes 28º. I keep the fruit & veg in the fridge, and lay a piece outside her door every now and again, which she takes indoors with her to snack on.

Last week it got up to 32º and she went to sleep in the corner of the bin cage, so I stood an ice block up against the OUTSIDE of the bin, just where she was sleeping. As they're forecasting up to 35º this coming week, I'll be changing the tiles/blocks every hour when I'm here.

I also keep the chinchilla sand in the fridge, and, as she pees only in there, when I spot-clean, I top up with cold sand.

At the moment she doesn't seem to be stressed out by the heat, apart from not running so much in her wheel.

[Sazzle]

That's really useful, thank you.

It's down to 25 now so I've put the fan on until I'm ready to leave for work. Then I'll close the blinds and hope for the best.

X

[Sazzle]

I left work early because I was so worried. I thought he'd died when I got home, and was distraught. He was flat out on the wood shavings but then he eventually woke up. I've put all his things in the freezer and I'll try the ice block again. It's 30 now. I guess he's like me and just not used to it in this country.

X

[Vectis Hamstery]

My Syrian hammies often 'pancake' - lie flat out on something, usually a shelf or a cool tile - when it's warm. I've seen them do it when it's not even really hot, but just they've got themselves a bit too warm in their nest.

With one or a few hammies I used to do the ice packs outside the cage and put water that I'd frozen in 2L fizzy pop bottles in front of a fan. I still use cold veg - either from the fridge or even frozen veg (if my hams don't want it cold then they just wait til it warms up enough). Now I have a room full I have an air con unit for them, but can only use it when I'm home due to the exhaust hose. I mostly use it as my elderly, ill and pregnant hamsters find this sort of heat hard going. The young fit ones seem unbothered, and even a longhaired 2 year old Syrian popped out of his beds to monkey bar when I got home before I even turned it on! I think I'm more bothered by the heat than they are, but the hammy room is never in direct sunlight.