Help With Keeping Hammies Warm!

ArthriticAssassin · 10-11-2014, 04:59 PM

Hello, I live in an area that's quickly changing into winter. I'm concerned that my long haired Syrian is too cold. He doesn't really like coming out of his hut anymore and only does to get food or to run on his wheel. When I took him out earlier, he burried himself in my mother's puffy vest and wouldn't come out. Any ideas on how to keep him warmer?

Artisans_uk · 10-11-2014, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArthriticAssassin

Hello, I live in an area that's quickly changing into winter. I'm concerned that my long haired Syrian is too cold. He doesn't really like coming out of his hut anymore and only does to get food or to run on his wheel. When I took him out earlier, he burried himself in my mother's puffy vest and wouldn't come out. Any ideas on how to keep him warmer?

Hi AA - one thing that you can instantly do is provide more bedding or strips of tissue paper in the cage so that your fluff can add more bedding for warmth if he wants it.

I've just been adding to another post about how I always add extra bedding material, so the hamster can decide for itself.

I'm sure others will add better suggestions but just wanted to add that before I head to my bed and get warm.

Alopeke · 10-11-2014, 06:09 PM

Have any of you dabbled with heaters of some sort? My set up is a terrarium, so I've considered getting a very small reptile heater for it (one rated smaller than the actual size of the tank). I've not done it out of fear of harming the hammies. O_o

However, to answer your question with what I've done, I've provided more bedding in the past. I've also given, to my non-chewers, fresh cotton from the store if they've got it. Finally, I often cover the cage in the winter at night. Especially in my current terrarium, where the top is open, I want to keep some of the warm air in there. I always leave a crack open, usually opposite of where they sleep.

Artisans_uk · 10-11-2014, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alopeke

I've also given, to my non-chewers, fresh cotton from the store if they've got it.

Please don't give any hamsters cotton, this is so so dangerous as others will tell you. Not only can it cause horrid injuries because the cotton can get caught around limbs and cut off the circulation but also as it can not be digested, a hamster can suffocate.

There are people on here who have learnt the hard way and lost a loved fluff, and plenty more who have been saved the horror by reading the warnings.

Please remove any cotton that you have, even if your hamsters are not chewers, it only takes one occasion. Use only paper based bedding which can will disintegrate if eaten, unlike the cotton.

Alopeke · 10-11-2014, 06:23 PM

Huh, I had no idea! Fortunately, I don't have any at the moment and my last ham hated the stuff anyways. I'd picked some up last winter as it was marketed towards the smaller rodents at a store. Heck, even the animal planet hamster book has it listed as potential bedding. O_O;;

NiceCrocs · 10-11-2014, 06:31 PM

Here's a link to a thread from a while back, where a forum member's hamster got very ill from ingesting fluffy bedding, it really highlights the dangers. The fact that pet stores still sell it is baffling to me.

Luckily, little Jam made a full recovery with the help of a skilled vet.

Poorly Robo *THE DANGERS OF FLUFFY BEDDING*

ArthriticAssassin · 10-11-2014, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been stocking up and stuffing toilet paper in his huts which I've always done but I've been giving him more. I like the idea of covering it with a blanket but I don't think it would work with his set up. He has two different sized OVO Habitrail cages with lots of tubes so I don't think that the blanket would be a good idea as I don't think it would leave enough air holes. I'll figure something out before it becomes too cold. Thankfully it's only fall and not total winter where the temperatures can go below 0 degrees Fahrenheit here.

ArthriticAssassin · 10-11-2014, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Here's a link to a thread from a while back, where a forum member's hamster got very ill from ingesting fluffy bedding, it really highlights the dangers. The fact that pet stores still sell it is baffling to me.

Luckily, little Jam made a full recovery with the help of a skilled vet.

Poorly Robo *THE DANGERS OF FLUFFY BEDDING*

Actually, pet stores sell a lot of products that are specified for certain animals but cause significant harm to that animal. This is why I always do a lot of research on a product before I buy it. This doesn't just go for hamsters. It goes for many other animals. I.E. Rawhide is marketed and sold for dogs to eat and chew but dogs actually can't digest it properly and it can cause harm to dogs yet if you go to any store with animal products you'll see rawhide. Another example, is deer antlers, while not as bad as rawhide, if you give them too your dog too much and don't monitor the amount you give them, the calcium in the antlers will cause kidney stones and you'll see your precious pet in a lot of pain. Just goes to show that many pet stores are just in it for them money.

BrainGirl · 10-11-2014, 07:06 PM

Having some experience with those Ovo cages (do you have the little round ones?) I would highly recommend ditching them in favour of a single large cage with a base deep enough for more bedding. A bin cage would be ideal. The Ovo cages unfortunately are not big or deep enough.

Pumpkinsmom · 10-11-2014, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alopeke

Have any of you dabbled with heaters of some sort? My set up is a terrarium, so I've considered getting a very small reptile heater for it (one rated smaller than the actual size of the tank). I've not done it out of fear of harming the hammies. O_o.

I'm new at this, but this is what I'm doing with my Syrian. My house gets pretty cold in the winter and I had no idea that Syrians could go into torpor if it gets too cold. I bought a 4 watt reptile heating pad and stuck it on the side of the tank. My hamster's cage has a glass tank on the bottom, and a cage topper on top. I'm trying it out for the first time tonight, because I think that's why Pumpkin hasn't been coming out of his igloo as he usually does. The house is too chilly for him. I'll let you know if it works. I put it on a timer that will go on for an hour, then off for an hour during the night.