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Old 10-23-2022, 12:30 PM   #1
NanaBeaver
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 24
Default Keeping Hamster warm

So how are you all keeping your hamsters warm?. I can't afford to put my heating on, not a problem for me as I have fleeces and woolies but i worry about my Coco. So far the room temp. has not dropped below 17c but it will in the winter. Do any of you use vivarium heaters? and are they economical?
Any other suggestions on heating? I have been slipping a hot water bottle under her substrate but I don't think she actually sleeps anywhere near it.
I'm sure you've covered this point before but I'm a newbie.
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Old 10-23-2022, 12:50 PM   #2
cloudy
Whimzee dealer
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

Hi Nana Beaver. I would not put a hot water bottle under the substrate as Coco could chew it. With a vivarium heater that would not be suitable as that could be dangerous. It is best not to have anything hot in the actual cage. Lots of bedding can help keep Coco warm as she can burrow in it. I am sure other members will have ideas too.
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Old 10-23-2022, 02:02 PM   #3
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

You can get snugglesafe microwave hot water bottles but they need to be outside the cage. Some people raise the cage (eg some blocks under it) and put them underneath. I used to attach a towel rail holder to the side bars (those ones that sit on top of cupboard doors and just hook on) and sit mine in that on the side of the cage where the hamster's house is.

That works when it starts to get a bit chilly but in freezing weather it's not enough - it's room temperature that counts then. I have an oil filled electric radiator with a thermostat and used to leave that switched on overnight. It has a timer as well so you can set it to just come on at certain times through the night. But I just left it on the thermostate. Meaning it only came on if the temperature dropped below a certain level.

Trouble is - electricity bills are so high this year! But needs must. It saves having to put the heating on in the whole house. A cheaper option might be one of those electric heated clothes driers which are cheaper to run and give out a gentle heat.

On sub zero nights, something is needed.
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Old 10-23-2022, 04:11 PM   #4
Stanza
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Essex
Posts: 354
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

Is it safe to put a blanket over the nesting side of the cage? Just to stop any potential drafts, plus for added warmth.

Where Hams sleeps in a shoe box nest, I thought I may add another shoebox over his shoebox for extra warmth? Don’t know if this will keep him warmer, guess if I stuff the gap between with bedding to it may help.

Do you all use just regular garden thermometers to keep an eye on temperature in the rooms where your hamsters are kept?

What about wrapping some cardboard around the sleeping side of the cage too?

We never leave our heating on overnight so I may have to consider a heater also.
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Old 10-23-2022, 04:12 PM   #5
Stanza
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Essex
Posts: 354
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
You can get snugglesafe microwave hot water bottles but they need to be outside the cage. Some people raise the cage (eg some blocks under it) and put them underneath. I used to attach a towel rail holder to the side bars (those ones that sit on top of cupboard doors and just hook on) and sit mine in that on the side of the cage where the hamster's house is.

That works when it starts to get a bit chilly but in freezing weather it's not enough - it's room temperature that counts then. I have an oil filled electric radiator with a thermostat and used to leave that switched on overnight. It has a timer as well so you can set it to just come on at certain times through the night. But I just left it on the thermostate. Meaning it only came on if the temperature dropped below a certain level.

Trouble is - electricity bills are so high this year! But needs must. It saves having to put the heating on in the whole house. A cheaper option might be one of those electric heated clothes driers which are cheaper to run and give out a gentle heat.

On sub zero nights, something is needed.
Towel rail with the hot water bottle sounds a great idea. 👍
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Old 10-24-2022, 05:18 AM   #6
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

It depends on the hamster re a blanket over the cage It's usually ok but some will try and chew the blanket through the cage. I use a big piece of hemp mat on top of ours now. I also put hemp mat on top of the house roof to insulate it a bit. Not sure if it makes much difference or not but in my mind it seems it might!

I have a room thermometer - but usually just gauge the temperature. The heater we have has a built in thermostat so only comes on when the temperature gets below say 14 degrees.

If you have normal central heating on at night and in the morning anyway, it's usually ok overnight unless it's freezing weather. Which it can be in the height of a Uk winter!

These are the snugglesafe's

Amazon.co.uk

This is the towel rail thing I have - just hooked onto the cage bars and the snugglesafe rested in it.

Amazon.co.uk

It's tricky thinking about leaving an electric heater on at night, on a thermostat as there's safety to think about as well - the oil filled ones tend to be safer as they're just like a radiator, and some have an emergency cut out.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 10-24-2022 at 05:24 AM.
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Old 10-24-2022, 07:43 PM   #7
Salem13
Hamster Pup
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canada
Posts: 111
Default Re: Keeping Hamster warm

you could in theory try using a ceramic heat lamp+reflector suspended above the enclosure. Youd want a lower wattage one and to secure it between 30-60cm over the surface. Most brand name heat bulbs will have a guide to the height needed to achieve the right temperature. To save money you could run it at night when its coldest and when the hamsters active, and let the bedding and blankets keep it insulated during the day.
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