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How to keep a hamster cool
- Thread starter Hank
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Nibbles just stepped of his wheel to blow a kiss to aunty 
he’s always nosey when I am writing on the phone 
Bonjour, il a fait 42°C la semaine dernière à Paris, France. Mes 2 hamsters ont tenu le coup, je mettais des bouteilles eau congelée près d'eux et des tasses en céramique. La journée ils dorment et ne semblent pas avoir trop souffert de la chaleur. Ils ont mangé, je leur donnai un peu de concombre et de salade en plus et ils vont bien aujourd'hui. CourageIl va faire 43°C cette semaine dans la moitié est des États-Unis, y compris chez moi et mon hamster. C'est mon premier été horrible avec un animal de compagnie depuis trois ans, et le premier avec un hamster. Mon appartement en briques n'a qu'un petit climatiseur de fenêtre dans le salon (mur opposé à la buanderie) et un ventilateur de plafond, avec des ventilateurs électriques dans toutes les autres pièces. On prévoit des coupures de courant dans ma ville et aucun des centres de rafraîchissement que j'ai contactés jusqu'à présent n'accepte les animaux, sauf les animaux d'assistance. L'année dernière, mon quartier a été privé d'électricité pendant dix secondes et j'ai éclaté en sanglots de terreur car il faisait encore plus de 38°C à 22h. Et nous avons eu de la chance, certaines parties de la ville ont été privées d'électricité pendant des jours.
Je déteste l'été.Et maintenant, je suis encore plus stressée parce que j'ai ce petit bonhomme dont je dois aussi m'occuper.
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TranslationBonjour, il a fait 42°C la semaine dernière à Paris, France. Mes 2 hamsters ont tenu le coup, je mettais des bouteilles eau congelée près d'eux et des tasses en céramique. La journée ils dorment et ne semblent pas avoir trop souffert de la chaleur. Ils ont mangé, je leur donnai un peu de concombre et de salade en plus et ils vont bien aujourd'hui. Courage
Hello, it was 42°C last week in Paris, France. My two hamsters made it through; I placed frozen water bottles and ceramic cups near them. They sleep during the day and didn't seem to suffer too much from the heat. They ate—I gave them a little extra cucumber and lettuce—and they are doing well today. Have courage.
Thank you so much for updating and that is very reasssuring for many I am sure. The important thing, as you did, was to ensure some degree of cooling for them, and it will really help people to know what worked at such high temperatures.
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I'm relieved to hear this as I am relying on ice for temperature control too. 
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I haven’t watched it that far yet, I fell asleepI want to try the flower pot method
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It's interesting. If you put damp sand into an unglazed terracotta pot and place the pot in a dry, windy, shaded place the moisture from the sand starts to sleep out of the pot and evaporate. This cools the pot down. People put a second smaller pot inside the terracotta pot, nestled in the sand, and store vegetables in it to act as a fridge to keep them fresh
It was very interesting, I am thinking of buying that bookIt's interesting. If you put damp sand into an unglazed terracotta pot and place the pot in a dry, windy, shaded place the moisture from the sand starts to sleep out of the pot and evaporate. This cools the pot down. People put a second smaller pot inside the terracotta pot, nestled in the sand, and store vegetables in it to act as a fridge to keep them fresh
This is exactly the info I have been looking for!
I got Haldi (a Syrian) a couple of months ago so he's on his second heatwave! He's been enjoying hanging out in a ceramic mug, and I've had an ice pack on top of his cage which he comes and sits under sometimes. I will try putting the mug in the fridge for him as well.
He has a big wooden enclosure, and I've noticed he has been chewing on the corners and stilts of the platform one of his hides sits on when we've had hot days. He has been waking up in the day to do it in his burrow and then goes back to sleep.
I will be off to get some metal brackets to reinforce the corners, and have added some new boredom breaker treats. Maybe it's just a coincidence but has anyone else noticed an increase in chewing or boredom behaviours in the heat?
I got Haldi (a Syrian) a couple of months ago so he's on his second heatwave! He's been enjoying hanging out in a ceramic mug, and I've had an ice pack on top of his cage which he comes and sits under sometimes. I will try putting the mug in the fridge for him as well.
He has a big wooden enclosure, and I've noticed he has been chewing on the corners and stilts of the platform one of his hides sits on when we've had hot days. He has been waking up in the day to do it in his burrow and then goes back to sleep.
I will be off to get some metal brackets to reinforce the corners, and have added some new boredom breaker treats. Maybe it's just a coincidence but has anyone else noticed an increase in chewing or boredom behaviours in the heat?
I haven’t, maybe trying to escape the warmth? It helps to place ice packs wrapped in a tea towel under the cage where they sleep (if they sleep in a burrow)
It rally seems to cool them down.
And mugs or anything ceramic can be kept in the fridge and placed on top of the cage (if you cool as many as possible you have enough to swap)
