Temporarily moving hamster enclosure to unfinished basement during heatwave?

[NuggetHam]

hi! We are in a heatwave (95F / 35C) and I do not have air conditioning. I have been doing all the tricks to keep him cool (frozen bottles wrapped in cloth on top of the cage and peepshed, refrigerated tile and terracotta hide in enclosure, fabric-wrapped ice pack against the tank, ceiling fan going, fan in front of a frozen water bottle aimed at the tank, all windows closed and shades pulled, rotating frozen stuff every couple of hours).


I have a question. Our basement is much cooler (65-73F / 18-22C) but it is dusty and musty. I have a dehumidifier and air filter but am not sure they would be enough to cancel out the bad air and stress of moving him down there for a few days. He's a sensitive flower and I try to keep him feeling emotionally secure but it's a trade off if it would be significantly safer. I am worried that the air down there is just not good and the stress of moving to a dank basement with mice and weird smells and noises would not be kind to him either.


Right now the room his cage is in is 80F/26C but his bed is 73F/22C with all of the mitigations I am performing. It might creep up a bit more but I'm not sure. 2 more days of this heat this week. I'm available to watch him and do the bottle switching all week if necessary but I'm nervous!


Any thoughts are welcome! Thank you. (Syrian male 11 months old)

 

[Amy]

hi! We are in a heatwave (95F / 35C) and I do not have air conditioning. I have been doing all the tricks to keep him cool (frozen bottles wrapped in cloth on top of the cage and peepshed, refrigerated tile and terracotta hide in enclosure, fabric-wrapped ice pack against the tank, ceiling fan going, fan in front of a frozen water bottle aimed at the tank, all windows closed and shades pulled, rotating frozen stuff every couple of hours).


I have a question. Our basement is much cooler (65-73F / 18-22C) but it is dusty and musty. I have a dehumidifier and air filter but am not sure they would be enough to cancel out the bad air and stress of moving him down there for a few days. He's a sensitive flower and I try to keep him feeling emotionally secure but it's a trade off if it would be significantly safer. I am worried that the air down there is just not good and the stress of moving to a dank basement with mice and weird smells and noises would not be kind to him either.


Right now the room his cage is in is 80F/26C but his bed is 73F/22C with all of the mitigations I am performing. It might creep up a bit more but I'm not sure. 2 more days of this heat this week. I'm available to watch him and do the bottle switching all week if necessary but I'm nervous!


Any thoughts are welcome! Thank you. (Syrian male 11 months old)

I had the same problem and moved my hamster to the cellar for one night. It is a fairy dry cellar (building is two years old) but of course it is damper there and the typical cellar smell. I would never do it again! It was cooler but the damp air is not good for a hamster. I immediately noticed a change in him and bought him back upstairs. It was hot and he was very lethargic that night but soon recovered. My experience with the cellar was awful. Never again. The temperature in my flat were 28 degrees, but he managed that far better. Of course it is hard work constantly changing the cooling items ect and watching the temperature nervously every hour. But your cellar clearly sounds just as unsuitable as mine. After that experience I have ordered a portable ac and hopefully it will arrive on the 23rd. Sending you the best wishes and hopefully cooler weather very soon.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I would worry about possible mouse diseases being transferred to your hammy as well if they climb on his cage or urinate on it.