Are Humidifiers Good or Bad for Hamsters? Let's Discover -

Many of us at home use air humidifiers, which help to maintain the necessary humidity in the room.

Humidifiers are good for us humans, but what about our little hamsters, can they also be exposed to air humidifiers, are they dangerous to their health or are they beneficial?

Air humidifiers are beneficial for hamsters because they allow their respiratory organs to work better, softer skin, healthier fur and less bacteria in the air they breathe.

In today’s article, you will learn why air humidifiers are useful for hamsters, but also what things you should pay attention to when using them in the room with your pet.

Table of Contents show

Are Humidifiers Good or Bad for Hamsters?

Humidifiers are good for hamsters if they are used in the correct way which involves keeping the air humidity at 40-60%.

This amount of humidity suits your pet best and will provide a great living environment.

Hamsters do not like dry air because it can interrupt their breathing and cause other problems such as dry skin, respiratory problems, and more bacteria in the air itself.

Does my hamster-like humid air?

Yes, hamsters like humid air because then they breathe better and feel more comfortable in their cage. Even though hamsters come from desert areas, that doesn’t mean they like dry air.

That’s why you can use an air humidifier, you just have to pay attention to the level of humidity that you will use in your room.

As we said, the humidity level should be 40-60%, otherwise:

Too much humidity or over 60% is harmful to the hamster and can make it sick or in the worst case cause hibernation and heavy breathing.
Too little humidity below 40% is harmful because dry air can cause breathing problems and heat stress, as well as other related health problems.

A humidity of 40-60% and an air temperature of 65-75 F is what a hamster needs to function normally, so use a thermometer and hygrometer to maintain the required level in the hamster room.

How safe are humidifiers for my hamster?

Humidifiers are safe for hamsters as long as you are careful how you use them and how you set the humidity level so you don’t put your pets at risk to their health.

But there are some other things you should be aware of if you decide to use a humidifier, here are some of them:

Make sure there are no humidifier cables near the hamsters so they don’t bite them.
The air humidifier should not be near or far from the hamster so that it does not bother your pet, if it is too close it will create a draft, and if it is too far it will reduce its effect on air humidity.
If you place the humidifier in too much humidity it can cause mold which is dangerous for hamsters.

How to choose a humidifier for hamsters?

When you need to buy an air humidifier you can choose whether to get a cold mist or a warm mist. It is best to choose a cool mist humidifier as it uses cold water and is safer if a spill occurs.

When choosing a humidifier, it is best to buy an ultrasonic humidifier because it will be the least audible, it will be quiet and the hamster won’t mind when it works.

This is important because hamsters hear very well and a loud humidifier will only scare them and can cause stress and stress-related illnesses.

What are the benefits of a humidifier for hamsters?

Proper use of the air humidifier provides health benefits for the hamster and improves its life in its cage.

The air humidifier helps to moisten the skin, shedding the fur, easier breathing, fewer bacteria, and a better smell around the cage of the hamsters.

So let’s read about all these benefits in more detail to know why you should use a humidifier around your pets.

The air humidifier moistens the skin of the hamsters

As hamsters get older, they will have more and more dry skin, this is completely normal. When you pet your pet, you will notice that his skin becomes drier and begins to peel as he ages.

Dry skin in hamsters appears due to lack of sufficient hydration, although they drink normal amounts of water, this process is inevitable.

That’s why an air humidifier can play a big role here, which will help reduce the dryness of their skin.

As we said, you need to pay attention to the humidity of the air when using a humidifier, the ideal humidity will be if the hamster’s fur is soft to the touch and the skin is not dry.

Fewer bacteria and cleaner air

Air humidity is important to reduce airborne bacteria and prevent mold growth in the room where the hamster cage is located.

Hamsters with their urine and feces, as well as uneaten food in the bed, create space for the creation of bacteria that will then cause unclean inhalation and dangers to his health.

When the air humidity is ideal, dangerous vapors are reduced and the consequences are reduced when the hamster inhales air in its cage.

A humidifier helps when hamsters have a respiratory infection

Hamsters are very delicate and can very easily get a respiratory infection or some other health problem.

When hamsters have a respiratory infection they begin to cough and have difficulty breathing, as well as streaming from the nose and eyes.

If you use an air humidifier it will help facilitate breathing and the work of the respiratory organs in hamsters.

Just be careful if the humidity crosses the limit and the air becomes too humid then the hamster will be wet to the touch and the respiratory infection will get worse.

Hamsters will have a less unpleasant odor

Hamsters clean themselves and are good at it, but after a certain time, they can start to smell unpleasant.

When you use a humidifier then the air will be moist and this unpleasant smell will be reduced.

This is especially important for owners and others in the room where the hamster’s cage is.

With an air humidifier, hamsters shed their fur more easily

Hamsters just like many other animals with fur, in the summer period, when it is hot need to shed their fur.

When the humidity in the air is adequate, i.e. with humidity that suits the hamsters, they will do it more easily.

We must emphasize that it is not the same when hamsters naturally shed their fur and when they lose parts of their fur.

If the hamster molts its fur by itself then it is called self-mutilation.

When the air humidity is adequate, hamsters with long fur will shed their fur quite normally without any problems, and new and shiny healthy fur will grow in its place.

What else to use for more humidity in the room with the hamsters?

If you can’t buy an air humidifier or you don’t like its sound, then you can use alternative solutions that will help with better humidity in the room with hamsters.

Here’s what you can use as an alternative:

Put a bowl of cold water on a radiator and the evaporation of the water will increase the humidity of the air.
Put water in a large container and place it next to the window, it will be warmed by the sun and evaporate, which will increase the humidity.

Use plants that are used to improve the air such as the following:

Areca Palm
Aloe Vera

Philodendron
Rubber Plant
Dracaena

Peace Lily
Snake Plant
Boston Fern

Place a bowl of water on the stove and once the water boils it will evaporate and increase the humidity of the air.

If you use these methods we have listed you will need a humidity meter to know when the air is humid enough and keep it at the required level.

FAQs

Can hamsters stay in air-conditioned rooms?

Hamsters are comfortable when the temperature in their cage is stable. Hamsters’ minds when they are in a place where there is a draft. Therefore, hamsters and their cage should be placed at the proper distance from an air conditioner, not too close or too far for health benefits.

Do hamsters like fresh air?

Hamsters can be taken outside in the fresh air, but no more than 15 minutes is enough for them. Hamsters are suited to the constant internal air temperature in order to function normally.

Do hamsters like cold or hot air?

In general, hamsters still like a warm climate, that is, a temperature of 65-75 degrees, anything more or less than this temperature is not pleasant for them. Any disturbance of this temperature can negatively affect their health.

Conclusion

Air humidity is important for hamsters, so using a humidifier can help a lot in this regard.

By using an air humidifier, hamsters will have better skin, and fur, fewer problems with respiratory infections, and other benefits.

It is only important that you pay attention to the humidity, it should always be 40-60% so that it can have positive effects on the health of the hamsters.