Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:02 pm
During the summer season and hot temperatures, you must be wondering What Temperature Is Too Hot For Hamsters?
Hamsters come from dry desert regions, which means they are adapted to hot weather.
This applies to those hamsters who live in the wild, while domestic hamsters who live in a cage cannot withstand very high temperatures.
The ideal temperature for hamsters is between 65-75 F.
If the temperature is higher than 75 F, it adversely affects the health of the hamsters and can cause stress, dehydration, heat stroke, problems, and organ failure in their body.
Hamsters do not sweat, which is a problem when they need to cool down.
If they overheat, you should move them to a cooler room to lower their temperature.
In today’s article you will find out which temperature is too hot for hamsters, and how to help them when they are too hot and what are the consequences of hot temperatures for their health.
What Temperature Is Too Hot For Hamsters?
Any temperature higher than 75 F is a problem for hamsters, as they cannot cool their bodies on their own.
hamsters that live in domestic conditions or in a cage can hardly tolerate hot temperatures, unlike hamsters that live in the wild.
If we leave the hamster in the sun or in an area with too hot temperature it will create consequences and dangerous problems with their health.
How hot can hamsters take?
Any temperature above 75 or 80 F is too much heat for hamsters and can cause serious health problems.
All of us as hamster owners should take maximum care and check the temperature in the room of the hamsters, in order not to make them too hot.
We can use cooling devices in the cages or put on wooden mats which are better for the hamsters than bedding when the temperature is very hot.
Can hamsters die from heat?
Yes, unfortunately, hamsters can die if they are exposed to hot temperatures for a long time.
They cannot tolerate too hot temperatures for a long time, they can only have fatal consequences.
When hamsters are exposed to hot weather for a long time, the following health problems can occur.
Their organs fail
If the temperature is higher than 75 F, problems begin for the hamsters, which eventually lead to the failure of their organs.
The blood in their body begins to thicken from the high temperature, thereby preventing the normal flow of air through all the organs in the hamster’s body.
The next thing is the failure of their organs and fatal consequences such as the death of the hamster.
Dehydration of hamsters
Dehydration is dangerous for hamsters and can kill a hamster in 3-4 days.
Also, dehydration occurs due to a lack of water in the body as a result of too much heat.
The biggest problem is that hamsters cannot sweat, and they lose water through vomiting, diarrhea, urine and saliva.
Diarrhea resulting from dehydration can kill hamsters within a day.
When hamsters experience dehydration, the following symptoms appear:
- lethargy
- dry and tight skin
- increased thirst
- sunken eyes
- coarse fur of poor quality
If the hamster becomes dehydrated, it is necessary to react immediately, because after a few days the hamster will die.
Therefore, you should immediately give them fresh water, vegetables and fruits with a large amount of water such as cucumber, so that the hamster can hydrate quickly and save its life.
The sooner you react, the better for the hamster’s health and life.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is the most common occurrence when hamsters are exposed to high temperatures.
Hamsters cannot handle the heat and therefore their biggest weakness is the inability to sweat and reduce the temperature in a natural way.
When hamsters have heat stroke they look very bad, have no energy, scare when we touched and are too lethargic.
If hamsters get heat stroke, you must not wait, you need to take your pet to the vet immediately to provide care and help to prevent damage to their body.
High temperature causes stress
When the temperature is higher than 75 F, problems and stress in hamsters begin.
Stress, on the other hand, encourages the deterioration of the hamster’s overall health.
Stress activates bacteria, causing diseases such as Tyzzer’s disease.
A hamster under stress starts to behave strangely, to be aggressive and to bite the bars of the cage.
How do you know if your hamster is too hot?
The first thing you notice when a hamster is hot is that when you touch it it will be warm.
The next thing is his appearance and behavior will not be ordinary, he will be aggressive and do unusual things, he will bite objects and so on.
When the hamster is hot, it will hide in tunnels and places where it will be cooler.
Here are some symptoms that occur when the hamster is overheating:
- lethargy
- movement problems
- heavy or shortness of breath
- bright red tongue
- weight loss
- he is constantly thirsty
When the hamster is warm, the color of its teeth changes and it becomes white, and we know that a healthy hamster has yellow or brownish-yellow teeth.
When the hamster is hot, it can very easily get diarrhea, which is dangerous for its life.
Dehydration occurs as a result of heat in hamsters, and it can kill the hamster in 3-4 days if timely improvement of its condition is not undertaken.
When hamsters are overheated they become aggressive and may start biting their owners, even though they have not done so before.
How to cool the hamster when the weather is hot?
If the room containing the cage and the hamster itself is warmer than 75 F, then you need to take steps to reduce the temperature.
You can turn on the air conditioner, but you should be careful not to cool the room too quickly because hamsters cannot tolerate rapid changes in temperature.
Here are some steps you can take to keep your hamster cool during hot weather and hot temperatures.
Fewer activities
When the weather is hot and temperatures are high, hamsters should reduce by playing and running, because all those activities overheat them.
And we as owners should reduce playing with the hamsters so that they don’t overheat.
Although hamsters are used to constant movement and it will be very difficult for them to sit still and not be active, which can cause stress.
Therefore, if the hamster already wants to play and run, then let him out more at night when the temperature is lower and there are fewer chances of him overheating.
Keep it away from sunlight
To protect your hamster from heat, you should not place its cage in direct sunlight.
Since direct sunlight can lead to dehydration or heat stroke in hamsters, the next thing is his death.
You should also use curtains to reduce the entrance of sunlight, but not too much so that it is still possible to notice whether it is day or night outside so that the hamster can continue with normal activities both during the day and at night.
The hamster should not be exposed to radiators, heaters, and similar sources of heat that can seriously harm its health.
Read more: Can Hamsters Explode? (Find Out Now)
Cool towel across the cage
When it’s hot, you should do everything to allow the hamster to cool down, and one of the possible things is a frozen towel or blanket.
Place a frozen towel on top of the cage to help cool the cage and the hamster itself.
Only when you cover the cage, be sure to leave room for airflow and circulation.
Provide ventilation
When it’s hot, you should provide the hamster with ventilation and airing of the space, which will help it to cool down more easily and quickly.
Open the windows or turn on a fan for better circulation throughout the space.
Just be careful not to let the fan blow directly on the hamster, because can cause it to get cold and hypothermic.
If the cage of the hamsters is with bars it will be easier to have air circulation, it is much worse when the hamsters are kept in glass and other closed spaces where the circulation is much more difficult.
Fresh water
Fresh water is important to hydrate the hamster and protect it from overheating.
You should always change its water, especially when the temperature is hot and then the hamster needs water even more.
Make sure that the bottle from which he drinks water is clean, not blocked, and has a normal flow of water.
You can also freeze half a bottle of water, put it in the cage, and cover it with a towel so that your pet can cool down.
Cold pad
In the summer, you can use cold pads to help cool the hamsters.
Place the pad made of ceramic on the bottom of the cage and when the hamster lies on it it will cool down.
You can also put the pad in the fridge to cool and then put it in the hamster cage for an even better effect.
Put the cage in a cooler place
One of the best ways to allow your hamster to cool down faster in the hot season is to move the cage to a cooler room.
If you put it in the basement, it will be the coldest there, because the heat always moves upwards.
You can also put it on a surface with tiles, they will keep a cooler temperature at the bottom of the cage.
Of course, apart from putting it in a cooler room, you should also make sure that it has privacy or silence so that it can feel pleasant, comfortable, and stress-free.
Conclusion
Hamsters need a temperature of 65-75 F to be relaxed and comfortable, any temperature above 75 F is considered too hot and hamsters may have health problems.
Too much heat or high temperatures can lead to heat stroke, stress, dehydration, and failure of their organs, which can ultimately result in their death.
To cool down the hamsters when it is very hot, you should put them in a cooler room, not expose them to direct sunlight, and have more ventilation around the cage and fewer activities.
In any case, hamsters cannot withstand much heat and we must be careful and provide them with an ideal temperature so that they can live and function normally.
Read more: Do Hamsters Need a Heat Lamp?
