Chins and temperature, please respond

[jay24]

Hello,

I have two chinchillas that I keep in the basement in their cage. We do not have air conditioning but it stays cool in the basement. We live in a dry climate, it is not humid at all here, but over the last month it has been hot upstairs in the house. I clean my chinchilla's cage twice a week and my husband takes them upstairs to run around while im cleaning for about 30-40 minutes in the spare room. It is about 80F up there and I know that most websites say not to leave chinchillas in temperatures at 80 or higher for prolonged periods of time. I just wanted to ask if having them up there for 30-40 minutes twice a week was okay or if they should not be in that temp. AT ALL, it is dry in the room, not a humid temp. They have seemed to be just fine with that little amount of time.

 

[Pikaia]

I keep my chinchillas in A/C, it's around 68-70 degrees in there. The rest of my apartment, however, can get very hot. They have a playpen outside their room and during these summer months I won't let them out there much at all. It's just too hot. Within about 10 minutes, their ears start getting red. When I take them back to their cages, they are rather warm. I don't want to risk them overheating.

You need to watch them very closely if you take them upstairs. Watch their ears. Are they red or hot to the touch? I think 30 minutes upstairs is too long. My chinchillas would be suffering heatstroke. Would you be able to set up some sort of playpen in the basement while you clean cages and have your husband watch them there? I just wouldn't want to risk them getting too hot upstairs.

 

[Spoof]

I'd just set up a playpen downstairs and leave them down there all summer. They are used to the ground temp and it's the 30-40min heat spikes with activity that cause heat stroke.

 

[Dragonflye]

I agree, 80 degrees is really too hot for any amount of time, especially if your chins are active in the heat. Dry heat or not, I would keep them in the basement for playtime as was suggested above.

 

[Jenn]

I think 80 is too warm, especially if they are running around being active. Also, it might be extra hard on them to go from a cool environment to a hot one. I agree that they should have a playpen in the basement and should run around there. It still might be a good idea to have a thermometer down there as well, that way you can be sure they are consistently cool, even on the hottest days.

 

[tunes]

You need to picture yourself wearing a full length fur coat and then running around like crazy in 80 degrees. When I walk in the barn in a long sleeved shirt or a light sweatshirt, and I feel comfortable to just a little chilled, then I know the chins are comfortable.

I agree with Tara. Leave them downstairs to run while you clean their cage.