Monitoring safe conditions for small mammals
Monitoring Safe Conditions for Pets
If you want your pets to be happy and healthy, it’s important to maintain proper environmental conditions. Whether we’re talking about dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles, small mammals or even horses, the wrong conditions can lead to illness, poor general health…or even worse. Depending on the animal, it may be highly sensitive to temperature and/or humidity. And if your pet lives primarily outdoors, it’s crucial to keep a close eye on weather conditions to make sure they are safe. Your best bet is to educate yourself on the specific environmental conditions your pets require, and then closely monitor those conditions with your own pet monitoring equipment.
Monitoring safe conditions for small mammals
Problem
Whether you own a hamster, gerbil, Guinea pig, mouse, pet rat, or even a chinchilla, your pet may be susceptible to heat stroke, vulnerable to sickness when exposed to drafts, and not happiest in abnormally high humidity levels.
Conditions vary by species, and some small mammals are in fact quite sensitive to changes in their environment. A safe small mammal habitat requires relatively stable environmental conditions. Fluctuations or extreme changes can
sicken or kill your pet, so monitoring and maintaining a safe environment is critical to a long, healthy life.
Solution
Fully research the needs of your small mammal, then maintain the correct conditions to keep them healthy. A commonly recommended room temperature range for small mammals is approximately 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24
degrees Celsius), with a humidity level of 40% to 60% RH, but always discuss your pet's needs with your veterinarian. If conditions are too humid, utilize a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air. If the air is too dry
(typically during cold months), use a humidifier to increase the indoor humidity level. To ensure stable conditions, closely monitor the temperature and humidity of the cage, and keep small mammals out of direct sunlight, and
away from vents, fireplaces and other direct sources of heated or cooled air. Avoid drafty areas, or rooms that fluctuate with outdoor temperature changes, like garages and basements.
AcuRite Solutions & Tips
- Monitor Temperature and Humidity Conditions: Position an AcuRite Room Monitor near the cage or enclosure to track indoor ambient air conditions.
- As an alternative, you can use a Monitor with a wired Spot Check Sensor positioned inside the cage to view air temperature / humidity, and also the cage temperature from inside the cage (measured by the wired sensor).
-
Use a Home Environment Display for convenient viewing of conditions measured by multiple Monitors and Sensors in
multiple rooms around your home.
- Set alarms on the display to alert you of hazardous conditions. These can include dangerously low or high temperatures and/or humidity.
Learn More About Safe Pet Habitats
There are many great resources on maintaining a healthy pet habitat. Here are a few examples:
- Petco offers series of guidelines for setting up a habitat for a variety of pets:
- PetSmart offers a resource page, organized by species, which includes information on terrariums, nutrition and more:
- The Humane Society offers these guidelines on building a shelter for outdoor cats:
