Can Gerbils Overheat?

[teambenji543]

Hello! I know that gerbils are desert animals and can tolerate the heat, but the air conditioning broke in our house yesterday. The electrician can't fix it until next week and I'm worried that my gerbils might get too hot. Outside its 90 degrees and I can barely tolerate the heat. Should I move them to the basement? ( the air conditioning is working down there)

[LilyandDaisy]

Yes, if possible I would suggest moving them to where it's cooler. They do a lot better with cold temperatures than very hot temperatures, as long as they have plenty of bedding to snuggle down.

I think it was close to 90 degrees F for a couple of days last year where I am and the gerbils did struggle. I gave them chilled jars or vases from the fridge, had fans on and avoided handling them (as they probably wouldn't have appreciated warm hands).

[betty]

According to my veterinary book it says that 'gerbils usually burrow into the cold sand and earth during the day (hot temeperatures) in their natural habitats but can't do that in tanks. They prefer 59-68F (15-20C) and will start to become uncomfortable above 95F (35C). Heat tolerance decreases if humidity also rises.'

Suggestions are of course all mentioned above: move them to a cooler room - or increase ventilation (to lower humidity), block sunlight from the room all day (not just when it is at it's peak) or at least shade the enclosure all day, add chilled tiles or plates/sand/other.

As well as not handling, I would suggest taking out their wheel if they have one - just to reduce exertion.


Fingers crossed it all works out for you.

[teambenji543]

I think I’m going to move them downstairs ASAP, a few minutes ago, they were both sleeping next to their water bottles with their bellies up in the air.

[betty]

Bless them - yes, sleeping out in the open uncurled (when they don't normally) is often taken to show that they are hotter than usual.

Let's hope once downstairs they feel a lot better.

[teambenji543]

Ok, I’m so glad that the electrician could fix it today. I’m going to move them back upstairs now.

[betty]

Phew - all back to normal hopefully.

[Markpd]

Were they ok downstairs btw?
And what temperature did it get to upstairs?

[teambenji543]

Oh, so the air conditioning is fixed now so I moved them back upstairs. Before they were on my second floor and I moved them down to my basement (the air-conditioning was still working down there).

I don't really know how hot it got in the house but it was 90 degrees outside.

[Markpd]

Err, what's that in C?,.... 32C, yikes, that's pretty hot!
Useful to know their upper limit, I know my boys were ok at 28C last summer (room temp).

Any idea what the humidity was?

[yeti218]

28°c seems pretty hot Markpd

Were you doing anything to cool them down?

[Markpd]

Yea it was, outside was in the low 30s as I recall.
I had the windows open at night, and closed the curtains to my flat during the day, doing this kept the daytime room temp about 5C below outdoors.

I also had the cage's fans on, they are slow turning fans so only provide a gentle breeze not a blast , despite the heat I didn't once see either of my boys sit under the fans, or sit still for more than a few seconds! You never would have known it was so hot!, perhaps because they were only 2mths old, the heat didn't bother them?

teambenji543 How old are your Gerbils?

[teambenji543]

My gerbils are only a few months old.

[Markpd]

Good to know, thanks , and did you know what the humidity was back then?

[teambenji543]

Umm, I have no idea but it was pretty dry outside?