keeping rats cool

[elerrina]

i have four rats and this extreme heat really gets to them. i was wondering if anyone knew of methods for keeping them cool while im at school. i already have a fan but dont like to leave that on the whole time im at school as it could overheat. i always leave the windows open but that often isnt enough as temperatures get to 30 degrees. any methods would be appriciated.

[fat rascal]

it's a tough one... i wonder if putting big bags of like frozen peas near the cage would help.. until they defrost.... or those blocks that you can freeze to use in freezer bags... they should give some cold-mess of them... hope some other ab's can help.. because it's a worry if they over heat.

good luck

[SaxyJag]

Ordinarily I would suggest, when you're at home, giving them a shot of water from one of those garden spray bottles, but of course, you're at school, so you can't.

On Animal Park last week, they were leaving blocks of frozen fruit out for some of the animals. I don't know whether that would work,

Alternatively, how do you think they'd respond if you left them with a big, shallow dish filled with water?

[Starbar]

Install airconditioning to your room !

[Sphinx_Svens]

Whatever you do, don't put thos freezer-bag blocks in there, if they chew through, the chemcals would probably kll them...

I'd go for the shallow water dish, they don't mind a swim now and then ...

don't know if they would chew this ...
http://www.puddlepetcare.co.uk/acatalog/Dog_Co oling_Products.html

[WendyS]

Could you place their cage on top of a couple of the frozen ice containers which you use in cool bags? Just rest them on a tray of some kind which will collect any condensation moisture as the liquid inside them slowly thaws.

If you don't like to leave the fan on all the time, get one of those automatic timer switches (the old fashioned type with little tags which you pull in and out to set the time). Then set the timer to come on alternate hours. This will help keep the room cooler than it otherwise would be

And if the room where the rats are kept attracts a lot of sunshine, keep the curtains drawn. This will keep out quite a lot of heat from the direct rays of the sun.